Manitoba Hansard — 20 October 2015 (Sitting 68B, 40th Legislature, 4th Session)

40-4-68b

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Fourth Session - Fortieth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Daryl Reid Speaker Vol. LXVII No. 68B - 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, October 20, 2015 ISSN 0542-5492

MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Fortieth Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALLAN, Nancy St. Vital NDP ALLUM, James, Hon. Fort Garry-Riverview NDP ALTEMEYER, Rob Wolseley NDP ASHTON, Steve, Hon. Thompson NDP BLADY, Sharon, Hon. Kirkfield Park NDP BRAUN, Erna, Hon. Rossmere NDP BRIESE, Stuart Agassiz PC CALDWELL, Drew, Hon. Brandon East NDP CHIEF, Kevin, Hon. Point Douglas NDP CHOMIAK, Dave, Hon. Kildonan NDP CROTHERS, Deanne, Hon. St. James NDP CULLEN, Cliff Spruce Woods PC DEWAR, Greg, Hon.

Selkirk NDP DRIEDGER, Myrna Charleswood PC EICHLER, Ralph Lakeside PC EWASKO, Wayne Lac du Bonnet PC FRIESEN, Cameron Morden-Winkler PC GAUDREAU, Dave St. Norbert NDP GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Liberal GOERTZEN, Kelvin Steinbach PC GRAYDON, Cliff Emerson PC HELWER, Reg Brandon West PC HOWARD, Jennifer Fort Rouge NDP IRVIN-ROSS, Kerri, Hon. Fort Richmond NDP JHA, Bidhu Radisson NDP KOSTYSHYN, Ron, Hon. Swan River NDP LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas NDP LEMIEUX, Ron, Hon. Dawson Trail NDP MACKINTOSH, Gord, Hon. St. Johns NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Flor, Hon.

Logan NDP MARCELINO, Ted Tyndall Park NDP MARTIN, Shannon Morris PC MELNICK, Christine Riel NDP MITCHELSON, Bonnie River East PC NEVAKSHONOFF, Thomas, Hon. Interlake NDP OSWALD, Theresa Seine River NDP PALLISTER, Brian Fort Whyte PC PEDERSEN, Blaine Midland PC PETTERSEN, Clarence Flin Flon NDP PIWNIUK, Doyle Arthur-Virden PC REID, Daryl, Hon. Transcona NDP ROBINSON, Eric, Hon. Kewatinook NDP RONDEAU, Jim Assiniboia NDP ROWAT, Leanne Riding Mountain PC SARAN, Mohinder, Hon. The Maples NDP SCHULER, Ron St. Paul PC SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St.

Boniface NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Verendrye PC STEFANSON, Heather Tuxedo PC STRUTHERS, Stan Dauphin NDP SWAN, Andrew Minto NDP WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WIGHT, Melanie, Hon. Burrows NDP WISHART, Ian Portage la Prairie PC Vacant Gimli Vacant Southdale

2323 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Tuesday, October 20, 2015 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Mr. Speaker: Good afternoon, everyone. Please be seated. MATTER OF PRIVILEGE Mr. Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach): On a matter of privilege. Mr. Speaker: On a matter of privilege. Mr. Goertzen: I rise on a matter of privilege. Matters of privilege, as you know, Mr. Speaker, are serious matters and should be raised infrequently, and the recent history of this House de monstrates that.

Matters of privilege are to be brought forward when they demonstrate that the rights and the immunities of members, either individually or collectively, have been breached. In this case, I submit to you, Mr. Speaker, that both collectivel y and individually this is the case. Specifically, I am raising the issue of information that has been withheld from members: in this case, the 'disposure' of untendered contracts. Mr. Speaker, there are very specific rules in place for when government is sues an untendered contract, a contract for which no competition is allowed.

And those rules exist for many legitimate reasons, not the least of which is that untendered contracts should be unusual; they should be the exception. Regrettably, that is not the case under this NDP government, and the frequency of untendered contracts have increased to become routine. The reason that specific rules of disclosure are in place is when there is an untendered contract, it is difficult to ensure that Manitobans ar e getting the value for money because that contract is not tested against competition.

As well, when contracts are awarded without competition, it increases both the likelihood and the appearance that they may be awarded because of friendships or connecti ons and not because they represent the best possible product or the best possible price. For these reasons, there must be disclosure of untendered contracts so that they can face public scrutiny and scrutiny from us as members. That is part of our parliame ntary duties, to analyze and to scrutinize expenditures.

Untendered contracts that are entered into are supposed to be disclosed on a lone computer in the Manitoba Legislative Library without delay after that contract has been entered into. This meagre reporting requirement is problematic in and of itself. But even with only this, it was discovered during our sessional break that untendered contracts related to Tiger Dam contracts in the millions of dollars were not disclosed for five years. This was in vi olation of The Financial Administration Act.

In fact, when–only when our staff and our caucus uncovered these contracts were they ever disclosed, five years in delay and in violation of the law. Even today, contracts are not appearing and not being disclos ed which are legally required to be disclosed on the library system. On April 19th, 1993, Speaker Fraser of the House of Commons found that the failure to disclose information was, in fact, a prima facie case of privilege. And how could it not be, Mr. Spe aker?

As outlined by Speaker Hickes in his ruling in this House on July 25th–or July 26th of 2000, he describes, as other Speakers including yourself have, Mr. Speaker, that interference or obstruction is a breach of parliamentary privilege if it obstructs the member in his or her parliamentary work. The ability to analyze expenditures and to test the value that Manitobans are getting for their tax dollars is at the heart of a member's parliamentary work. It is fundamental to the work that we do as members. But how can that duty be fulfilled if the information is not provided?

How can we or any member of this House scrutinize expenditures that are not disclosed according to law? You can't question what you can't find. Mr. Speaker, the second edition of the House of Commons Procedure and Practices by O'Brien and Bosc indicates on page 111 that while it is impossible to codify all incidents which might be interpreted as matters of obstruction, some matters found to be a prima facie case include the provision of misleading information. And it cites, as but one example, a ruling in the House of Commons by Speaker Jerome on December 6th, 1978. Mr.

Speaker, the net effect of Speaker Fraser's ruling and the failure to disclose information and the instructions from O'Brien and Bosc on the provision of misleading information point clearly to this

2324 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA October 20, 2015 matter being an obstruction of members' rights, individually and collectively. By not following the law, again, and not disclosing the untendered contracts appropriately, the NDP have both failed to provide information and, through omission, provided misleading information. The end result is members of this Assembly are not able to fulfill their parliamentary duty to ensure that Manitobans are getting true value for their tax dollar, which members on our side take very seriously. Mr.

Speaker, I submit to you that I have raised this at the earliest opportunity as these matters are not traditionally brought forward during private members' business debate, but also that t his information was verified prior to the House sitting this afternoon. In conclusion, we believe that a prima facie case of privilege has been established using past precedent and that the issue of untendered contracts by the NDP government not being di sclosed in accordance to the law has breached the privileges of members of this House individually and collectively.

And, as such, I move that this matter involving the lack of past and ongoing disclosure of untendered contracts as required under provinc ial procurement rules be referred to a standing committee of this House, and Mr. Speaker, that motion is seconded by the honourable member for Tuxedo (Mrs. Stefanson). Mr. Speaker: The honourable Government House Leader, on the matter of privilege. Hon. Dave Chomiak (Government House Leader): Mr. Speaker, I believe that the member's statements are both inaccurate and not factually correct.

In fact, the matter of the contract tendering was an item that had been brought to the attention of the Legislature through a standing committee that has met, I believe, this year at least 10 times and, most recently, two weeks ago where the member and others had the opportunity for several hours to ask and be provided with information in regard to this issue. And wi th respect to a specific issue as relates to one of the matters, Mr. Speaker, that matter has already been referred the Ombudsman for review.

So it's hardly–it's totally inappropriate for the member to say that misleading information has been provided. In fact, as we speak, all contracts over $10,000, whether tendered or untendered, for the first time in provincial history, probably for the first time in Canada, is available to anyone online. Yes, Mr. Speaker, there was a process in the past that was in herited, an older process where untendered contracts were put on one computer system available in the Legislative Library.

