Manitoba Hansard — 22 May 2018 (Sitting 51A, 41st Legislature, 3rd Session)

41-3-51a

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Third Session – Forty-First Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Myrna Driedger Speaker Vol. LXXI No. 51A - 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 22, 2018 ISSN 0542-5492

MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Forty-First Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALLUM, James Fort Garry-Riverview NDP ALTEMEYER, Rob Wolseley NDP BINDLE, Kelly Thompson PC CLARKE, Eileen, Hon. Agassiz PC COX, Cathy, Hon. River East PC CULLEN, Cliff, Hon. Spruce Woods PC CURRY, Nic Kildonan PC DRIEDGER, Myrna, Hon. Charleswood PC EICHLER, Ralph, Hon. Lakeside PC EWASKO, Wayne Lac du Bonnet PC FIELDING, Scott, Hon. Kirkfield Park PC FLETCHER, Steven, Hon. Assiniboia Ind. FONTAINE, Nahanni St. Johns NDP FRIESEN, Cameron, Hon. Morden-Winkler PC GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib.

GOERTZEN, Kelvin, Hon. Steinbach PC GRAYDON, Clifford Emerson PC GUILLEMARD, Sarah Fort Richmond PC HELWER, Reg Brandon West PC ISLEIFSON, Len Brandon East PC JOHNSON, Derek Interlake PC JOHNSTON, Scott St. James PC KINEW, Wab Fort Rouge NDP KLASSEN, Judy Kewatinook Lib. LAGASSÉ, Bob Dawson Trail PC LAGIMODIERE, Alan Selkirk PC LAMOUREUX, Cindy Burrows Lib. LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas NDP LINDSEY, Tom Flin Flon NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Flor Logan NDP MARCELINO, Ted Tyndall Park NDP MARTIN, Shannon Morris PC MAYER, Colleen St.

Vital PC MICHALESKI, Brad Dauphin PC MICKLEFIELD, Andrew Rossmere PC MORLEY-LECOMTE, Janice Seine River PC NESBITT, Greg Riding Mountain PC PALLISTER, Brian, Hon. Fort Whyte PC PEDERSEN, Blaine, Hon. Midland PC PIWNIUK, Doyle Arthur-Virden PC REYES, Jon St. Norbert PC SARAN, Mohinder The Maples Ind. SCHULER, Ron, Hon. St. Paul PC SMITH, Andrew Southdale PC SMITH, Bernadette Point Douglas NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Verendrye PC SQUIRES, Rochelle, Hon. Riel PC STEFANSON, Heather, Hon. Tuxedo PC SWAN, Andrew Minto NDP TEITSMA, James Radisson PC WHARTON, Jeff, Hon. Gimli PC WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WISHART, Ian, Hon.

Portage la Prairie PC WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC YAKIMOSKI, Blair Transcona PC Vacant St. Boniface

2433 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Tuesday, May 22, 2018 The House met at 10 a.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 an d accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen. Please be seated. Good morning, everybody.

ORDERS OF THE DAY PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS SECOND READINGS–PUBLIC BILLS Bill 229–The Intoxicated Persons Detention Amendment Act Madam Speaker: As previously announced, the honourable me mber for Burrows has indicated that Bill 229, The Intoxicated Persons Detention Amendment Act, will be her selected bill for this session and that the question will be put on second reading of this bill this morning at 10:55 a.m. Accordingly, I will now recognize the honourable member for Burrows to move her second reading motion to begin this debate. Ms.

Cindy Lamoureux (Burrows): I move, seconded by the member for River Heights (Mr. Gerrard), that Bill 229, The Intoxicated Persons Detention Amendment Act, be now r ead a second time and be referred to a committee of this House. Motion presented. Ms. Lamoureux: I'm happy to rise today for debate on Bill 229, The Intoxicated Persons Detention Amendment Act. Allow me to begin by explaining why I brought this bill forward as my elected bill this session.

As Justice critic for the Manitoba Liberal Party, my responsibility is to hold this government accountable to ensure that our justice system protects the health and safety of all of those in our province. Madam Speaker, our province is facing a serious drug addictions problem, and we need to act on this problem diligently. That is why over the past year our caucus has worked closely with addictions service providers and those on the front lines dealing with addictions crises here in Manitoba.

An issue that remains consistent among all these agents is the legal and social difficulties they face when responding to addicts. The amendment set out in this bill aims to achieve two objectives. The first provides our peace officers and front-line health-care professionals more tools by mending The Intoxicated Persons Detention Act through creating a definition for the term intoxication to include drugs and addiction to alcohol, because it currently is not sufficient in cov ering the social issues in which we are capable of managing.

Peace officers, for example, are very hesitant to detain a person under the act. They first have to make sure that the person is intoxicated by alcohol. The problem is that this is difficult to do so in practice. Allow me to share an example. Imagine, if you would, walking back to your car–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Lamoureux: –down Donald Street at 1 a.m. A person is lying in front of a shop or a store, hollering out inappropriate and disrespectful words to those walking by. It is obvious that they are strung out on something, but you just don't know what it is.

The question is: Do our peace officers have the right to detain them? In this situation, since the person is not technically breaking any laws, the answer is only if this level of inebriation is being caused by alcohol. How is a peace officer supposed to find these details out, Madam Speaker, when a person has the potential to be a danger to themselves and others and may not even be coherent enough to articulate what is in their system?

Madam Speaker, by broadening the term intoxication, this amendment will help our peace officers, it will help our front-line health workers and it will reduce the presence of addiction in our streets, protecting Manitobans' health and safety.

2434 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 22, 2018 The second objective to this bill is it changes the English version of the bill to be gender -neutral. This is pretty self-explanatory. We need to make sure that our laws directly reflect t he current values and beliefs of Manitobans. As Manitobans, we believe that people have the right to identify the way they want, and that is why we are starting this trend of making legislation gender -neutral. This amendment is keeping up with this trend. Now, Madam Speaker, I anticipate questions for this bill.

So I took the liberty of going through past second readings to see what questions are typically asked for the upcoming question and answer period. I figured someone would probably ask me how did I come up with the bill. Well, Madam Speaker, as I previously mentioned earlier, when working with our front-line addiction groups, we found that some peace officers had been directed that they could not detain a person under The Intoxicated Persons Detention Act that was intoxicated by drugs as the act only covered intoxication by alcohol.

I also suspect someone may ask if I'm sure that drugs are not already covered under the act because a few members of this House asked that last week. And, Madam Speaker, I am completely positive. We had the same question when this arose from our community programs. There are two reasons we know that this is not currently covered. First, as I've already mentioned earlier, the Manitoba Court of Appeal found that the defini tion of intoxication only referred to an inebriated state under the influence of alcohol.

Second, while working with the Legislative Counsel, we also discovered that the French equivalent of intoxicated also only refers to alcohol, which is why the French portion of the legislation changes and roughly translates to drunk or drugs. Madam Speaker, I also presume I'll be asked who I consulted with, and I'm happy to share that our main consultations were with front -line addiction service providers, with Marion Willis of the St. Boniface street connection, and Morberg House.

I've also consulted with my constituents as well as people who have been directly affected by addictions from across Manitoba, and everyone agrees that our current act has been in place since 1988 desperately needs updating. Madam Speaker, just to wrap up, I would like to say that we are at a crucial crossroads when it comes to dealing with addictions. We do not believe in incarceration and hard punishment for drug use. We do, however, belie ve in working collectively to take a responsible approach at keeping Manitobans safe from the evolving issues facing our communities today.

This act aims to give clarification so our peace officers and our front -line health -care workers can work effectively to maintain the health and safety for all Manitobans. I hope to have the members of this House support today when we vote on the bill at 11:55. Thank you. Questions Madam Speaker: A question period of up to 10 minutes will be held. Questions may be addressed to the sponsoring member by any member in the following sequence: first question to be asked by a member from another party; this is to be followed by a rotation between the parties.

Each independent member may ask one question, and no question or answer shall exceed 45 seconds. * (10:10) Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): I thank the member from Burrows for bringing forward this legislation. In her press release on May 15th, she said, and I quote: Pol ice can only detain people who are intoxicated due to alcohol but cannot detain individuals who are high on meth or other drugs. End quote. This is simply not true, Madam Speaker. Can the member please explain the rationale behind this comment? Ms.

Cindy Lamoureux (Burrows): I'd like to thank the member from Lac du Bonnet for the question, and I stand by what I said and I'll try to help clarify the issue at hand here. When a person is intoxicated from alcohol, the police have the right to detain them. They do not have the right to detain someone if they are inebriated from drugs. If someone is having a meth crisis and perhaps they are breaking the law in some way, then they have the right to detain them. Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns ): I just want to acknowledge my sister colleague and say congratulations for bringing forth your bill.

I would ask the mem ber for Burrows: W ould this bill capture substances like glue, hairspray,

May 22, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2435 whiteout, et cetera, that are not clearly alcohol or drugs but obviously can induce intoxication? Ms. Lamoureux: I'd like to thank the member from St. Johns. It's a great question, actually. This bill would encapture anything that constitutes as a drug in our time and age. I think that that is a wonderful question, though. We should explore those options. But for right now this is a step moving forward. Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, to my colleague.

Around Christmastime there was a young woman who went to Seven Oaks who was intoxicated with m eth, and she didn't stay, but she left and she was found dead not long after. It was a very tragic event. Can you explain how this bill might prevent tragedies like that by being able to detain people? Ms. Lamoureux: I'd like to thank my colleague from River Heights for the question. That's a great example of really what is happening and what we are trying to prevent from happening again in the future. We need to be proactive on this.