We have listened to what the recommendations have been by the provincial auditor, a report, I might add, that members had the opportunity to both review and amend or agree with. But to say that it's misleading when, in fact, this matter's been discussed, when, in fact, we have indicated not only going forward, but that all contracts untendered and otherwise will be on the province-wide system as we roll that out. And as recently, Mr.

Speaker, as several months ago after the recent –before adjournment –just after adjournment when this House adjourned, the members opposite stood up and asked the very same question and had the opportunity to get the answer in the PAC committee where they spent several hours on it. So it's hardly misleading and, in fact, it's inaccurate and, in fact, for the first time, as I said, in the history of the province we have the opportunity to get contracts both untendered and tendered online across the entire province. And this suggests to me, as we open this session, it –the opposition is, shall I say, fishing, Mr.

Speaker, for an issue with respect to this matter. It's hardly a matter that has not been both undertaken and reviewed by a standing committee of this Legislature and has been under the adjudication of that standing committee through several meetings and is still being discussed with respect to the contents of same. So, Mr. Speaker, I suggest that it 's simply a ploy on the part of members opposite. That information has been both offered and what is available has been provided. What members had questioned is the subject of review by the ombudsperson. How more open can you get?

Computers are providing t he information online. Going forward, the ombuds - person is investigating any matters that have been deemed to be inaccurate, and we have an ongoing standing committee of the Legislature that's looking at the very report that suggested improvements in the system. That is what's available to all members, and if the member wants, he can attend the next meeting of PAC which I think will be scheduled. He'll have an opportunity to ask more questions. Thank you.

October 20, 2015 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2325 * (13:40) Mr. Speaker: The honourable member for River Heights, on the same matter of privilege. Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Yes, I have some additional comments on this matter of privilege, which is an important matter which has been brought forward by the MLA for Steinbach. First of all, you know, being able to get things going moving forward, while that's to be applauded, it doesn't make up for the fact that this government has been here for 16 years and that those laws that we're talking about have been on the books for some time. Certainly, Mr.

Speaker, what needs to be understood is that this government has been not only shocking in their misuse of contracts and tendering of contracts and having so many untendered contracts that it's hard to understand why they would do this, but it is shocking that these contracts which are untendered have not been reported properly and openly so that they can be found where they should be found, on the computer in the Legislative Library. And the fact that this practice has been so disregarded by this government is something that needs to be investigated very thoroughly.

It is a disrespect to all members of the Legislature when this happens. It is, indeed, a serious matter of privilege, a breach of privilege, what has happened here, and it needs to be addressed. Thank you. Mr. Speaker: As all members will know, I take matters of privilege as very serious items to deal with, and I've listened very carefully to the comments made in the Assembly with respect to this matter of priv ilege and I'm going to take it under advisement.

I'm going to consult with the procedural authorities and look at the information and the facts of this matter, and then I will bring back a ruling for the House. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS We'll now move on to routine proceedings, introduction of bills. COMMITTEE REPORTS Mr. Speaker: Seeing no bills, we'll now move on to committee reports. Standing Committee on Human Resources First Report Mr. Dave Gaudreau (Chairperson): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the First Report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources. Clerk (Ms.

Patricia Chaychuk): Your Standing Committee on Human Resources presents the following– Some Honourable Members: Dispense. Mr. Speaker: Dispense? Dispense. Your Standing Committee on HUMAN RESOURCES presents the following as its First Report. Meetings Your Committee met on the following occasions in the Legislative Building: • September 9, 2015 • September 14, 2015 • September 29, 2015 • September 30, 2015 Matters under Consideration • Bill (No. 30) – The Non- Smokers Health Protection Amendment Act (E -Cigarettes)/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la protection de la santé des non-fumeurs (cigarettes électroniques) Committee Membership Committee Membership for the September 9, 2015 meeting: • Hon. Mr. C HIEF • Mr. CHOMIAK • Hon. Ms. CROTHERS • Mrs. DRIEDGER • Mr. GRAYDON • Mr. MARCELINO (Vice-Chairperson) • Mr. MARTIN • Mr. RONDEAU • Mr. SWAN • Mr. WISHART Your Committee elected Mr. R ONDEAU as the Chairperson at the September 9, 2015 meeting Committee Membership for the September 14, 2015 meeting: • Hon. Mr. ALLUM • Mr. ALTEMEYER • Hon. Ms. CROTHERS

2326 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA October 20, 2015 • Mrs. DRIEDGER • Ms. LATHLIN • Hon. Ms. MARCELINO • Mr. MARTIN • Mr. RONDEAU (Chairperson) • Mr. SMOOK • Hon. Ms. WIGHT • Mr. WISHART Your Committee ele cted Mr. ALTEMEYER as the Vice-Chairperson at the September 14, 2015 meeting Committee Membership for the September 29, 2015 meeting: • Hon. Mr. ALLUM • Hon. Ms. CROTHERS • Mr. CULLEN • Mr. FRIESEN • Mr. GAUDREAU • Mr. GRAYDON • Hon. Mr. KOSTYSHYN • Mr. MARCELINO • Mr. PEDERSEN • Mr. SWAN • Mr. WIEBE Your Committee elected Mr. G AUDREAU as the Chairperson at the September 29, 2015 meeting.

Your Committee elected Mr. WIEBE as the Vice-Chairperson at the September 29, 2015 meeting. Committee Membership for the September 30, 2015 meeting: • Hon. Mr. ALLUM • Hon. Ms. CROTHERS • Hon. Mr. CHOMIAK • Mr. GAUDREAU (Chairperson) • Mr. GRAYDON • Hon. Mr. LEMIEUX • Mr. MARCELINO • Mr. MARTIN • Hon. Mr. NEVAKSHONOFF • Mr. PIWNIUK • Mr. SMOOK Your Committee elected Mr. MARCELINO as the Vice- Chairperson at the September 30, 2015 meeting.

Public Presentations Your Committee heard the following forty -four presentations on Bill (No. 30) – The Non- Smokers Health Protection Amendment Act (E-Cigarettes)/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la protection de la santé des non-fumeurs (cigarettes électroniques): September 9, 2015 meeting Erin Crawford, Canadian Cancer Society–Manitoba Office Andrew Klukes, Western Convenience Stores Alex Scholten , Canadian Convenience Stores Association Beju Lakhani, Canadian Vaping Association Tracy Fehr, Manitoba Lung Association Donald Reay, Private Citizen Christine Houde, Heart and Stroke Foundation Jim Baker, Manitoba Hotel Association Garry Iwankow, Private Citizen Kerwin Unger, Private Citizen September 14, 2015 meeting Caroline Martel, Nicoventures Kathy Martin, Private Citizen Rob Cunningham , Canadian Cancer Society – National Office Charlene Haste, Vapemate Eden Sorrell, Theravape Murray Gibson , MANTRA – Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance Dr.

Marcia Anderson-DeCoteau, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Scott Jocelyn , Manitoba Restaurant and Foodservices Association Steven Stairs, Private Citizen Shaun Croatto, Private Citizen Jim Chabai, Vapetastic Clayton Olson, Private Citizen Jennifer Vasas, Private Citizen September 29, 2015 meeting Nicole Gomes, Jade Solomon and Jenna Kalinski (by leave), Manitoba Swat (Student Working against Tobacco) Cindy Neniska, Private Citizen John Haste , The Electronic Cigarette Trade Association Cam Irving, Private Citizen Jordan Vedoya, Fat Panda Cierra Giesbrecht, Private Citizen Neil Migalski, Private Citizen Jason Doornink, Private Citizen Leroy Kehler, Private Citizen September 30, 2015 meeting Suzane Bouchard, Private Citizen

October 20, 2015 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2327 Kyle Bloomfield, Private Citizen Edward Wei, Private Citizen Alexander Derksen, Private Citizen Randy Klassen, Private Citizen Will Cooke, Private Citizen Leona Weday, Private Citizen David Lofchick, Private Citizen Stephanie Mitchell, Private Citizen Craig Billows, Private Citizen Thomas Glas, Private Citizen Julie Wei, Private Citizen Written Submissions Your Committee received the following fifteen written submissions on Bill (No. 30) – The Non-Smokers Health Protection Amendment Act (E-Cigarettes)/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la protection de la santé des non- fumeurs (cigarettes électroniques): Melanie Koncur, Private Citizen Gerald Dales, Private Citizen Cristopher Britton, Black Tie Vapour Matt Anderson, Private Citizen Eric Mutter, Private Citizen Kerry Miller, Private Citizen Deanna Hinson, Private Citizen Laura Cosford, Private Citizen Allan Wald, Private Citizen Ron Jerome, Private Citizen Gord Tagg, Private Citizen Tyler Korman, Private Citizen Christine Dales, Private Citizen David Ryman, Private Citizen Brennden Mackenzie, Private Citizen Bill Considered and Reported • Bill (No. 30) – The Non- Smokers Health Protection Amendment Act (E -Cigarettes)/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la protection de la santé des non-fumeurs (cigarettes électroniques) Your Committee agreed to report this Bill, with the following amendments: THAT Clause 3 of the B ill be amended in the proposed definition "vapour product shop" by adding ", subject to any additional criteria specified in the regulations," after "means". THAT Clause 15(1) of the Bill be amended in clause (

a) by adding the following after the proposed clause 9(1)(a.0.1): (a.0.2) specifying additional criteria for the purpose of the definition "vapour product shop"; THAT Clause 15(1) of the Bill be amended by deleting clause (b). Mr. Gaudreau: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Concordia (Mr. Wiebe), that the report of the committee be received. Motion agreed to. Mr. Speaker: Any further committee reports? Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development Seventh Report Mr.