By implementing this bill, it allows health -care professionals as well as our peace officers to have the resources they need to properly work with people and provide people the resources they need in a time of crisis during addictions. Mr. Bob Lagassé (Dawson Trail): Does the member realize that law enforcement can currently detain people under The Intoxicated Persons Detention Act that are intoxicated by drugs and other substances? Ms. Lamoureux: The question from the member from Dawson Trail is very similar to the q uestion from the member from Lac du Bonnet, and the answer remains the same, Madam Speaker.

As of right now, and I'm one hundred per cent certain, a peace officer does not have the right to detain a person who is strung out on drugs, unless they are committing a crime, the way that they do have the right to detain a person who has alcohol –is too inebriated from alcohol. Ms. Fontaine: Can the member tell me, does this bill change any current practices already followed by law enforcement when it comes to detaining an intoxicated person? Ms. Lamoureux: No, it does not change anything that is curre ntly happening.

It simply broadens the definition–or creates a definition for the term intoxication to include drugs under it in the English version as it is currently under the French version. Mr. Nic Curry (Kildonan): I'd like to know –so we've heard f rom the member, my neighbour and colleague in the North End, about her kind of feelings on this. I'd like to know if she has found any ideas or feelings from institutions in the city that routinely have to interact with people using intoxicating substances such as drugs that she's mentioned. Ms. Lamoureux: I'd like to thank my colleague from Kildonan for the question.

Yes, we've actually met with many people throughout the province. I talked about this a little bit during the second reading opening there . We've met with–some of our main consultations were with front-line addiction service providers, with Marion Willis of the St. Boniface street connection and Morberg House. And, again, I have talked with many of my personal constituents about this and m any of the colleagues here in this House. It is not a new conversation. People are aware of the issues, aware of addictions that people are facing here in Manitoba and the need for change. Ms.

Fontaine: Is the member for Burrows (Ms. Lamoureux) at all concerned with the Pallister government's cuts to police services, which will actually consequently make it harder to conduct roadside testing to discourage impaired driving? Ms. Lamoureux: And thank the member from St. Johns for the question. I am very, very concerned, which is one of my motivating factors for wanting to bring forward this bill. I think that many members in this House, we know that being harsh on crime is not the answer, especially when it comes to addictions because it's much more than a crime -worthy punishment.

We need to start being smart on crime. We need to think about restorative ways and places people can go to detoxify rather than become hardened criminals. Thank you. Mr. Ewasko: And in the member for Burrows' opening speech, in her five-and-a-half minute speech to this bill, she mentioned a Court of Appeal case and I'd just like to know what that case's name was.

2436 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 22, 2018 Ms. Lamoureux: And I thank the member from Lac du Bonnet, and I'll be sure to get you the title, the name of the appeal, before we vote at 11:55. Thank you. Ms. Fontaine: There is certainly a lack of addiction support in our province. What does the member feel or think that the Pallister government should do in order to provide more services to people in need? Ms. Lamoureux: I think that there are many things that we could be doing and this bill is just a step in the right direction for it.

A big thing that I hear a lot in my community is we need youth justice committees. That would be one example. We could talk about restorative approaches, opening up places for people to go when they're addicted to drugs, places to detoxify, safe places so that they aren't being incarcerated and brought– being brought to the Winnipeg Remand Centre or in the hallways in our hospitals. Thank you. Mr. Ewasko: I'd like to ask the member for Burrows (Ms. Lamoureux): Where and how does she see that this bill is going to help those law enforcement officers outside of the Perimeter of Winnipeg? Ms.

Lamoureux: And you know it would be the same idea as in Winnipeg. We know that the drug crisis, addictions, are not only in Winnipeg; they're throughout our entire province. This allows people in our law enforcement, people in our health- care system to have the tools , to have the resources, to help manage and deal with people they may find on the street who are intoxicated, inebriated and not necessarily from alcohol. Ms.

Fontaine: I know that the member spoke briefly to it in her speech, but I would like her to kind of, maybe expand on why it's important for The Intoxicated Persons Detention Amendment Act to include gender-neutral nouns. Ms. Lamoureux: And I'd like to thank the member from St. Johns for that question, too.

You know, I think that just as time continues to progress, we want to be MLAs that people of Manitoba can be proud of and I think that as a province we need to continue working towards helping people feel comfortable in identifying with who they are and, by creating gender-neutral terms in all of our legislation, that is a step in a positive direction. Mr. Curry: So, from what I'm hearing from my friend and colleague from the North End, it doesn't seem that we've heard a lot about the consultation from pol ice, people who are on the front lines that this will likely effect the most.

They are who we charge with our safety in our society, and in Winnipeg the top police enforcement officer, of course, is Police Chief Danny Smyth, not a stranger to this building and not a stranger to many functions in the North End. I'd like to know if the member from Burrows spoke to Police Chief Danny Smyth on this matter at all. * (10:20) Ms. Lamoureux: You know, as the Winnipeg Police Service is a government entity, we felt that a third party–and we felt, as a third party, that we wouldn't want to attempt to politicize them in any way. Thank you. Madam Speaker: The time for questions has expired.

Debate Madam Speaker: Debate is open. Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): It gives me great pleasure to stand up this morning, this sunny Tuesday morning, to put a few words on the record in regards to Bill 229, The Intoxicated Persons Detention Amendment Act , brought forward by the member for Burrows (Ms. Lamoureux).

And it's v ery interesting that the member from Burrows decided to answer a question brought forward by the member from Kildonan in regards to consultations, in regards to the very important consultations with our front -line service providers, such as the Winnipeg ci ty police, or even the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Madam Speaker, in which she has done none of that because she is looking at hoping to not politicize the police forces, the law enforcement personnel that each and every day put their lives on the line to defend us and they encounter many different people throughout this great province of ours, and it's challenging.

I know that in rural Manitoba, I know that the – that we are in a little bit of a crisis mode in regards to our police service, as far as th e amount of members who are out there, again, keeping our streets and roads and rural Manitobans safe, and those Manitobans also who live in urban centres who venture out to cottage country, or just outside the perimeter for a ride.

May 22, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2437 The amount of members who are now positioned across–around the province, Madam Speaker, seems to be dwindling as far as the percentage or the ratio of members per Manitoban. When she talked about bringing forward this Bill 229, it's interesting because we've done a little bit of research and it doesn't take long–take much to do a little bit of the research, in regards to having those discussions with the Department of Justice or the Attorney General (Mrs. Stefanson) of the province. We've got a couple of pieces of information here.

We've got that this proposed legislation is not necessary as it is already covered by the existing act, under The Intoxicated Persons Detention Act. The responding officer is able to detain people who appear intoxicated without having to make a medical determination on whether this is due to alcohol, drugs or other factors. This includes the discretion to determine the appropriate placement for an individual who appears to be intoxicated and a danger to hi m or herself or others. This is based on the person's behaviour and where he or she may be safely held, not on what the intoxicant itself might be.

Now, that sort of takes me to the point of this bill, is that the member's bringing this forward–with doing some consultation, which she had mentioned who she had consulted with–but I'm not sure if this is necessarily something that the –that our law enforcement is asking to have it brought in, because it seems to be redundant, Madam Speaker.

As a couple of my colleagues in this House, who are highly educated lawyers –I mean, they can speak to that a little more than, of course, than I can, but I know that the great RCMP officers that service my constituency, the Lac du Bonnet constituency, I know that they're working hard each and every day to maintain the peace, to keep the peace. And I know a lot of them are trying on the – trying to do the proactive side of this as well, Madam Speaker.

I know that they are taking time to chat with students, to kids in vario us schools about the harm of drugs and alcohol and how to–as they move on into adult life, to practice more of a safe lifestyle in–when they're using various prescription drugs or alcohol and that. As far as their duty, I mean, as they are trav - elling th roughout the various constituencies, and in Winnipeg as well, if they do see somebody who is seemingly intoxicated or under the influence of something, they absolutely do have the right to detain that person or persons from doing harm to other people or to themselves.

So when we start to look at, you know, drill down into this legislation, it's very interesting that the member from Burrows decides today to bring forward Bill 229 and use this as her designated or selected bill as an independent member–all–they all have the right to bring forward a selected bill in which they can ask to have it voted upon.

So I would think–and, of course, question period could sort of go on for a while and I had a couple more questions for the member, but it probably would've been a good idea for her to sit down with the Justice Minister and have a conversation, even though she decided that she didn't really want to politicize the law enforcement such as the Winnipeg police or the Brandon city police or the RCMP. I don't th ink it would've hurt to have those conversations with Chief Danny Smyth and sergeant–not sergeant–Kolody, as well. I mean, I don't think that would've hurt.

I think there's many things that we encounter each and every day in this great job of ours that opens the opportunity up to have conversations with these people who are in leadership roles in the different portfolios or within the different departments that service this great province of ours, Madam Speaker, and I think that is something definitely that the member from Burrows could have potentially have done, and I encourage her to, you know, potentially do that, moving forward, after today.

As we've already stated in some of our questions, I know that she repeated the points a couple times, is that this does seem to be a little bit of a redundant type of bill, and it's not that I personally don't support the idea behind it; that's not it, Madam Speaker. It's the fact that this is covered underneath–under The Intoxicated Persons Detention Act, and so I feel that this is just to put on another piece of legislation in the books. I don't think it's necessary.

We know that, as I've –my previous job and my current profession, of course, is a educator, and I've gone to many, many different training sessions on drugs and addictions and working with students who are having trouble dealing with those themselves or within their families. We know that the absolute crisis that is hitting our province, and not only our province but our country as well, Madam

2438 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 22, 2018 Speaker, as far as the meth problem. We know that this absolutely hit a high, and no pun intended, absolute hit a high about 15 years ago, and there was a major crisis. And then it sort of died down for a while. And here we go again.

I mean, we're hitting it again, and I think that a lot of people are a little bit better prepared for it, but at that time, that being said, we have so much work to do on this file, and I think that just because it died down for a while, I mean, all of a sudden, it is more readily accessible, it's cheaper; matter of fact, the people who are pushing the drugs are actually giving it away for free to get the people–and it's not just youth–to get the people who they are targeting hooked on various drugs so that they could come back to t hem because as we know when people have tried meth, they'll never, ever be able to reach that high that they reached in the very first point, Madam Speaker. * (10:30) With that few words on the record, Madam Speaker, I'm not going to be supporting this bill, but I do support the intent of it.

Thank you. Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): So I'm pleased to put a couple of words, just brief words on the record in respec t of–again, my sister colleague from Burrows' bill 229–excuse me–The Intoxicated Persons Detention Amendment Act. I do just want to say, I always think it is important for every MLA to take those opportunities to put forward bills that they believe in an d that they feel are the right thing to do and even more so, for our sister colleagues here in the House. So I just want to lift up my sister colleague, and say, congratulations.

I will have some additional comments before that, but I do just want to say congratulations on bringing forward a bill. Like I said, I think that it is very important for women in this House, or our sister colleagues to take every opportunity that they can to make change, either it's in this building or outside this building. And so I honour and lift up my colleague this morning. I do want to just, again, briefly note a couple of things. I think that there's a bit of concern in respect of the definition of intoxication to specify alcohol and drugs. In respect of –it may be too na rrow.

And we–when we look across the board at some of the language that's used in other, like, front -line services and in policing, we know that they typically, the narrative is intoxication, which encompasses –tends to encompass everything. So, I do want t o point out that similar to one of my questions, when are –when we narrow the language and proscribe in legislation, we typically then can leave things out.

And so one of the things that we've left out, as I said –or in my question–was other pieces in respect of, you know, sniffing and those other, you know, like, hairspray and glue and W ite-Out; those are kind of omitted in the legislation. So I think it's important to be cognizant of that.

And you know, I think that on this side of the House we support the bill in principle, and I think that we'd like to see the discussion at the committee stage to see those individuals that are on the front -line and others, to see whether or not this bill really does cast the appropriate net that the member is attempting to do in respect of, really, helping folks who are intoxicated and getting them that support, whether it's through detention, in this particular case.

I do want to mention, also, that I think it's important that we talk a little bit about the supports that we need and whether or not we actually have the infrastructure to adequately deal with folks, with people who are in trauma and who are struggling with the wide spectrum of addictions and intoxication. And I think that we've made it clear on our side of the House that, certainly, there's a lot more that needs to be done in respect of infrastructure and a really good example–and I know that the member for Point Douglas (Mrs.

Smith) and myself have brought this up in the House–you know, the work that we do, you know, not only as MLAs, but community members, helping folks dealing with addictions and, you know, all of those interconnecting and intersectionality issues of homelessness and poverty, and colonization and all of those things, which, you know, when people are intoxicated, I would suggest, 99 per cent of the time, it is predicated upon those issues.

And so, when we look at, you know, entrenching law, but if we don't have the supports or the infrastructure to help people get out of the current system, or the current state that they're in, I think that we are–it is–we are looking solely downstream. And I know that a lot of our elders in the community talk about the prevention and intervention that we need to do at the top of the stream in order –so that we're actually not dealing with this issue because we're dealing with people's core issues in respect of their trauma and the healing that they need to be able to deal with it.

May 22, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2439 So, you know, I do want to just mention, as well, I think it is incumbent on all of us –and, certainly, I want to use this opportunity to just say miigwech and to acknowledge again all of those people that are on the front lines working with and trying to address the issues of addictions in our province and certainly in Winnipeg. You know, we've had many opportunities. The member for Point Douglas (Mrs.

Smith) and myself, we do a lot of our work together as MLAs and we've had many opportunities to visit so many community organizations and front -line organizations that are really in the trenches of dealing with addictions. And, you know, we can look at Nine Circles, certainly a mainstream project which we have mentioned here before.

And I think that when you go there, when you listen to folks, when you sit down with folks, when you see the infrastructure or, in some cases the lack of infrastructure, certainly, to deal with the meth crisis, it does give you a sincere appreciation for the level of commitment and love and care and compassion and understanding that people bring forward in respect of individuals with trauma and addiction.

And so I know for us on this side of the House, and I would suggest for everybody in the House, that it is, you know, I want to take this moment just to recognize each and every one of them and the work that they do. Finally, Madam Speaker, I think that, you know, for us to be able to talk about–and what the member's trying to do is give the tools to the police to help deal with, in a more robust and comprehensive way, although I'm not entirely sure if that's accurate, but, you know, to be able to deal with, again, the most marginalized and traumatized.

Again, you know, coupled with the lack of infrastructure to deal with it, you know, we know that the Pallister government, this government right now has been actively making cuts to police services. So, when you combine all three of those it is maybe not the m ost conducive or robust or comprehensive way to deal with this if we're just looking at it from a policing aspect. So I do just want to kind of point out for the record, I think that it's important for everybody to acknowledge and members opposite too bec ause they probably want to go back to their Premier (Mr. Pallister) and say, you know, what's going on?

But I think that the Premier's budgets, you know, have forced the WPS –let's just talk about the WPS – to cut staff and programs which have been, you know, designed to keep our safety safe. The Premier cut 15 police officer positions in places like the Integrated Organized Crime Task Force and the warrant task force.

The Premier also cut $75,000 in annual funding from the Gang Action Interagency Network which helped youth access supports to exit gangs, as well, the Spotlight unit, an intensive anti - gang project that supports youth at risk of gang involvement, and the Auto Theft Suppression Strategy which reduced auto theft in Winnipeg by 86 per cent from 2004 and 2011, which, of course, was during our time.

And what's interesting here is, you know, similar to some of the cuts that we saw recently in respect of individuals who are incarcerated and potential training programs which targeted, actually, youth at the Manitoba Youth Centre, you know, we see that these cuts are targeting youth as well, and actually some of the most marginalized youth, and creating a cycle whereby instead of helping individuals get out of gangs and, you know, pursue their exit strate gies– which I would suggest to you most do want to do– they're actually making it harder for youth to be able to do that. * (10:40) So, you know, I think that we have to be very aware of some of the things –the measures that were in place, that were doing good work, and the measures that are being cut which will just, at the end of the day, not be conducive for Manitobans to be safe in our own communities, and I will leave it for there right now.

Miigwech, Madam Speaker. Mr. Bob Lagassé (Dawson Trail): I'm pleased to rise today to speak on Bill 229, The Intoxicated Persons Detention Amendment Act, brought forward by the member for Burrows (Ms. Lamoureux). I'm going to start by saying we respect the incredible work done by Manitoba law enforcement and we will always stand up for them. Having said that, I'm thinking about the Ste. Anne's police force, which is in one of my RMs, Madam Speaker, and I think about the wonderful work they are doing to keep the streets of Ste. Anne safe as well as the community of Ste. Anne safe.

I think about the wonderful work that Marc Robichaud as the police chief is doing in trying to expand his program outside of the RM and I think about the, you know,

2440 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 22, 2018 the approach and the hard work that he has done in that community, whic h is kind of surprising when I heard the member from Burrows say that she had actually not consulted with any law enforcement in this bill. And I get she's trying not to, you know, make it a political issue with the police forces, but often, when you leave people out of consultation, you miss key pieces of information; and often, when you leave those people out, you can't really get their

interpretation of what the legislation is or what they– I guess, their ideas on what they would like to see go forward. Having said that, Madam Speaker, the member from Burrows hasn't really done her homework. Bill 229 creates no measurable changes, as law enforcement is already doing the 'aprosed' –the proposed amendment suggestions. Currently, the police can detain people under The Intoxicated Persons Detention Act that are intoxicated by other drugs and other 'stubstances'.

This kind of brings me back to my days as a bouncer, Madam Speaker, in trying to determine when people were intoxicated; whether it was through alcohol –I remember taking a program in Ontario called, I believe it was –shoot, the name is escaping me right now. But it determines based on body size and weight the amount of alcohol that someone can have in their system, and you know, we always had to make these decisions on the fly and on the snap as to whether someone was actually intoxicated by alcohol or whether they were actually intoxicated by drugs.

I can remember many a night where I'd be making my rounds in the clubs, running the security, and we'd have some kind of incident and we'd have to quickly determine whether it was because they were in the washroom snorting cocaine or whether it was because they had had too much to drink. I can think back to times when we would eject people from the bars and how the law enforcement officials would then have to take over and how –the great professionalism they would put forward in doing their jobs, Madam Speaker.

They would never –you know, it was always a case of they would use their best judgment under the legislation that was put before them. Madam Speaker, I can think back to times when I was also running night club–not just night club security but concert security, and all the different challenges that we faced working alongside with law enforcement.

There were lots of times where I can think of different incidents, again, that occurred in those situations that got violent very quickly, and I think back to one particular evening in Niagara Falls when I was running security at one of the clubs there and a ge ntleman completely losing control.

I'd say there were about 12 of us on that evening running the club security and this particular individual decided to pick a fight with someone at the bar, and as a result, he–it took about five or six different doormen t o actually get him under control and two Niagara police officers at the time to come in and help to get him calmed down.