Bidhu Jha (Chairperson): I wish to present the Seventh Report of the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development. Clerk: Your Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development– Some Honourable Members: Dispense. Mr. Speaker: Dispense? Dispense. Your Standing Committee on SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT presents the following as its Seventh Report. Meetings Your Committee met on September 14, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building.

Matters under Consideration • Bill (No. 4) – The Farm and Food Awareness Act/Loi sur la promotion du secteur agroalimentaire • Bill (No. 15) – The Foreign Cultural Objects Immunity from Seizure Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur l'insaisissabilité des biens culturels étrangers • Bill (No. 19) – The Legal Profession Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la profession d'avocat • Bill (No. 23) – The Boxing Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la boxe • Bill (No. 28) – The Personal Property Security Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur le s sûretés relatives aux biens personnels • Bill (No. 32) – The Noxious Weeds Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la destruction des mauvaises herbes

2328 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA October 20, 2015 • Bill (No. 34) – The Safer Roads Act (Drivers and Vehicles Act and Highway Traffic Act Amended)/Loi sur la sécurité accrue des routes (modification de la

Loi sur les conducteurs et les véhicules et du Code de la route) Committee Membership • Hon. Mr. CHOMIAK • Mr. EWASKO • Mr. GOERTZEN • Mr. HELWER • Mr. JHA • Hon. Mr. LEMIEUX • Hon. Mr. MACKINTOSH • Ms. OSWALD (Vice-Chairperson) • Mr. PEDERSEN • Mr. STRUTHERS • Mr. SWAN Your Committee elected Mr. JHA as the Chairperson Public Presentations Your Committee heard the following presentation on Bill (No. 4) – The Farm and Food Awareness Act/Loi sur la promotion du secteur agroalimentaire: James Battershill, Keystone Agricultural Producers Your Committee heard the following presentation on Bill (No. 19) – The Legal Profession Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la profession d'avocat: David Grant, Private Citizen Your Committee heard the following presentation on Bill (No. 23) – The Boxing Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la boxe: Bill Tibbs, Manitoba Combative Sports Commission Your Committee hear d the following presentations on Bill (No. 32) – The Noxious Weeds Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la destruction des mauvaises herbes James Battershill, Keystone Agricultural Producers Written Submissions Your Committee received the following two w ritten submissions on Bill (No. 32) – The Noxious Weeds Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la destruction des mauvaises herbes: Joe Masi, Association of Manitoba Municipalities Kent Shewfelt, Manitoba Weed Supervisors Association Agreements Your Commit tee agreed to continue with public presentations and clause by clause consideration of Bill (No. 19) – The Legal Profession Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la profession d'avocat, at a future meeting. Bills Considered and Reported • Bill (No. 4) – The Farm and Food Awareness Act/Loi sur la promotion du secteur agroalimentaire Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 15) – The Foreign Cultural Objects Immunity from Seizure Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur l'insa isissabilité des biens culturels étrangers Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 23) – The Boxing Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la boxe Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 28) – The Personal Property Security Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les sûretés relatives aux biens personnels Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 32) – The Noxious Weeds Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la des truction des mauvaises herbes Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 34) – The Safer Roads Act (Drivers and Vehicles Act and Highway Traffic Act Amended)/Loi sur la sécurité accrue des routes (modification de la

Loi sur les conducteurs et les véhicules et du Code de la route) Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. Mr. Jha: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member from St. Norbert, that the report of the committee be received. Motion agreed to.

October 20, 2015 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2329 Standing Committee on Crown Corporations First Report Mr. Bidhu Jha (Chairperson): I wish to present the First Report of the Standing Committee on Crown Corporations. Clerk: Your Standing Committee on Crown Corporations presents the following– Some Honourable Members: Dispense. Mr. Speaker: Dispense? Dispense. Your Standing Committee on CROWN CORPORATIONS presents the following as its First Report.

Meetings Your Committee met on the following occasions in the Legislative Building: • October 23, 2013 (2nd Session – 40th Legislature) • October 15, 2014 (3rd Session – 40th Legislature) • September 10, 2015 (4 th Session – 40th Legislature) Matters under Consideration • Annual Report of The Workers Compensation Board for the year ending December 31, 2013 • Annual Report of The Workers Compensation Board for the year ending December 31, 2014 • Annual Report of the Appeal Commission and Medical Review Panel for the year ending December 31, 2013 • Annual Report of the Appeal Commission and Medical Review Panel for th e year ending December 31, 2014 • The Workers Compensation Board 2013- 2017 Five Year Plan • The Workers Compensation Board 2014- 2018 Five Year Plan • The Workers Compensation Board 2015- 2019 Five Year Plan Committee Membership Committee Membership for the Octobe r 23, 2013 meeting: • Hon.

Ms. B RAUN • Mr. BRIESE • Mr. CALDWELL (Vice-Chairperson) • Mr. DEWAR • Hon. Ms. HOWARD • Hon. Ms. MARCELINO • Mr. PETTERSEN (Chairperson) • Hon. Mr. ROBINSON • Mrs. ROWAT • Mr. SCHULER • Mr. WISHART Committee Membership for the October 15, 2014 meeting: • Hon. Ms. BRAUN • Mr. CULLEN • Mr. DEWAR • Mrs. DRIEDGER • Mr. GAUDREAU • Mr. JHA (Chairperson) • Hon. Mr. MACKINTOSH • Mr. MARCELINO (Vice-Chairperson) • Mr. SARAN • Mr. SMOOK • Mr. WISHART Committee Membership for the September 10, 2015 meeting: • Hon. Ms. BRAUN • Hon. Mr. CHOMIAK • Hon. Mr. DEWAR • Mr. FRIESEN • Mr. JHA • Hon. Ms. MARCELINO • Hon. Mr.

SARAN • Mr. SMOOK • Mrs. STEFANSON • Mr. STRUTHERS • Mr. WISHART Your Committee elected Mr. JHA as the Chairperson and Mr. S TRUTHERS as the Vice -Chairperson at the September 10, 2015 meeting. Officials Speaking on Record Officials Speaking on Record at the October 23, 2013 meeting: • Michael Werier, Chairperson of the Board • Winston Maharaj, President and CEO Officials Speaking on Record at the October 15, 2014 meeting: • Michael Werier, Chairperson of the Board • Winston Maharaj, President and CEO

2330 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA October 20, 2015 Officials Speaking on Record at the September 10, 2015 meeting: • Michael Werier, Chairperson of the Board • Winston Maharaj, President and CEO Reports Considered and Passed Your Committee considered and passed the following reports as presented: • Annual Report of The Workers Compensation Board for the year ending December 31, 2013 • Annual Report of the Appeal Commission and Medical Review Panel for the year ending December 31, 2013 • The Workers Compensation Board 2013- 2017 Five Year Plan Reports Considered but not Passed Your Committee considered the following reports but did not pass them: • Annual Report of The Workers Compensation Board for the year ending December 31, 2014 • Annual Report of the Appeal Commission and Medical Review Panel for the year ending December 31, 2014 • The Workers Compensation Board 2014- 2018 Five Year Plan • The Workers Compensation Board 2015- 2019 Five Year Plan Mr.