It was determined at the end of it all that, actually, he wasn't at all impaired on any kind of alcohol, but rather, he was impaired on some kind of drug, and it actually resulted in quite the violent takedown in the end with the Niagara regional police, who–I have to give them a lot of credit–they held their own when it came to patience and to the calmness and the professionalism that they displayed that evening, because there's lesser men that would have lost it a lot quicker in that kind of scenario.

This brings me back to–there's so many stories that I can think back to of intoxicated people and the different nightclubs that I've worked at, and I think back to some of the ones where that –were just simply impaired on, you know, the –sorry–cannabis, Madam Speaker, and the, you know, the effects that that even has when mixed with alcohol. I think to some of the legislation that we're quick ly putting together when it comes around cannabis because we're really being forced by the federal government to get this done in a hurry.

So we have seen that methamphetamine, as one of the drugs, had devastating consequences, and we have seen the toil it has taken on Manitoba over the last number of months. Our government is taking this very seriously as well as the cannabis portion. Our 'governent'–our government is partnering with both federal and municipal governments and working across government de partments to ensure that we tackle this complex issue. Unlike the member for –from St.

Johns would like us to believe, we have added six mental health beds and are making significant investments in Manitoba in the justice system as well as the mental health. Our government is focused on meaningful changes to our justice system through our Criminal Justice System Modernization Strategy. Our government is creating safer communities and

May 22, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2441 ensuring timely access to justice for all Manitobans. We are being tou gh on crime, but also tough on the causes of crime. This measure is using evidence-based proactive strategies that are proven to work in other jurisdictions. So we're including everyone in this consultation, Madam Speaker. We're not just making a guess or just altering a few words in legislation to make it seem like it's something new.

We are conducting an internal review to determine ways to improve on the services, better protect the safety of Manitoba and build up on confidence in the criminal justice system. We've developed a four-point strategy with an emphasis on crime prevention, targeted resources for serial – serious criminal 'crase'–cases, more effective uses of restorative justice and responsible reintegration of offenders. Madam Speaker, while there's still more work to be done, early data shows promise in several areas. The number of court delay motions filed has declined here in Manitoba.

More effective use of diverse options by Manitoba Prosecution Service and the average number of adults in custody has declined over the last few months. Our government believes in producing real results for Manitobans. We will be reporting annually to Manitobans about our progress on several measures of the Criminal Justice System Modernization. Madam Speaker, we are doing the work that the NDP never did to create safe communities and ensure timely access to justice for all Manitobans.

As part of our strategy to reform the criminal justice system we have developed a new model for the probation ser vice that will better focus on reintegration services for offenders leaving custody. Responsible integration restructures probation services and partners with the community to ensure that offenders leaving custody get the supports they need to break the cycles of crime and self destruction in our communities. The Responsibility Reintegration Initiative is a direct result of this restructure of the probation services.

It identifies lower risk offenders who are eligible for a temporary absence from custody. It then allows them to serve the remainder of their sentence up to a maximum of 60 days in the community under intensive probation service – supervision. Madam Speaker, during this time they are also given a wide range of supports to keep them out of jail, breaking cycles of crime and self -destruction in their lives. These include supports like housing, education and job training. We know that offenders serving their sentence in the community are half as likely to reoffend as those living in custody.

The Responsible Reintegration Initiative will help reduce the high recidivism rates we inherited from the previous government. Under the NDP madam –sorry–Manitoba had the worst criminal rates in Canada. From 2005 to 2015 Manitoba had more homicides per cap ita than any other province. * (10:50) With that, Madam Speaker, I would just like to thank you for the opportunity to put a few words on the record towards Bill 229, The Intoxicated Persons Detention Amendment Act. Thank you. Mrs. Bernadette Smith (Point Douglas): I just want to thank the colleague from Burrows for bringing forward this bill.

We know that, you know, there's many people that are struggling with drugs and alcohol. We know that there's not enough beds. Six beds is definitely not enough to support the thousands of people that are struggling with mental health, addictions in this province. The member from Dawson Creek just referenced six beds. Well, I can tell him that the clinics that they're opening that are triaging these people who are coming in with addiction to get into these beds, is never going to be enough. Six beds, you know, you need way more beds than that.

Unfortunately, you know, people come intoxi - cated in many different forms. I grew up in a family, my mother was an alcohol abuser, and there wasn't many services then for people who were wanting to get help, to get off substance abuse. And, unfortunately, with our legacy in Canada, many of the people who are dealing with addictions have some real underlying issues that have to do with how they were treated, let's say, in residential schools or being adopted out into the '60s scoop or

2442 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 22, 2018 being adopted, period–or being put into Child and Family Services. You know, these are real things that families are dealing with, tha t they're trying to cope with. So, you know, bringing a bill forward, The Intoxicated Persons Detention Act , we see people also that are struggling with solvent and glue; and you know, we can't police our way out of the situation. Unfortunately, we need to be investing in beds that are going to help people get out of these addictions and that are going to make real differences in people's lives.

We can't be, you know, criminalizing and saying to the police that, you know, you need to put these people in jail. The member from St.

Johns and I had many opportunities to visit many of the different support organizations that are supporting people right on the front lines, that are saying that, you know, unless we deal with the trauma that these families are dealing with, that these addicts are dealing with, nothing's ever going to change for them; that we need real investments in treatment centres that are really going to look at dealing with the trauma and dealing– making informed choices for their families, in terms of not splitting families up when a family member has to go to an addictions centre, because that just further pushes them into the addictions, but looking at a holistic approach in terms of supporting families so the children, the family, the person who' s dealing with the addiction, needs to be made.

Our NDP understands –team understands the importance of having legislation that reflects everyone, so I'm pleased to see that, you know, we have some pronouns in there that we're looking at, making sure that we're being diverse and inclusive. We introduced the vital statistics bill that actually is already on passports. Unfortunately, this government voted against it and it wasn't passed, but this is something that Manitobans want. They don't want to be put into a box that puts them into a category of male or female, and that's part of, you know, mental health.

When we exclude people, and we're forcing them to make these, you know, choices of ticking off a box or not being introduced by their pronoun or recognized as, you know, something other than he or she, then, you know, we're not doing a great justice for our people. There's been cuts to public services. Because we value and prioritize the safety of Manitobans on the roads, our NDP team is concern ed, very concerned that the Premier's (Mr. Pallister) cuts of public safety officers and crime prevention programs will have a significant impact, of course, on our police force's ability to enforce impaired driving.

The Premier's cuts have forced– Madam Speaker: Order, please. In accordance with our rule 24, and as previously announced, I am interrupting debate to put the question on the honourable member for Burrows' (Ms. Lamoureux) selected bill. The question before the House, then, is second reading of Bill 229, The Intoxicated Persons Detention Amendment Act. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? Agreed? Some Honourable Members: Agreed. Some Honourable Members: No. Madam Speaker: I hear a no. Voice Vote Madam Speaker: All those in favour of the motion, please say aye. Some Honourable Members: Aye.

Madam Speaker: All those opposed, please say nay. Some Honourable Members: Nay. Madam Speaker: In my opinion, the Nays have it. Recorded Vote Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Burrows): Madam Speaker, I'd like to call for a recorded vote. Madam Speaker: Does the member have the support of three other members to request a recorded vote? There is support. A recorded vote having been requested, in accordance with rule 23(5), the division will be deferred until 11:55 a.m. on Thursday, May 24th. * * * Hon.

Cliff Cullen (Government House Leader): Madam Speaker, would you canvass the House to see if there is a willingness to call it 11 o'clock?

May 22, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2443 Madam Speaker: Is there leave of the House to call it 11 o'clock? [Agreed] RESOLUTIONS Res. 16–Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day Madam Speaker: The hour's now 11 a.m. and time for private member's resolution. The resolution before us this morning is the resolution Celebrating National Indig enous Peoples Day, brought forward by the honourable member for St. Vital. Mrs. Colleen Mayer (St. Vital): I move, seconded by the member for Selkirk (Mr. Lagimodiere),

WHEREAS First Nations, Inuit and Métis are Canada's Indigenous peoples; and

WHEREAS First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples are founding partners in the creation of Manitoba; and

WHEREAS June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day; and

WHEREAS National Indigenous Peoples Day recognizes and celebrates the many contributions of First Nation s, Inuit and Métis peoples to Canada; and

WHEREAS this Provincial Government recognizes that Indigenous knowledge, art and culture helped to shape the province of Manitoba; and

WHEREAS this Provincial Government recognizes the need to continue working towards reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples; and

WHEREAS this Provincial Government is committed to cultivating a relationship of mutual respect and reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. THEREFORE IT –BE IT RESOL VED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba recognize National Indigenous Day by celebrating the many contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples and by reaffirming the commitment to reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities across Manitoba. Madam Speaker: It has been moved by the honourable member for St. Vital, seconded by the honourable member for Selkirk, THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba recognize National Indigenous Day by celebrating the many contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples and by reaffirming the commitment to reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities across Manitoba. Mrs. Mayer: Aaniin, tansi, tanshi, boozhoo, hello, Madam Speaker. It's my honour to bring forward resolution 16 celebrating National Indigenous Day.

Before we begin, I want to acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty 1 land, the traditional territory of the Anishinabe, the Cree, the Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples and on the homeland of the Metis nation. Mr. Doyle Piwniuk, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair As this is my first resolution, I want to take a moment to thank all those who have supported me on this journey and helped me to get where I am today. The purpose of this resolution, Mr.

Deputy Speaker, is for the Manitoba government to recognize the significance of National Indigenous Day and to reaffirm the commitment to recon - cilitation with First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities across our province. As Manitoba recently celebrated its 148th birthday, I was reminded of its beauty and rich history. In 1870, Manitoba was created in partnership with the indigenous peoples who 'inriginally' inhabited the lands that today we all call our home.

First Nations, Inuit and Metis people have always taken a significant role in our province, whether through heritage, culture, environmental sustainability or development, and our government wishes to honour those contributions. National Indigenous Day occurs in Canada every June 21st in conjunction with the summer solstice. Announced in 1996 by the then- governor general, Romeo LeBlanc, the federal government designated a day for all Canadians to join together to celebrate the heritage, diverse cultures and the outstanding contributions of the indigenous Canadian peoples.

In addition to this day of recognition, National Indigenous Day presents a unique opportunity for all Canadians to cultivate a better understanding of indigenous history. Over the past two years, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I have been fortunate enough to take

part in many events and gatherings that have proven to be a great learning experience. But it has also revealed to me that the more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.

2444 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 22, 2018 * (11:00) And I'm not ashamed to admit that, in fact, I have embraced each opportunity as it allows me to continue to further understand and respect out cultural diversities. I have had many wonderful opportunities to witness the beauty of indigenous heritage and culture. Just a f ew events that I have taken

part in on my journey: just this past weekend, of course, the Manito Ahbee Festival that celebrates indigenous art, culture and music. This festival is a gathering that celebrates indigenous culture and heritage to unify, educat e and inspire. And I know when I stood in the middle of the Grand Entry Saturday night, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I was overwhelmed by the beauty and the power that the dancers had provided to us. I embraced every opportunity of that beautiful experience.

I also participated in a pipe ceremony at the CBC New Indigenous Voices –formerly known, the national screening institute's new voices program – which is a culturally sensitive training course that exposes young indigenous people to a variety of creative and challenging employment opportunities in film, TV and digital media. I've also had the joy of sunrise c eremonies, sacred fires and pow wows from all around our province. One powwow specifically that means a lot to me, is the one at the –that the Louis Riel School Division puts on for their pow wow graduation ceremony.

This year is their third annual and it will be taking place tomorrow, and I will be there representing my community but also taking

part in that grand celebration. I've also been blessed over the course of the last two years to have many speaking opportunities through my colleagues in the departments of Education, Justice and Indigenous and Northern Relations. They have always –every time I have crossed paths with individuals who are also participating in those conferences or meetings, they always led to many hugs, storytelling, much laughter and most welcoming comments from elders. And this is something that I have been very grateful to those elders for allowing those words to–allow me to hear those words of support.

Like so many other Manitobans and Canadians, I want to continue to learn about the deeply rooted history of Canada's indigenous peoples. I understand that the journey towards reconciliation will take more than just words and gestur es. We must celebrate the successes of indigenous peoples, but we also shouldn't forget the past. This means acknowledging historical injustices and being active participants in the reconciliation process. It is our hope that with this resolution the current government demonstrates its commitment to the reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Metis people. Mr.

Deputy Speaker, I have spoken to many elders, grand chiefs, chiefs and council members, and various members of indigenous communities both youth and adults. I have participated in traditional ceremonies and modern- day events and have listened to our indigenous leaders speak. All of their voices are heard, and through National Indigenous Day and our government's recognition of that day of celebration, their voices are amplified, which will continue to contribute to reconciliation in Manitoba. Our government is committed to investing in the priorities that support indigenous peoples from across the province. Mr.

Deputy Speaker, we have increased the funding for the co- ordination of Crown-Aboriginal consultation on major resource development projects. We are negotiating and implementing natural resource -related settlement agreements and treaty land entitlement agreements, our government secured funding for the Freedom Road project and there are now shovels in the ground at Shoal Lake. We have affirmed Manitoba's participation in the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls by passing an order-in- council, appointing commissionaires and adopting the federal terms of reference.

I am proud to highlight that our government is reforming Manitoba's child welfare system in a way that respects indigenous sovereignty and is mindful of the legacies of residential schools and the '60s scoop. Bill 18 aims to improve outcomes for indigenous children by focusing on community - based preventio n, lifelong connections and enhancing children's connections to family, community and culture. I think we can all agree that this is a positive step in the right direction.

Our government will continue to bridge the gap between the Manitoba government and indigenous peoples to reconciliation, and it is a great honour to be even a small part of that. Growing up knowing of my Metis heritage but only beginning my personal journey a few short years ago has –as an adult has been truly eye-opening. As I've stated in the House before, I did

May 22, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2445 not have the opportunity to learn about my Metis heritage from my grandfather. He never spoke about it, and like many in his generation, it was something that you simply did not talk about. As he passed away when I was 12, I didn't get a chance to ask him very many questions about his life, but when I reflect back–when I was preparing for this and I reflect back, perhaps when he took me out trapping or when he took me out hunting, and the things he taught me were some of thos e things that he learned from his ancestors.

Indigenous leaders from our province and across Canada have talked about taking care of Mother Earth, improving our lines of communication and strengthening the foundation of education. And I am confident that this resolution is another step towards the shared vision of reconciliation. I am reminded of a situation that I –a former colleague and I, when we took

part in a book study and we were to read The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King. She's approximately a few years older than I was, and she admitted that she never knew about the injustices done to indigenous people. She wept several times, and I'm glad to say that future generations will not have to experience this realization, as we have incorporated so much into our education curriculum. This allows for a better understanding. But, Mr. Deputy Speaker, there is much work still to do.

It's my hope that one day we will no longer have to ask the question of why it is important, but rather, future generations will already understand why it is important. Through education and communication, we as a government, Manitobans and Canadians, can join together in the healing process and create unity in the province of Manitoba. I want to thank you, to my colleagues in the Chamber, for listening to me today. I think it's very important. Miigwech. Thank you very much, and much blessings. Thank you. Questions Mr.

Deputy Speaker: A question period of up to 10 minutes will be held, and questions may be addressed in the following sequence: the first question may be asked by a member of the other party, any subsequent questions must follow rotations between parties, each independent member may ask one question. And no questions or answers shall exceed 45 seconds. The hono ur–the Leader of the Opposition–the honourable Leader of the Opposition party. Sorry. Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): I'd like to thank my good friend, the deputy–Mr. Deputy Speaker, for recognizing me today.

I know that the member t alked about recon- ciliation in her remarks and also that the resolution that we're debating this morning talks about moving reconciliation forward with the indigenous peoples in Manitoba. So I'd like to just ask a general question to begin. If the member can tell us if the government supports all 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, what can we expect to see action on in terms of implementing the calls to action that have been designed by Canada's expert commission to move reconciliation forward? Mrs. Colleen Mayer (St.

Vital): I want to thank the member for that question. Our government is committed to a reconciliation strategy that will build on meaningful engagement with indigenous nations and peoples. And over the coming year, we'll begin an engagement process in collaboration with indigenous communities and all Manitobans to develop a comprehensive reconciliation framework and action plan for advancing indigenous priorities. Mr. Alan Lagimodiere (Selkirk): Could the member please explain why this is something she is so passionate about bringing forward as a resolution? Mrs.

Mayer: I want to thank my colleague for that question. As I have stated in the House several times, I didn't have the opportunity to learn about my Metis heritage, and my grandfather never spoke about it. This is something that I often reflect on, on what it – my life would have been like had I had the opportunity to hear stories about family, his life and what it meant to him. * (11:10) There's something within me that drives me to continue to learn, Mr.

Deputy Speaker, and when I often hear drums or songs at a powwow or feel the wind on my face when I participate in indigenous outdoor events, I become emotional. And an elder once told m e that those are your ancestors coming

2446 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 22, 2018 and surrounding you, providing you with love and support, and so to them, I thank and say, miigwech. Mrs. Bernadette Smith (Point Douglas): The member talked about moving beyond mere words in terms of reconciliation. Can the member tell us what this bill will do to move beyond those words and towards reconciliation? Mrs. Mayer: Miigwech to the member from Point Douglas. National Indigenous Day allows for all voices to be heard. When we continue to talk and understand, we are helping to support reconcilation efforts.

Our government recognizes that through this day of celebration and the fact that many voices are amplified helps us continue to contribute to reconcilation in Manitoba. Mr. Lagimodiere: Did the member consult with any Manitoba indigenous communities on this resolution and, if so, whom did she consult with and what was their response? Mrs. Mayer: I want to thank the member for that question and I want to acknowledge the individuals that are in the gallery with me today.

I have, over the last two years, had the privilege of speaking with many elders and grand chiefs, one of the members in the Chamber, council members from the indigenous community, and I'm going to say that –Mr. Deputy Speaker, that I'll continue to grow; I'll continue to ask questions from that knowledge that they provide me. I will continue to embrace every opportunity that comes my way. Mr. Kinew: The calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a number of them have to do with indigenous languages and revitalizing indigenous languages.

We know that there's a number of indigenous languages spoken here in Manitoba, including Anishinaabemowin, Dakota, Michif, Cree, Oji-cree and others–Dene, Inuktitut. But I just want to as k if the member can talk a bit about what this government will do to advance indigenous languages, in particular, helping to revitalize indigenous language acquisition amongst young Manitobans. Mrs. Mayer: Thank you very much for that question. You know, there are so much that our departments are doing to advance indigenous education and understanding.