Jha: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member from Tyndall Park, that the report of the committee be received. Motion agreed to. Standing Committee on Crown Corporations Second Report Mr. Jha: Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the Second Report of t he Standing Committee on Crown Corporations. Clerk: Your Standing Committee on Crown Corporations– An Honourable Member: Dispense. Mr. Speaker: Dispense? Dispense. Your Standing Committee on CROWN CORPORATIONS presents the following as its Second Report.

Meetings Your Committee met on the following occasions in the Legislative Building: • April 4, 2012 (1st Session – 40th Legislature) • April 9, 2013 (2nd Session – 40th Legislature) • October 2, 2013 (2nd Session – 40th Legislature) • September 24, 2014 (3 rd Session – 40th Legislature) • September 15, 2015 (4 th Session – 40th Legislature) Matters under Consideration • Annual Report of the Manitoba Hydro- Electric Board for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011 • Annual Report of the Manitoba Hydro- Electric Board for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012 • Annual Report of the Manitoba Hydro- Electric Board for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013 • Annual Report of the Manitoba Hydro- Electric Board for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014 Committee Membership Committee membership for the April 4, 2012 meeting: • Mr.

ALLUM • Hon. Mr. CHOMIAK • Mr. CULLEN • Mr. DEWAR • Mr. HELWER • Mr. JHA (Chairperson) • Hon. Ms. MARCELINO • Mr. MARCELINO (Tyndall Park) • Mrs. STEFANSON • Ms. WIGHT (Vice-Chairperson) • Mr. WISHART Substitutions received during committee proceedings on April 4, 2012: • Mr. MCFADYEN for Mrs. STEFANSON Committee membership for the April 9, 2013 meeting: • Hon. Mr. C HOMIAK • Ms. CROTHERS (Vice-Chairperson) • Mr. EICHLER • Mr. DEWAR • Mr. EWASKO • Mr. FRIESEN • Mr. JHA (Chairperson)

October 20, 2015 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2331 • Mr. MARCELINO • Mr. SCHULER • Hon. Mr. SWAN • Mr. WIEBE Committee membership for the October 2, 2013 meeting: • Hon. Mr. CHOMIAK • Mr. DEWAR • Mr. EWASKO • Mr. HELWER • Mr. JHA (Chairperson) • Mr. MALOWAY • Hon. Ms. MARCELINO (Logan) • Mr. MARCELINO (Tyndall-Park) (Vice-Chairperson) • Mr. SCHULER • Mrs. STEFANSON • Hon. Mr. SWAN Committee membership for September 24, 2014 meeting: • Ms. ALLAN • Mr. BRIESE • Hon. Mr. CHIEF • Mr. DEWAR • Mr. EICHLER • Mr. GRAYDON • Mr. NEVAKSHONOFF (Chairperson) • Mr. PEDERSEN • Hon. Mr. STRUTHERS • Mr. WIEBE • Ms.

WIGHT (Vice-Chairperson) Substitutions received during committee proceedings on September 24, 2014: • Hon. Mr. CHOMIAK for Mr. WIEBE Committee membership for September 15, 2015 meeting: • Mr. A LTEMEYER • Mr. BRIESE • Mr. EICHLER • Mr. JHA (Chairperson) • Mr. MALOWAY • Hon. Ms. MARCELINO • Mr. MARTIN • Hon. Mr. ROBINSON • Mr. PEDERSEN • Hon. Mr. SARAN • Hon. Ms. WIGHT Your Committee elected Mr. A LTEMEYER as the Vice-Chairperson at the September 15, 2015 meeting Your Committee elected Mr.

M ALOWAY as the Vice-Chairperson at the September 15, 2015 meeting Substitutions received during committee proceedings on September 15, 2015: • Mr. SCHULER for Mr. MARTIN • Hon. Mr. CHOMIAK for Mr. ALTEMEYER • Mr. CULLEN for Mr. PEDERSEN Officials from Manitoba Hydro speaking on the record at the April 4, 2012 meeting: • Mr. Scott Thomson, President and Chief Executive Officer • Mr. Bill Fraser, Chair of the Board Officials from Manitoba Hydro speaking on the record at the April 9, 2013 meeting: • Mr. Scott Thomson, President and Chief Executive Officer • Mr.

Bill Fraser, Chair of the Board Officials from Manitoba Hydro speaking on the record at the October 2, 2013 meeting: • Mr. Scott Thomson, President and Chief Executive Officer Officials from Manitoba Hydro speaking on the record at the September 24, 2014 meeting: • Mr. Scott Thomson, President and Chief Executive Officer • Mr. Bill Fraser, Chair of the Board Officials from Manitoba Hydro speaking on the record at the September 15, 2015 meeting: • Mr. Darren Rainkie, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer • Mr.

Bill Fraser, Chair of the Board Report Considered and Passed Your Committee considered and passed the following report as presented: • Annual Report of the Manitoba Hydro- Electric Board for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011

2332 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA October 20, 2015 Reports Considered but not Passed Your Committee considered the following reports but did not pass them: • Annual Report of the Manitoba Hydro- Electric Board for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012 • Annual Report of the Manitoba Hydro- Electric Board for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013 • Annual Report of the Manitoba Hydro- Electric Board for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014 Mr. Jha: I move, seconded by the honourable member from St. Norbert, that the report of the committee be received. Motion agreed to.

Standing Committee on Crown Corporations Third Report Mr. Jha: Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the Third Report of the Standing Committee on Crown Corporations. Clerk: Your Standing Committee on Crown Corporations– Some Honourable Members: Dispense. Mr. Speaker: Dispense? Dispense. Your Standing Committee on CROWN CORPORATIONS presents the following as its Third Report.

Meetings Your Committee met on the following occasions in the Legislative Building: • April 4, 2013 (2nd Session – 40th Legislature) • October 21, 2013 (2nd Session – 40th Legislature) • September 30, 2014 (3 rd Session – 40th Legislature) • September 28, 2015 (4 th Session – 40th Legislature) Matters under Consideration • Annual Report of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 29, 2012 • Annual Report of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2013 • Annual Financial Statement of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2013 • Annual Report of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2014 • Annual Financial Statement of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2014 • Annual Report of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2015 • Annual Financial Statement of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2015 Committee Membership Committee Membership for the April 4, 2013 meeting: • Mr.

B RIESE • Ms. CROTHERS (Vice-Chairperson) • Mr. DEWAR • Mr. EWASKO • Mr. GAUDREAU • Mr. HELWER • Mr. JHA (Chairperson) • Mr. MALOWAY • Mrs. ROWAT • Hon. Mr. ROBINSON • Hon. Mr. SWAN Committee Membership for the October 21, 2013 meeting: • Mr. C ALDWELL • Mr. DEWAR • Mr. EICHLER • Mr. EWASKO • Mr. HELWER • Mr. JHA (Chairperson) • Mr. MALOWAY • Mr. MARCELINO (Vice-Chairperson) • Mr. SMOOK • Hon. Mr. SWAN • Mr. WIEBE Committee Membership for the September 30, 2014 meeting: • Hon. Mr. CHOMIAK • Ms. CROTHERS • Mr. EICHLER • Mr. GOERTZEN

October 20, 2015 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2333 • Mr. JHA (Chairperson) • Hon Ms. MARCELINO • Mr. PEDERSEN • Mr. RONDEAU (Vice-Chairperson) • Mr. SCHULER • Hon. Mr. SWAN • Mr. WIEBE Committee Membership for the September 28, 2015 meeting: • Mr. ALTEMEYER • Hon. Mr. CHOMIAK • Mr. EWASKO • Mr. GOERTZEN • Ms. HOWARD • Mr. JHA (Chairperson) • Hon. Mr. MACKINTOSH • Hon Ms. MARCELINO • Mrs. MITCHELSON • Mr. SCHULER • Mr. WIEBE Your Committee elected Mr. WIEBE as the Vice-Chairperson at the September 28, 2015 meeting. Substitution received during the committee proceedings: • Mr. CULLEN for Mr.

EWASKO Officials Speaking on Record Officials speaking on the record at the April 4, 2013 meeting: • Ms. Marilyn McLaren, President and Chief Executive Officer • Mr. Jake Janzen, Board Chairperson Officials speaking on the record at the October 21, 2013 meeting: • Ms. Marilyn Mc Laren, President and Chief Executive Officer • Mr. Jake Janzen, Board Chairperson Officials speaking on the record at the September 30, 2014 meeting: • Mr. Dan Guimond, President and Chief Executive Officer Officials speaking on the record at the September 28, 2015 meeting: • Mr.