As part of our ongoing commitment to a transparent a nd accountable government, our minister of indigenous and northern affairs will be reporting each year, or what she does report each year, on the measures our government has taken to advance reconcilation, including measures taken to engage indigenous nations, indigenous peoples, in The Path to Reconciliation Act annual progress report. There are many, many initiatives underway and our government will continue to promote education and understanding, awareness, healing and economic development. Mr. Chairperson: The honourable member's time is up. Mr.

Lagimodiere: When we're talking about reconcilation efforts, can the member clearly indicate how the proposed resolution supports reconciliation efforts? Mrs. Mayer: Thank you. That's a good question and something that I did answer from members opposite. They had ask ed. It allows –sorry–National Indigenous Day allows many voices to be heard. I reiterate that we're going to continue to talk and understand and our government continues to recognize through this day of celebration that the fact that those many voices are amplified, it will help to contribute to reconciliation in Manitoba. Hon.

Jon Gerrard (River Heights): One of the important areas that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission deals with is the large number, and it's particularly true in Manitoba, of children in the care of Child and Family Services. There is, I think, pretty broad agreement that there needs to be significant reduction in the number of children in the care of Child and Family Services and children should be in the care of their biological families. What is the member's goal for the reduction that we have from about 11,000 kids in care now, to what number by 2020? Mrs. Mayer: Thank you very much for that question.

When I brought this resolution forward, it was to celebrate the celebrati on of N ational Indigenous Day. Some of these questions are very specific to ministers. You've heard in this House before that the Minister of Families (Mr. Fielding) has talked about what he plans on doing or the path he plans on taking. And I would tell the member opposite that I am encouraged when I talk to elders, community

May 22, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2447 leaders, grand chiefs about the work that we're doing and how they feel about that work that we're doing. So I support the Minister of Families in his endeavour– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member's time is up. Mrs. Smith: The member referenced that they're doing work around missing and murdered indigenous women here in Manitoba. As a family who's –a missing and murdered–indigenous family who's missing a sister, can the member speak about what the government is currently do to–currently doing to support those families? Mrs.

Mayer: Miigwech to the member opposite, and let me take the opportunity to acknowledge the words that you've sent, and I send to you my deepest condolences that–for the missing of your sister, the murder of your sister. I think that it's very tragic any time someone loses a life. Our daughters are precious, our aunts, our sisters, our mothers, are precious as they are the ones that give us life. And I think that for us, addressing violence against indigenous women and girls and the incidences of missing and murdered 'indigenw em' and girls should be a priority in this province. Mr. Lagimodiere: Yes.

Can the member please explain the significance of celebrating June 21st as National Indigenous Day? Mrs. Mayer: Thank you for that question. I was doing a little bit of research, and when we celebrate the solstice we celebrate the return of the warmth of the sun and the solstice reminds us of how precious each day is.

We are reminded to not–to take the gifts –not to take the gifts of summer for granted, and as we celebrate through solst ice the acknowledgement of the cycles of nature, birth, growth, death and renewal, it reminds us that we are all part of creation and that our own cycles of growth and maturity come through that process. Mr. Kinew: One of the ideas that's been discussed over the past few years is making indigenous peoples day a national statutory holiday. I guess some people feel like maybe giving everyone a day off in the name of indigenous people would help advance reconciliation in a meaningful way.

I was just curious on a personal level whether the member thinks that indigenous peoples day should be a national statutory holiday. Mrs. Mayer: What I would say, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that this government, our government, my government, is committed to continuing to build meaningful and lasting partnerships with Manitoba's First Nation communities. When we partner together, we are all stronger. Thank you. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Time for question period has expired. Debate Mr. Deputy Speaker: The debate is open. Any speakers? Mr.

Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): You know, I'll just pick up where we left in that question period. I think some of our, you know, federal representatives have talked about making indigenous peoples day a statutory holiday, meaning t hat everyone in Canada could potentially get the day off work, at least federal –those who observe federally recognized stat holidays. It's an interesting idea, though I think that the Truth and Reconciliation call to action actually recommends establishing a specific statutory holiday that would recognize residential school survivors.

And so I think that between those two ideas there may be an interesting way to bring Canadians together, one time a year, perhaps a second time a year, to really understand the past, but also look forward to the future and figure out how we can make this country even better than it already is. * (11:20) I wanted to talk a little bit about indigenous culture, Anishinabe culture in particular, Dakota culture as well, because those are two cultures that I'm active in and participate in and also practice.

Over the weekend, I was at the Manito Ahbee Festival, and I guess our young friends in the gallery today, they might know that Manito Ahbee is a sentence in the Ojibwe language that means the spirit is here or the Creator is here. And it is this set of Ojibwe words that actually named our province Manitoba. So our province, just like me, has an Ojibwe name. And our city, Winnibing [phonetic], Wiinibiigong, Winnipeg, also has an Ojibwe or a Cree name. And so these are just some examples of how indigenous cultures, indigenous languages, have

2448 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 22, 2018 shaped our collec tive identity in this country. So whether or not you have indigenous heritage or not, some part of your identity, by being a Winnipegger, by being a Manitoban, has been shaped by indigenous cultures. So I think it's important for us all to recognize that a nd to have that inform part of how we see ourselves.

We know that there's a lot of good work that's been done by educators over the past number of years to implement the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and we now see other sect ors outside of education, outside of the schools, also moving in a similar way. So, we have City of Winnipeg doing a lot of important work bringing different groups together for conversations. We know a lot of people in the health sector are working on adv ancing their knowledge as well, and so it's good to see this come into the political sphere too.

Now, I do like to have the opportunity to talk about indigenous peoples from a strength point of view. You know, often when we're talking about stuff in the media or in politics, we approach it from a deficit point of view, but I like to talk about things from a strength perspective. So I'd share with you, on the weekend, I went to the Manito Ahbee powwow on Sunday, and I had a chance to bring my brand new son to the powwow as well. So that was his first powwow. He's less than two weeks old, but he still managed to make it out for the Grand Entry.

And I was able to dance in the Grand Entry, and, you know, I'm what's called a chicken dancer. It's a prairie- chicken-style dance. I guess the story goes, a long time ago, this dance initiated from the Blackfoot people, and there was a Blackfoot man who had shot a partridge, as we would say in Ontario, but he shot a prairie chicken, as we would say in Manitoba. See, I speak many dialects, you'll notice, Mr. Deputy Speaker –pickerel here and walleye over there. These are some of the dialects that I'm proficient in.

But, anyways, this Blackfoot man, he took a prairie chicken's life so that he could feed his family, and then that night he had a vision. He saw this bird in his dream. And this very sacred vision, this apparition, came up to him in his dream and said, hey, how come you shot me? So they got into a discussion, and as it turns out, the prairie chicken explained to him, well, I understand that you need to feed your family, but if you're going to do so, then you should do a dance. You should learn some of my moves, and you should honour my spirit in this way.

And in that way, I will readily give my life so that your family could live, so long as you honour and pay homage and pay respects to me in this way. And so that prairie -chicken-style dance was born. And so now it's a really popular dance at a lot of the competition powwows across North America, but it has its origin a few hundred years ago in that traditional story. So, I was wearing my regalia, and I got a chance to go to the powwow, and I got a chance to see a lot of good friends and relatives, both–from both sides of the border.

Had a chance to see some fri ends and relatives from Minnesota and South Dakota who we've grown up around, around a lot of the sun dance ceremonies and around the powwow trail. Sun dance, of course, is a spiritual ceremony that's our religion, as you may say. And the powwow trail, tha t's the social side of things. That's where we come together to celebrate and to have good times. As my older hunka brother, Richard Street, once shared with me, he said, well, the reason why I dance at the powwow is, I never know if I'm going to get a chance to dance again.

I don't know what life's going to bring me, so I make sure I dance hard today, I have fun, I celebrate, I have a good time, because who knows what tomorrow will bring? And so that's a lot of what the powwow's all about, because it's a bout coming together, seeing friends and relatives and getting a chance to dance your heart out and have a good time with it. Of course, nowadays, powwows are also, I guess, a, you know, attraction for people who maybe come from outside the powwow trail community. It's kind of a cool celebration to come and observe. And that's a really good thing.

And one of the things that I'd like to see happen more in the future is, hopefully, we could get more and more non- indigenous people to come out to the Manito Ahbee Festival, as well, to participate and observe, but also to learn a little bit more, because the powwow really is sort of like an international celebration. There's contributions from the Anishinabe community, like the jingle dress; there's contributions from the Blackfoot nation, like the chicken dance I was talking about.

Of course, we have our relatives from down south, who contributed things like the fancy -feather style and fancy dance and all that stuff. So it's a really cool celebration. But to be there from a dad's perspective was really nice, too. So, there was my wife, and there

May 22, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2449 with the baby, and, of course, you know, a lot of people come running over and make a fuss over the baby. Oh, we want to see the baby, can we hold the baby? I also notic ed a lot of people asked if they could smell the baby. The new baby smell is a thing. So I was reminded of –and it's really good to see that you know, positivity, family life, cultural celebration all coming together. And it reminds me a lot of what the National Aboriginal Day was all about, renamed I guess, last year to National Indigenous Peoples Day.

But it's an opportunity for us as Canadians to come together and celebrate some of the founding peoples of our country, whether it's Anishinabe, Dakota, Dene, Oji-Cree, Cree, Metis, Inuit, the seven nations that we have here in Manitoba, or whether it's other indigenous nations from around the country, like the Haudenosaunee, The Mi'kmaw, the Tslei -Waututh, and so on.

Often, we, in this place, discuss rela - tionships with indigenous people from a political ends, we have conversations about reconciliation, maybe in a theoretical way, but to me, how we make reconciliation real and practical is by actually building relationships between one person and another person. And I can think of no better place to make that happen that at a positive, cultural celebration. Because, again, when you're starting from a basis of culture, you're starting from a position of strength and you're starting from a position of posit ivity.

So all of that is really good and it's been cool to see the celebration of Aboriginal Day and now i ndigenous peoples day evolve over the years. Of course, I would note that one of the reasons the Assembly of First Nations welcomed the name change from Aboriginal Day to Indigenous Peoples Day is because they felt that this better reflects, not just the language of today, but where we are headed as a country in terms of reconciliation and engaging with indigenous communities.

Specifically, the AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde talked about how calling it i ndigenous peoples day aligns with the wording in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Now, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is a very important document. It was recommended in the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that UNDRIP, the UN declaration, be the tool that is the way that governments, corporations, NGOs, and, really, all of Canadian society, engage with indigenous peoples.

So there's a lot of good stuff in the UN declaration and I would hope that this recognition of i ndigenous peoples day informs the discussion on the government side of the House, that would lead ministers to the Crown, the Premier (Mr. Pallister) and others to ask themselves, how can we action reconciliation? How can we use the UN declaration on the rights of indigenous people as the framework and as the tool kit for reconciliation?

So, again, these are some of the political considerations, some of the t heoretical dimensions, but at the end of the day, starting from a position of culture and starting from a position of positivity is really good. So, with those words on the record, I just want to say miigwech gi-bizindawiyeg. [Thanks for listening to me.] Always like to share the Ojibwe language in this House, again, as a sign that our cultures are alive, are thriving and will continue to– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member's time is up. Mr.

Alan Lagimodiere (Selkirk): I also want to start by acknowledging we're on Treaty 1, the traditional territory of the Anishinabe and the homeland of the Metis Nation. I want to acknowledge the elders in the gallery who had joined us here today. Your support and guidance is greatly appreciated. I need to thank my Metis colleague for bringing this resolution forward. It is an important resolution, which I hope will see all members acknowledge the importance of, and show their respect for, indigenous people, by supporting and bringing this resolut ion to a vote today.

In the Truth and Reconciliations calls to action there was a

section that called upon the federal government in collaboration with the aboriginal peoples to establish a statutory holiday, a national day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour the survivors of residential schools, their families and communities, and ensure that public com - memoration of the history and legacy of the residential school, remain the vital component of the reconciliation process. In discussing this resoluti on, it is important to understand that National Indigenous Peoples Day is about learning, understanding and sharing the culture, traditions, and history of indigenous people.

As Metis, I stand steadfast in my solidarity with First Nations, Metis and Inuit from coast to coast celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st.

2450 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 22, 2018 * (11:30) It is important for all to acknowledge the lives of all those living in Canada today have been influenced by our history with the indigenous people of Manitoba and C anada in one way or another. Our first Manitoba provincial government was led by Louis Riel, a Manitoba Metis whose mother was Julie Lagimodiere and his father was Louis Riel, Sr. Today, I stand in this House a proud Metis. However, this has not always been the case. When growing up, I remember my grandmother pulling us aside to tell us to never let anyone ever know that we were indigenous.

The truth was she was ashamed. She was afraid. At that time, she believed if anyone knew our heritage we would not get an education, we would have trouble accessing health care, and finding a job would be a challenge. Growing up, traditional culture was passed down. We were taught survival skills. We were taught to gather. We were taught to harvest.

We were taught sustainable hunting: to only take one shot, and that shot was not to be taken until we were sure it was an instant kill; to only take males since the female population was needed to sustain the population for the next generation; and we were taught to only ha rvest that which we could consume and to share our harvest with those less fortunate. In dealing with others, we were taught to be humble and quiet, to understand that we have much to give, but even much more to learn by listening. It was only when I was in my early 20s that my uncle decided to share our cultural identity with me.

In reviewing his documents, I was overcome with pride to find going back four generations of 16 grandparents on my father's side, 14 were indigenous. I was surprised and upse t to see how my grandmothers were recorded in marriage documents, entries such as American Indian and Sarah, Indian. I was shocked when my uncle told of the days following the Riel Rebellion when my family members were looked upon as savages, a time when it was legal to shoot them in the streets like abandoned animals.

As I reflect on my uncle's and grandmother's words, I thought of our family and the importance of ensuring that all children have the right to feel safe, to feel cared for and, most of all, to be proud of who they are and where they come from. For my grandmother, it seemed she was afraid. This could not happen at that point in history, so she made sure she did what she believed was best for her family. She taught us to hide our culture, our identity, our heritage. Mr. Deputy Speaker, it was not that long ago when we hid our identity, when we told stories of our history only amongst ourselves.

Indigenous people have served Canada in times of settlement, in times of peace and in times of war. Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day provides an opportunity for all to learn about the people, places, history, events; and highlights unique and significant heritage, culture and historical contributions; and, most of all, it is an opportunity for the Inuit, Metis, First Nations people to stop hiding their identities and celebrate the history, traditions and customs that played a key role in making Canada the great nation it is today.

It helps us all understand the significance of dance and drum ceremonies, to understand the significance of smudging with traditional plants, why the land is important to us. From the first indigenous tribes that inhabited this land until today, cultural diversity has played an important

part in shaping who we are and must be understood and celebrated. Mr. Deputy Speaker, in discussing this resolution and the importance of recognizing National Indigenous Peoples Day, it is easy to see a void exists: a void with both the majority of Canadians and some indigenous people in understanding, a void which must be filled, a void of understanding and empathy. National Indigenous Peoples Day is an oppor - tunity for both non- indigenous and indigenous to do a self -analysis to help determine the degree of cultural competency.

I would like to challenge my colleagues as legislators, as Manitobans, as Canadians, to ask themselves: What do you truly know about the history, culture and challenges of the indigenous peoples of the area in which you live, work and play? Mr. Deputy Speaker, the topic of residential schools has been discussed for several years now, but who here understands the Indian residential school system was designed to, and I quote, take the Indian out of the child. Over 150,000 children were taken from their families and placed in these schools, and over 6,000 children died while attending these schools. Mr.

Deputy Speaker, the legacy of residential schools will always be a scar o n Canada's past. As

May 22, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2451 Canadians, we must seize every opportunity to rebuild relationships between indigenous communities and the rest of Canada. Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day will provide this opportunity. Mr. Deputy Speaker, I often wonder how many actually understand what it means when we acknowledge we are on treaty territory and the issues around treaty land claims. When Christopher Columbus arrived, an estimated 100 million indigenous people were living here in communities with distinct cultures and territories.

National Indigenous Peoples Day is a day to reflect on the devastating effects of colonization had on a people whose culture, at that time, did not understand the concept of ownership. Indigenous people did not believe anyone coul d ever own the land. To understand, it was the indigenous people who brought treaties forward aimed at sharing the land with the new settlers. It was the settlers who interpreted the meaning to mean ownership.

What do we understand when we speak about taking traditional indigenous knowledge into account when discussing climate change, the environment, wildlife management and the importance of traditional medicinal plants? Mr. Deputy Speaker, as Canadians, do we truly understand the issues currently facing our indigenous people and leaders? Today's leaders of indigenous people are active and engaged. They are recognized in their communities as leaders, as visionaries, as change- makers. Today I am proud to see a growing number of female indigenous leader s coming forward from all corners of our province. Mr.

Deputy Speaker, prior to the Indian Act of 1876, indigenous people were known to be self-reliant, self -determining and self -governing. Because of the negative impacts of this act, today's indigenous leaders are faced with addressing some of the most difficult issues ever affecting their communities: isolation, lower educational levels, lack of opportunity for jobs, poor housing, unsafe drinking water, missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, substance abuse and increased rates of incarceration. The majority of Canadians have no understanding of this act in our history or these issues.

In questioning one's cultural awareness, it is important not to confuse empathy with sympathy. Too often, I see well-meaning individuals err on the side of sympathy. Empathy is the experience of understanding another person's thoughts, feelings and conditions from their point of view, rather than from your own. You try to imagine yourself in their place in order to understand what they are feeling and experiencing. Sympathy, on the other hand, is defined as having feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune.

Empathy can only come from understanding indigenous people's culture, traditions and history. I ask all Manitobans to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day and recognize the importance of indigenous people and their cultures. There are many challenges that indigenous people face in Manitoba and across Canada, but through all these cha llenges, a common bond emerges. We are proud of our history, we are proud of our culture and we are proud we are finally – deeply proud to be indigenous. I want to thank my colleague for bringing this important resolution forward. Miigwech. Thank you. Merci. Ms.

Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): So I'm pleased to put a couple of words on the record in respect of my sister colleague's resolution, Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day . So, similar to the member for Burrows (Ms. Lamoureux), I want to just lift up the member for St. Vital (Mrs. Mayer) in her first resolution. And again, along the same lines, I think that is always–we may not always agree, but it's always a beautiful thing when we see our sister colleagues bring forward private member's resolutions or private member's bills, and so I do honour you for that. And I would say to the member for St.

Vital that I recognize how deeply personal this is, as well, and that it is, I would suspect, probably a moment of recognition and honour of your ancestries and of your grandparents, and so I honour that today as well. I know how important it is for myself, standing in this House, when I look at my own lineage and the way that the women –the lives of my women –or the women in my family and the way that their lives ended. I don't think that many of us would have

2452 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 22, 2018 thought that we would have had that opportunity to be here. * (11:40) And so I share that with you, and I know that I give you my love and my respect in respect of your resolution. Certainly, I would suggest that, you know, we have been very lucky to be able to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day for many, many years. My boys have grown up participating in a variety of different events, particularly at The Forks. We–a couple of years ago, we made a big deal out of it because we had waited for many, many years to get our $5 treaty, and we saved it.