Dan Guimond, President and Chief Executive Officer Report Considered and Passed Your Committee considered and passed the following reports as presented: • Annual Report of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 29, 2012 • Annual Report of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2013 • Annual Financial Statement of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2013 • Annual Financial Statement of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2014 Reports Considered but not Passed Your Committee considered the following reports but did not pass them: • Annual Report of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2014 • Annual Report of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2015 • Annual Financial Statement of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal y ear ending February 28, 2015 Mr.

Jha: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member from Concordia, that the report of the committee be received. Motion agreed to. Mr. Speaker: Any further committee reports? Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development Sixth Report Ms. Nancy Allan (Chairperson): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the Sixth Report of the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development. Clerk: Your Standing Committee on Social and Economic– An Honourable Member: Dispense.

2334 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA October 20, 2015 Mr. Speaker: Dispense? Dispense. Your Standing Committee on SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT presents the following as its Sixth Report. Meetings Your Committee met on September 9, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building. Matters under Consideration • Bill (No. 10) – The Municipal Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les municipalités • Bill (No. 13) – The Planning Amendment Act (Special Planning Areas)/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur l'aménagement du territoire (circonscriptions spéciales d'aménagement du territoire) • Bill (No. 20) – The Architects Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les architects • Bill (No. 21) – The Engineering and Geoscientific Professions Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les ingénieurs et les géoscientifiques • Bill (No. 24) – The Wildlife Amendment and Fisheries Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la conservation de la faune et la

Loi sur la pêche • Bill (No. 31) – The Registered Professional Planners Act/Loi sur les urbanistes professionnels Committee Membership • Ms. A LLAN (Chairperson) • Hon. Ms. BRAUN • Hon. Mr. CALDWELL • Mr. CULLEN • Hon. Mr. DEWAR • Mr. EICHLER • Hon. Mr. NEVAKSHONOFF • Ms. OSWALD • Mr. PIWNIUK • Mr. SMOOK Your Committee elected Ms. OSWALD as the Vice-Chairperson Public Presentations Your Committee heard the following three presentations on Bill (No. 13) – The Planning Amendment Act (Special Planning Areas)/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur l'aménagement du territoire (circonscriptions spéciales d'aménagement du territoire): Diane Gray, CentrePort Canada Inc. Frances Smee, RM of Rosser Jim McLandress, Winnipeg Airport Authority Your Committee heard the following three presentations on Bill (No. 20) – The Architects Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les architects: Judy Pestrak, Manitoba Association of Architects Verne Reimer, Private Citizen Ralph Stern, Private Citizen Your Committee heard the following three presentations on Bill (No. 21) – The Engineering and Geoscientific Professions Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les ingénieur s et les géoscientifiques: David Grant, Private Citizen Grant Koropatnick, Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Manitoba Vicki Poirier, Private Citizen Your Committee heard the following presentation on Bill (No. 24) – The Wildlife Amendment and Fisheries Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la conservation de la faune et la

Loi sur la pêche: Brian Strauman, Manitoba Wildlife Federation Your Committee heard the following presentation on Bill (No. 31) – The Registered Professional Planners Act/Loi sur les urbanistes professionnels: Valdene Lawson, Manitoba Professional Planners Institute Written Submissions Your Committee received the following four written submissions on Bill (No. 21) – The Engineering and Geoscientific Professions Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les ingénieurs et les géoscientifiques: Alan Pollard, Private Citizen Bev Pike, Private Citizen Don Osman, Private Citizen Roger Rempel, Private Citizen Your Committee received the following two written submissions on Bill (No. 31) – The Registered Professional Planners Act/Loi sur les urbanistes professionnels:

October 20, 2015 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2335 Joe Masi, Association of Manitoba Municipalities Braden Smith, City of Winnipeg Bills Considered and Reported • Bill (No. 10) – The Municipal Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les municipalités Your Committee agreed to report this Bill, with the following amendment: THAT Clause 2 of the Bill be amended by replacing the French version of the proposed clause 147.1(2)(

a) with the following:

a) d'une majorité qualifiée de ses membres, laquelle consiste de 50 % des voix plus deux; • Bill (No. 13) – The Planning Amendment Act (Special Planning Areas)/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur l'aménagement du terri toire (circonscriptions spéciales d'aménagement du territoire) Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 20) – The Architects Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les architects Your Committee agreed to report this Bill witho ut amendment. • Bill (No. 21) – The Engineering and Geoscientific Professions Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les ingénieurs et les géoscientifiques Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 24) – The Wildlife Amendment and Fisheries Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la conservation de la faune et la

Loi sur la pêche Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 31) – The Registered Professional Planners Act/Loi sur les urbanistes professionnels Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. Ms. Allan: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Seine River (Ms. Oswald), that the report of the committee be received. Motion agreed to. Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs Fourth Report Ms. Nancy Allan (Chairperson): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the Fourth Report of the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs.

Clerk: Your Standing C ommittee on Legislative Affairs presents the following– An Honourable Member: Dispense. Mr. Speaker: Dispense? Dispense. Your Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs presents the following as its Fourth Report.

Meetings: Your Committee met on the following occasions in the Legislative Building: • June 9, 2015 (4th Session – 40th Legislature) • October 6, 2015 (4th Session – 40th Legislature) Matters under Consideration: • Report and Recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Committee dated November 20, 2014 • Process for hiring a new Conflict of Interest Commissioner, Lobbyist Registrar and Information and Privacy Adjudicator Committee Membership: Committee membership for the June 9, 2015 meeting: • Mr. B JORNSON • Hon. Mr. CHOMIAK • Mr. EICHLER • Mr. FRIESEN • Mr. GAUDREAU (Chairperson) • Mr. GOERTZEN • Hon. Mr.

MACKINTOSH • Hon. Ms. MARCELINO • Mr. PEDERSEN • Mr. STRUTHERS (Vice-Chairperson) • Mr. SWAN Committee membership for the October 6, 2015 meeting:

2336 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA October 20, 2015 • Ms. ALLAN (Chairperson) • Mr. BRIESE • Hon. Mr. CHOMIAK • Mr. EWASKO • Mr. GOERTZEN • Mr. HELWER • Hon. Mr. MACKINTOSH • Mr. MARCELINO (Vice-Chairperson) • Mr. SWAN • Mr. WIEBE Public Presentation at the June 9, 2015 meeting: By leave, your Committee heard one presentation on the Report and Recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Committee from: Susan Dawes, Provincial Judges Association of Manitoba Motions: Your Committee agreed to the following motions at the October 6, 2015 meeting: • THAT the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs: accept the recommendations in

Schedule A, reject the recommendations in

Schedule B for the reasons set out in that

Schedule and, recommend the same to the Legislative Assembly.

SCHEDULE A Recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Committee accepted by the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs 1. That the annual salaries for puisne judges shall be: (

i) April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015 - $239,000; (ii) April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016 - cumulative adjustment equal to the annual percentage change in the average weekly earnings for Manitoba on April 1, 2015; (iii) April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017 - cumulative adjustment equal to the annual percentage change in the average weekly earnings for Manitoba on April 1, 2016. The percentage change in the average weekly earnings should be calculated based on the percentage change over the preceding calendar year.

The recommendation should apply to all who were judges as of April 1, 2014, including those who retire or otherwise leave the Bench prior to implementation. 2. That the salary differentials for the Chief Judge and Associate Chief Judge remain in place as of April 1, 2014. This will mean a salary of $258,120 for the Chief Judge and $250,950 for the Associate Chief Judges. This recommendation shall apply to all judges who were either a Chief Judge or an As sociate Chief Judge as of April 1, 2014, including those who retire or otherwise leave the Bench prior to implementation. 3.

Simple interest shall be paid, from April 1, 2014 to the date of retroactive payment of salary increase(

s) including the differentials for the administrative judges and related per diems for senior judges, in accordance with the relevant prejudgment and post-judgment interest rates as set out in The Court of Queen's Bench Act. 4. Prejudgment interest shall be payable from April 1, 2014 to the date the salary and per diem recommendations are implemented (whether by vote of the Legislature or by virtue of s. 11.1(29) of the Act), and post-judgment interest should be payable from that date to the date that judges are paid the retroactive adjustments. 5.