So I think we didn't go for about eight years, so the boys got, like, $35, which was a good day. And there was actually a time in my life where I actually had refused to pick up my $5 because I felt that it was, in some respects, disrespectful, that that $5 has not kept up with inflation, which a couple of years ago, or maybe about 10 years ago now, the Assembly of First Nations did a s tatistical analysis, whatever that witchcraft is and when you put forward math and get the numbers for today– An Honourable Member: Inflation. Ms.

Fontaine: –inflation, all of that stuff, and they actually calculated that the $5 that First Nations get, sometimes people get $6. Peguis gets $6. But the $5, again, like 10 years ago would've been equivalent to about $26,000 that each First Nation person would get. And so there was –for a couple of years I didn't take my money. I didn't get my $5 because I just felt that with the amount of trauma and damage that has been done to our people, it felt disrespectful to all of the lives that have been lost.

And then I r eceived a teaching from an elder who said, actually, the reverse: that it does recognize–it's a day to recognize the spirit and intent of those treaties and the days and weeks in which those treaties were negotiated, and so I started to collect my $5 along with my children, and like I said, I'm–it is –we make it a big deal in the Fontaine family. It's not only me and my sons, it's my uncles and my cousins; we all go down to The Forks. Sometimes–last year we went down to Sagkeeng on Treaty Day, and we all w aited and went to go get our $5.

And it's–it is something special to participate in because it does cement and entrench that we are First Nations and that we are status and that these are our territories and these are our lands, and they have always been o ur territories and our lands, and that despite all that's been done, that we are still here. And, you know, I said earlier about standing in this House. I remember I was going through my grandmother's pictures and there was a picture of my aunt, my Aunt Shirley, who went to residential school.

And it's in 1971 and she's got–she's sitting on the front lawn of the Leg., and you can see the Manitoba Legislature in the back. And my Aunt Shirley was so beautiful and she was, you know, really young at this time and just beautiful. And she had my little cousin, Chauncey and, unfortunately, Chauncey died when he was six months old; he fell off the couch.

But I remember just a couple of years ago seeing that picture and really reflecting on that picture that in 197 1, the chances or even the thought that there would be indigenous people in this building seemed so far and, certainly, the thought that someone from my immediate family would have the privilege of standing in this House. So today I just want to reflect a little bit about the women in my family and why it's important to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, but also why it's important to be brutally honest at the conditions in which indigenous women and girls are situated here in Canada.

When I look at my own family, my grandmother –my grandparents had five children, three –two boys and three girls: my Aunt Shirley, who's the oldest ; my Aunt Carol, who's the middle; and then my mom, Sharon Fontaine. Of those five, my mom, as I have said often in this House, was the first to die. She died of a heroin overdose. I've shared that many, many times here. About five years after my mom died, my aunt–no, no no, sorry–yes, my Aunt Carol passed. My Aunt Carol committed suicide. And I think that my Aunt Carol, she suffered from bipolar as a result of all of the trauma that she had been through.

And not even a year, literally two days before it was my Aunt Carol's anniversary, my Aunt Shirley died. And my Aunt Shirley died–my Aunt Shirley had actually lived on Main Street for the last 30 years of her life. And she died of cancer. And I really do attribute my Aunt Shirley as well–in respect of the really –the 'harse' – harsh conditions that she had to endure. Her three children were taken away from her. All of the women i n my family –all of them – suffered physical abuse by multiple partners, including my grandmother. All of the women in my family suffered from addictions.

And all of the women in my family suffered from mental health issues. And I absolutely attribute that to the

May 22, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2453 consequences of colonization here in Canada. And I have said many, many times that the brunt of colonization is borne on the bodies of indigenous women and girls. So, as an indigenous woman, when you look at your immediate family, you can see the consequences of colonization, but as an indigenous woman as part of the collective, you can see the consequences of colonization in the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. And while I respect and so gently honour this resolution, we still have a lot of work to do.

Last week, I know the member for Point Douglas (Mrs. Smith) and I had a very hard day when yet another one of our women were –her body was found in the Red River. And we have her funeral tomorrow. This week, the point –the membe r for Point Douglas and I are taking shifts in court as the court case for Simone Sanderson proceeds through the justice system. And that's just two of a variety of different families that the point–member for Point Douglas and I support and the variety of families that are immersed in trauma as a result of colonization.

So, while it is important to celebrate indigenous peoples day, we can't celebrate it divorced from the understanding that we are still dealing this very second with government policies and cuts and programs and all of these things that are not in the best interest of indigenous peoples, and I would suggest in many respects– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member's time is up. Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak to this resolution.

I join other members of the Legislature in recognizing and celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st and in celebrating the contributions of indigenous peoples to our life in Manitoba and in Canada and, indeed, globally. June 21st was originally designated National Aboriginal Day in 1996 during the period when I served as a Member of Parliament, so I remember that time well.

It was a Manitoban and Liberal Member of Parliament, Elijah Harper, for Churchill constituency, who led the way in calling for this day dedicated to indigenous peoples. * (11:50) It is important, as we celebrate this day, that we look at what has happened in terms of the past, the problems, the need currently for reconciliation. The historic discr imination and poor treatment of indigenous peoples in Manitoba and Canada is well known. The story of the residential school system is well known. The story of the '60s scoop is well known.

The history more recently, in the 2000s, of the apprehension of ve ry large numbers of indigenous children and their placement into the care of Child and Family Services is also well known and well recognized around the Chamber, that we have far too many children in care. The–it is difficult to celebrate these –with this sort of past, and it will be difficult to celebrate it adequately until the number of indigenous children in care is reduced dramatically.

It will be difficult to celebrate it fully until we have answers fro m the commission on missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, a commission which is doing some important work at the moment, and we hope that it will help us both to understand and to make changes. It is difficult to celebrate the National Indigenous Peoples Day when there are so many indigenous people in our jails. We need to have a day when there are far fewer, and then it will be possible to celebrate indigenous peoples day in a way which we really should be celebrating it.

It is important to acknowledge the contributions of indigenous people to so many aspects of our life as Manitobans and as Canadians. It's interesting that here we are in the Chamber today, and probably not many recognize that the word caucus is not a Latin word. It is an indigenous word, and it is with origin in North America, and so in the things that we do every day there are aspects which are–relate to our indigenous past and our indigenous history. There are many people in the indigenous community who we need to recogni ze. I've already mentioned Elijah Harper. There are many other politicians.

I can mention Tina Keeper, who served in Churchill. There are, thankfully, quite a number of MLAs currently in the Chamber. I'm going to mention Judy Klassen, who's a Liberal MLA– Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Sorry, I just want to remind the member of when he addresses somebody –one of our members in the Legislature, refer them to as their 'constitueny' name or their portfolio. Mr. Gerrard: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the correction.

2454 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 22, 2018 The MLA for Kewatinook, she is and has been working very hard helping people in her community deal with the meth epidemic and in helping many of the members in their journey, first from the Island Lakes area to Winnipeg and then from the Island Lakes ar ea to Ottawa, to seek help to address the epidemic. There are national chiefs who've come from Manitoba, Phil Fontaine and Ovide Mercredi .

There are chiefs in Manitoba who certainly stand out, and, increasingly, they are women, like Cathy Merrick, who's done an incredible job using modern social media like Facebook, keeping her community up to date with what's happening. I remember the fi res in northern Saskatchewan, it was interesting, it was a woman chief in Lac La Ronge, who was so up to date in the information about the fires in that area that most people went to her website rather than the government website for the most recent information. We have actors, actresses: Adam Beach; I've mentioned Tina Keeper. We have filmmakers like Lisa Meeches.

We have many, many indigenous artists. I would mention as one Jackie Traverse, not only for her art but also because the work that she's been doing to address the meth crisis in recent weeks. There are warriors, military heroes, like Tommy Prince. Senator Justice Murray Sinclair and the incredible work that he did with the Helen Betty Osborne inquiry, the 'abiginal' –Aboriginal Justice Inquiry and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report which is being quoted so many times today. We have a recent indigenous senator appointed from Manitoba, Dr. Mary Jane McCallum.

I believe she's the first First Nations dentist, and certainly that signals that it doesn't matter what field that you are in, there are First Nations people who have been leading the way. I should mention as well the former United Church moderator, Stan McKay, and– Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. When this matter's before the House, the honourable member for River Heights (Mr. Gerrard) has two minutes remaining. The hour being 12 p.m., the House is recessed and stands recessed to 1:30 p.m.

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Tuesday, May 22, 2018 CONTENTS ORDERS OF THE DAY PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS Second Readings–Public Bills Bill 229–The Intoxicated Persons Detention Amendment Act Lamoureux 2433 Questions Ewasko 2434 Lamoureux 2434 Fontaine 2434 Gerrard 2435 Lagassé 2435 Curry 2435 Debate Ewasko 2436 Fontaine 2438 Lagassé 2439 B. Smith 2441 Resolutions Res. 16–Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day Mayer 2443 Questions Kinew 2445 Mayer 2445 Lagimodiere 2445 B. Smith 2446 Gerrard 2446 Debate Kinew 2447 Lagimodiere 2449 Fontaine 2451 Gerrard 2453

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Citation	41-3-51a
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