That as it relates to Senior Judges: • the per diem rate for senior judges shall be set at 1/218 of the annual salary of a full-time judge; • Interest shall be paid on the retroactive per diem rate; • Each senior judge shall be afforded an educational allowance of $3,000 and a professional allowance of $2,000; • A fund shall be set up for each allowance based on the number of judges (including a pro rata share for senior judges who come into the program partway through a fiscal year).

The fund shall be distributed by the Chief Judge based on the needs of the judges in question; and • These recommendations shall be effective April 1, 2014, and shall apply to all who were judges as of April 1, 2014, including those who retire or

October 20, 2015 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2337 otherwise leave the Bench prior to implementation. 6.

That as it relates to the Limited Pooling Of Education Resources: • Effective April 1, 2014, each judge 's annual education allowance should remain at the current level of $3,000 per annum per judge; • The combined amount of the education allowances ($3,000 per judge x 41 judges) shall be provided to the court in a fund to be administered by the Chief Judge in accordance with the principles set out below; • Individual judges shall have access to their educational allowance in order to fund their attendance at conferences and seminars, and/or for other educational purpose s, as approved by the Chief Judge in accordance with court policy.

With the consent of each individual judge, unused portions of each judge 's education allowance may be used to the benefit of the court as a whole. All uses of the allowances are subject to approval by the Chief Judge in accordance with court policy. • This recommendation shall be effective April 1, 2014, and shall apply to all who were judges as of April 1, 2014, including those who retire or otherwise leave the Bench prior to implementation. 7.

That the Province pay 75% of the Judges ' legal costs and fees for the Judicial Compensation Committee process, up to a maximum aggregate payment by the Province of $45,000.00. 8. That the Province pay 100% of Judges ' disbursement costs and fees for the Judi cial Compensation Committee process, up to a maximum aggregate payment by the Province of $22,500.00. 9. That unless otherwise stated, all changes shall be effective on the date of approval by the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. 10. In these recommendations, " date of approval by the Legislative Assembly" means (

a) the date that the vote of concurrence referred to in subsection 11.1(28) of The Provincial Court Act takes place with respect to these recommendations; or (

b) if the recommendations must be implemented because of subsection 11.1(29) of The Provincial Court Act , the first day after the end of the 21-day period referred to in that subsection.

SCHEDULE B Recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Committee rejected by the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs 1. That the contribution rates to be paid by judges into the Civil Service Superannuation Fund are those currently set out in the Employee Contribution Rates Regulation, 178/2011. To the extent the R egulation is amended in the future, the recommendation of a JCC must first be sought. 2.

That at the time of their appointment, all judges should be enrolled for life insurance coverage worth five times their salary (up to the policy maximum), unless they e lect a lower level of coverage at that time, or following their appointment. Reasons In considering the Report and Recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Committee, the Standing Committee has examined each of the recommendations individually and c ollectively.

The reasons for rejecting these recommendations are as follows: Recommendation 1: • The Standing Committee does not accept the view of the Judicial Compensation Committee that changes to pension contributions require a Judicial Compensation Committee recommendation or that it is a constitutional requirement. • While the Standing Committee fully respects and understands that the Judicial Compensation Committee process is required by the Constitution in order to ensure the independence of the ju diciary, the Standing Committee has considered this very carefully and disagrees that the manner in which pension contributions are currently set out in the Employee Contribution Rates and Regulation, 178/2011 are a threat to such independence. • The Standing Committee notes that any changes to contribution rates for all members of the Civil Service Superannuation Fund are made through

2338 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA October 20, 2015 a Joint Stakeholders Committee and apply equally to all members of the Fund plan. • The Standing Committee understands and accepts that any changes in pension contributions have an impact on the remuneration of judges, but these contemplated changes which were the subject of the recommendation, apply to all members of the Fund plan and are similar to the changes that are made from time to time to other benefit plans, such as Blue Cross, which have never required a Judicial Compensation Committee recommendation prior to implementation. • Moreover, the Standing Committee is concerned that if changes to the contribution rates to be paid by judges into the Fund required a recommendation from a Judicial Compensation Committee, then judges would be treated differently than other members of the Fund plan.

This, in and of itself, may well impact judicial independence as the perception may be that judges are being treated differently than other members of the Fund plan. • The Standing Committee is of the view that as members of multi unit pension plan, judges ought not to be treated differently from any other Members of that plan. The Civil Service Superannuation Fund covers nearly 34,000 active employees and over 53,000 total members. If additional contributions are necessary to ensure the stability of the plan, all stakeholders are consulted, including the Judges.

Giving any group a veto power could jeopardize the plan. • The Standing Committee notes that the Judicial Compensation Committee has recognized that the timing of the Judicial Compensation Committee Process may have an impact on how the recommendation would be implemented.

However, the Standing Committee disagrees that adjustments can be made in the ordinary course, as suggested, given the statutory requirements for any change. • In the event any issues arise as they relate to the contribution rates paid by judges into the Fund plan, such issues could be addressed by a subsequent Judicial Compensation Committee to ensure the judicial independence of the judiciary is always maintained. • It should be noted that the Judges also have a supplementary plan where it is reasonable for future changes to be subject to the recommendations of a subsequent Judicial Compensation Committee. • Accordingly, after careful consideration of the recommendations made in this regard and for the reasons set out above, the Standing Committee rejects the Judicial Compensation Committee's recommendations as they relate to pension contributions.

Recommendation 2: • The Standing Committee does not accept that special provisions ought to or even can be established for judges, as recommended by the Judicial Compensation Committee. • The Standing Committee understands the principle that all judges be treated in the same way at the time of appointment, but does not accept that the proposed recommendation achieves that result.

While it would provide all judges with the same amount of insurance coverage, it would treat judges differently than all other members of the life insurance plan. • The Standing Committee previously accepted the recommendation of a prior Judicial Compensation Committee to have the judges participate in the same insurance plan and coverage as that which the Government makes available to public servant s, including the same Dependents' Life Insurance Policy.

Moreover, the Standing Committee accepted that same Judicial Compensation Committee 's recommendation that judges pay the same premiums for life insurance as civil servants. • Consistent with those recommendations, the Standing Committee is of the view that judges ought not be treated differently from those who are members of that plan. • This evidence of insurability is a current requirement for all plan members and is designed to prevent "adverse sel ection" in an insurance plan.

It is a principle of virtually all life insurance plans. • The Standing Committee has considered the matter very carefully and the change may not even be possible with a third party insurer, it is a matter of equities and fairness. If it is possible it is not clear that it would be an insubstantial

October 20, 2015 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2339 cost. The Standing Committee does not accept that it is simply a housekeeping matter, for the reasons outlined above. • The only feasible compromise solution would be for the Government to arrange for a separate insurance plan for Judges only with the likelihood of significantly higher premiums for Judges and Government.

In effect reversing the decision of the previous Judicial Compensation Committee's recommendations. • Accordingly, the Standing Committee rejects the recommendation that at the time of their appointment, all judges should be enrolled for life insurance coverage worth five times their salary (up to the policy maximum), unless they elect a lower level of coverage at that time , or following their appointment. • THAT a sub- committee of the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs be struck to manage the process of hiring a new Conflict of Interest Commissioner and Information and Privacy Adjudicator for the Province of Manitoba, under the terms and conditions as follows: (

a) the subcommittee consist of four government members, two official opposition members and one independent member; (

b) the subcommittee have the authority to call their own meetings, the ability to meet in camera, and be able to undertake duties it deems necessary in order to fulfil its responsibilities in the hiring process; (

c) the subcommittee may only report back to the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs with a recommendation that has been agreed to by all members; and (

d) the Committees Branch staff as well as the Legislative Assembly Human Resource Services staff be authorize to attend all meetings of the subcommittee. Item Considered and Not Concluded: Your Committee has not completed consideration of the process for hiring a new Conflict of Interest Commissioner, Lobbyist Registrar and Information and Privacy Adjudicator. Report Considered and Concluded: Your Committee has completed consideration of the Report and Recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Committee dated November 20, 2015. Ms. Allan: Mr.

Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Steinbach (Mr. Goertzen), that the report of the committee be received. Motion agreed to. Mr. Speaker: Any further committee reports? Seeing none, tabling of reports? MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Federal Election 2015 Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Yes, Mr. Speaker, I have a ministerial statement about the federal election. I'll provide copies. * (13:50) Yesterday we saw Canadians embrace a compassionate and inclusive vision for Canada. I would like to thank everyone who ran for the federal election. Democracy is stronger due to your efforts.

I would also like to congratulate all the newly elected and re- elected members of Parliament for Manitoba, who I know will be a strong voice for Manitobans in the capital. I would also like to thank all those members of Parliament who are leaving their seats and thank them for their work and many years of service to the ir constituents and to the people of this province. It's never easy stepping back from public service, but we all greatly appreciate their efforts to make life better for Manitoba families. I want to take a moment to thank our own members from the Legislature that have moved on to new challenges.

Thank you to the former member for Southdale, Erin Selby, and the former member for Gimli, Peter Bjornson. It's been an honour working with you. I know they will continue to be a positive force in our communities, helping to make Manitoba a better place to live for us all. And thank you to each of the federal party leaders for putting forward ideas and running good campaigns. Voter turnout was higher than any time in the last 20 years. J'aimerais remercier Step hen Harper pour ses années de service comme Premier ministre. Nous

2340 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA October 20, 2015 avons apprécié les efforts de son gouvernement durant la récente récession. Translation I would like to thank Stephen Harper for his years of service as prime minister. We appreciated the efforts made by his government during the recent recession. English I'd like to thank the Prime Minister for his service over nine and a half years and for his stellar work during the recession.

Et merci à Tom Mulcair, qui a mené une campagne pleine des idées visionnaires que, on l'espère, le nouveau gouvernement élu revisitera–des idées comme une stratégie nationale de la garde d'enfants. Translation I would also like to thank Tom Mulcair whose campaign was full of visionary ideas that, we hope, will in spire the new government, ideas like a national strategy for child care. English I want to thank the federal leader, Tom Mulcair, for his work in the campaign and particularly for his ideas on a national strategy for daycare.

Finally, I would like to congratulate Prime Minister-elect Justin Trudeau on his victory. He ran a positive 'cambay' –campaign based on forward-thinking vision combined with a plan for infrastructure investments that will help to grow Canada's economy. I look forward to working with the Prime Minister Trudeau and his newly elected Manitoba caucus on our many shared priorities. He has joined our NDP government in committing to building Freedom Road and the east -side road, enabling us to connect those communities to the rest of Manitobans years sooner.

Prime Minister Trudeau's infrastructure plan complements our own record investments in roads, bridges and flood protection, projects which create good jobs and lay the foundation for future economic growth.

We look forward to wo rking together on priorities like health care, particularly home care, to keep our health- care system strong and public, as well as universally accessible daycare, on priorities like First Nations education and training and education opportunities so famil ies can stay and work in the communities they grew up in, as part of a larger response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and in the spirit of reconciliation, and priorities like ensuring our seniors are respected for their–working their entire l ives by allowing them to retire with pensions that start at the age of 65.

Finally, I look forward to Prime Minister Trudeau fulfilling our government's repeated calls for a national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. Je peux certainement dire que j'ai hâte à ma prochaine rencontre du Conseil de la fédération où le Manitoba trouvera un nouveau partenaire pour bâtir le futur de notre province. Translation I can certainly say that I am looking forward to my next meeting of the Council of the Federation, where Manitoba will find a new partner to build the future of our province.

English I look forward to getting together with all the first ministers where we can build a better future for not only our province but for the country. It is deeply important that we have a federal partner that is at the table addressing our priorities and working for an agenda that is inclusive not only to all Manitobans but to all Canadians. Thank you, merci, miigwech, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Brian Pallis ter (Leader of the Official Opposition): I want to add my congratulations, on behalf of our caucus, to the Prime Minister - Designate Justin Trudeau and his team for their historic victory yesterday.

I also want to add our thanks to Mr. Harper and to his colleagues for their almost decade of service to our nation as a government. I would like to add, also, our condolences of a sort, I suppose, to Mr. Mulcair and to his team in respect of the results but not in respect of his efforts on behalf of his party and on behalf of the people of Manitoba throughout his career, and we expect those efforts to continue.

I also want to say a thank you to the families of all candidates, to those who put their names on the ballot, of course, and also to those who volunt eered– to make the system work effectively it requires that

October 20, 2015 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2341 volunteer effort –and also to Manitobans and Canadians who voted in increasing numbers, which we all agree is good for our democracy and a healthy thing. Our democracy's stronger today because of the efforts of these Canadians. Canadians and Manitobans went to the polls in the federal election and they voted for change. Our team on this side of the House will continue to bring forward fresh energy, new ideas to give Manitobans an opportunity to vot e for change in the rapidly approaching provincial election as well.

We look forward to working in a co- operative manner not only with one another but with others who represent the best interests of their constituents, who we share, on the priorities of Manitobans. It is worrisome that Manitobans are among the highest taxed citizens in our nation, and yet the quality of and access to our services like health care, education and our social services rank at or near the bottom of all rankings in our country. Successfully addressing these challenges –these are real challenges for the people of Manitoba, which government members should understand.

Successfully addressing these challenges in the future will require a team effort, something we understand both here in Manitoba and among all of the elected officials of this province, municipally, federally and, of course, provincially as well. I want to close by congratulating all successful Manitoba candidates and assure each of those candidates now elected to represent the people of this province that we on this side are ready to work with them, together with them, to build a stronger Manitoba team for the strength and future strength of Manitoba families. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hon.

Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, I ask leave to speak to the minister's statement. Mr. Speaker: Does the honourable member for River Heights have leave to speak to the ministerial statement? [Agreed] Mr. Gerrard: Mr. Speaker, I want to speak to the Premier's (Mr. Selinger) statement on the federal election which was held yesterday. First of all, I want to recognize and to thank all those who participated. Voting is important, and our democracy could not function well without people getting out and voting.

Second, I want to congratulate the members of Parliament who were elected yesterday and welcome them aboard our national government, and look forward to being able to work with them from –as a provincial member of the Legislature as we move forward as a nation. I want to say a thank you to those who worked in the last Parliament, including the Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet, who have contributed to where we are today as a country.

I want to also recognize those who ran not successfully, becau se each of those who ran has contributed to the dialogue and the discussion of this last election and, of course, a long election, but one in which there was a very vigorous and, I think, helpful discussion. Thirdly, I want to express my excitement and pleasure at the election of a Liberal government in Canada, a Liberal government under Justin Trudeau as the Prime Minister -elect. And I want to say that Justin demonstrated during the election that he is ready.

Justin Trudeau showed character in emphasizing a positive vision for our country, in appealing to Canadians' better qualities of compassion, of embracing diversity, of welcoming new immigrants and of being concerned for our environment as well as for our economy. Justin Trudeau has showed his ability to reach out to others, to listen to Canadians across our great country, and a willingness and a desire to sit down with all premiers in Canada and to address the major issues that we face as Canadians.

He has shown in particular a concern for Firs t Nation, Metis and Inuit people, and a recognition of the need to address and improve long- standing issues like First Nations education funding and the completion of Freedom Road. The Liberal Party went, last night, from third-party status to government. It was the first time that this had happened at the national level in Canada. It took a lot of hard work and teams and teams of volunteers from coast to coast. * (14:00) I want to acknowledge all who came forward and helped in the election.

It is through participation that change can be achieved, and last night we had real change. Mr. Speaker: Any further statements, ministerial statements?

2342 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA October 20, 2015 MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Mr. Speaker: Seeing none, we'll move on to introduction–or members' statements, pardon me. Cottage Fee Increases Mr. Shannon Martin (Morris): Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity this summer to speak to many cottagers angry and frustrated with the NDP's massive increases to cottage fees and leases.

They are particularly frustrated with an NDP government that plays the politics of division, a government that paints cottage owners as freeloaders and a drain on public resources, an NDP government that vilifies them in public and refuses to meet with them in private. According to the NDP, the existence of Manitoba's cottagers results in the diversions of millions of dollars each year from health care and public education. I met Joyce, a retired teacher who had to take a part-time job just so she can continue to retain the family cottage.

I me t Ruth and Herman who came to Canada after World War II and spent years building a modest cottage only to have the NDP's fiscal ineptitude threaten to take it away. To a person, I have heard a willingness by cottagers to pay their fair share of the true costs. The challenge becomes that the same NDP government that said, trust us, we won't raise the PST, is again saying, trust us, you don't pay enough. There's an obligation under The Provincial Parks Act for the minister to provide full transparency and accountability in terms of costs and revenues to operate each park district for the review of any owner.

But as you aware, the government continues to disregard the law. Cottagers, whether from Moose Lake, Childs Lake or West Hawk, will not be bullied int o accepting a 750 per cent fee increase that, in many instances, threatens the viability of retaining ownership of cottages, many of which are intergenerational. Dan Lussier, who owns a cottage in Falcon Lake, wrote the minister, and I quote: Our park fee s will go from over –from approximately $1,000 to almost $5,500.

Our cottage is not hooked up to town water or sewer, don't get any services in the winter, communal garbage pickup in the summer, and residents actually get together and pay for dust control. While the NDP may not believe in transparency and accountability obligations as laid out in The Provincial Parks Act, we on this side of the House do. And next spring, we will open the books to cottagers. Thank you. Carla Martinelli-Irvine Hon. Sharon Blady (Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, in my life I have learned that those who are the kindest in life are also usually the toughest.

It takes a lot of inner strength to maintain a generous, forgiving and caring outlook on life. Carla Martinelli-Irvine, one of the recent recipients of the 2015 Manitoba heroes award, is the perfect example. I'm so pleased that Carla has been recognized for her hard work as the founder and director of the Winnipeg Pet Rescue Shelter. It's Manitoba's first no-kill anim al shelter and has helped rescue over 10,000 animals, some incredibly neglected. Carla and her team ensure each animal receives medical treatment, find more suitable homes and, most importantly, are not euthanized.

The shelter houses 150 animals at a time and imposes no time limit on their stay. The shelter operates solely on donations, and Carla has faced seemingly insurmountable difficulties in the past to keep the shelter open when those donations have dried out. Carla and her team take immense pride i n their work, which is evident when you visit the shelter. It's always in pristine condition, and the animals are all clearly well cared for. Mr. Speaker, running that shelter is not easy.

Caring for the animals, drumming up donations, finding foster home s, promoting adoptions and finding the money to pay the bills are all daily challenges that Carla and her team take in stride. A job like that requires a lot of heart, and Carla has a tenderness which extends to all animals, in every situation. But her res ilience and fortitude are what make her so special and so deserving of the Manitoba heroes award. As a strong -willed and gentle-hearted woman, Carla makes for a fantastic leader in our community. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all honourable members, I would l ike to thank Carla for her

October 20, 2015 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2343 continued work in Kirkfield Park and congratulate her on her much-deserved Manitoba heroes award. Thank you. Altona Community Memorial Health Centre– Service Suspension Mr. Cliff Graydon (Emerson): Rural Manitoban surgeon Dr. Gerald Clayden says it's scandalous that a state-of-art operating room in Altona is not in use because of a shortage of nurses. Dr. Clayden said no surgeries have been carried out at the Altona Community Memorial Health Centre, a 22 -bed facility, since April of 2015.

The minister said, in Hansard, May 12th, 2015, that the suspension would be rectified by the fall or sooner. Dr. Clayden says administration's indicated the operating room would remain closed until at least the en d of the year. Dr. Clayden said any delay in reinstating surgeries beyond the end of the year would jeopardize the facility's future. A local family physician who performed the anaesthetic with Dr. Clayden operated said that he would need to upgrade his t raining if his skills were allowed to lapse. He's not prepared to give up his thriving practice for a couple of months to do that.

The minister has referred to this issue rather callously as a dead horse, Hansard, June 22nd, 2015. Tell that to the vulnerable Manitobans who no longer have an operating room and who are taking to highway medicine to seek treatment. This is a cut in the 'ensential' front-line services and another case of paying more and getting less with this NDP government. In May 2015, the minister compared my line of questioning to Fox Mulder. I've repeatedly been asking the minister for an honest answer to why the people of Altona must again suffer these closures under the NDP highway medicine.

She compared me to Fox Mulder, so, again, I will ask: Why has the OR closed? What is it this minister's hiding? What is her secret agenda in closing the OR and the ER? Like Fox Mulder, I believe the truth is still out there, and Manitobans deserve the truth, Mr. Speaker. Weston Memorial Community Centre Mr. Ted Marcelino (Tyndall Park): This past Sunday, Mr. Speaker, a great event happened. The Weston Memorial Community Centre had its grand reopening. This wonderful inauguration was all about welcoming the community to the new facility. The first 200 guests were welcomed with free hot dogs and drinks.

There was also face painting and a beading craft station for kids and some adults too. All in all, it was the perfect little get -together to celebrate community and friendship. Weston Community Centre has so much to offer to people of all ages. Places like Weston Community Centre give kids the healthy activities they need to stay active and out of trouble. Ryan Dufreane, who is here, is the facility manager of Weston. He is in the gallery with Margaret and Don Vader, the facility bingo co-ordinators, and Carrie Gingras, a Weston staffer.

Along with their volunteers, they act in partnership with Winnipeg Harvest, ACCESS NorWest, the Brooklands Senior Centre and the Salvation Army. They help make Manitoba a happier, healthier, better place to live in. Thank you for all you do. Child Apprehension–Effect on Families Mr. Ian Wishart (Portage la Prairie): Today, I rise to speed–speak about the effects on the family when a child or children from that fami ly are–is taken into the care of Child and Family Services. Family experience many issues in the course of life.

Some of these can lead to crisis, whether it be addictions, family violence or mental health. Finding support for a family in crisis is essential to keep these families together, yet so many Manitobans are not able to access supports they need in order to keep their families strong and together. Accessing support is particularly difficult in rural and northern Manitoba. When a child is apprehended into care, the family's often given a shopping list of changes they need to accomplish in order to have the child returned to their care.

Unfortunately, these families are then left to navigate the complicated system to find the se services with little or no support from Child and Family Services. The challenges facing families in rural and northern Manitoba increase as access to the necessary services and supports are largely concentrated in Winnipeg. Parents are expected to find these services, programs and supports with no support, while reeling from having their child torn from their homes.

Children are left wondering what they have done wrong; why are they being punished and taken away from their homes, their families, in many cases, their school, their community, all the stability they've known in their young lives? * (14:10)

2344 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA October 20, 2015 The child and family services system is failing Manitoba families and failing Manitoba's children. Parents are unable to access the services and supports they need in order to keep these families together. And yet, when the child is apprehended, the family is expected to utilize the resources that they couldn't find in the first place. More tragically, perhaps, are the effects of the children–are the effects on the children that are apprehended. The lack of support for parents keeps children away from their families. Mr.

Speaker, families and children all have hopes and dreams for their future. The actions of the CFS should not be responsible for the destruction of those dreams. CFS should be there to help right the ship and keep those families on track. Mr. Speaker: That concludes members' statements. Introduction of Guests Mr. Speaker: Just prior to oral questions, I have a number of guests that I will introduce. Seated in the public gallery we have with us today from Murdoch MacKay Collegiate, we have 24 grade 9 students under the direction of Ms. Kim Dudek and Ms. Marlies Beesley.

This group is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Transcona (Mr. Reid). And also seated in the public gallery we have with us today –draw the attention of honourable members to the public gallery again where we have with us today from t he Winnipeg pet rescue centre – or shelter Carla Martinelli -Irvine, Michelle Caughy and her family members, Michael and Chris, who are the guests of the honourable Minister of Health (Ms. Blady).

And also seated in the public gallery we have with us today from Weston Memorial Community Centre, we have Margaret and Don Vader and Carrie Gingras, who are the guests of the honourable member for Tyndall Park (Mr. Marcelino). On behalf of all honourable members, we welcome all of you here this afternoon.

And also, seated in the Speaker's Gallery, where we have with us today six individuals who are serving on the Manitoba Legislative Internship Program for the 2015- 16 year, and in accordance with the established practice, these three interns were assigned–these interns were assigned to the government caucus and three to the official opposition caucus, and their term of employment is 10 months and they will be performing a variety of research and other tasks for private members. These interns commenced their as signments September 14th of this year and will complete them next June.

And they are, working with the government caucus, Ms. Emily Coutts of the University of Winnipeg, Mr. Sean Goertzen of the University of Manitoba and Mr. Stephen Spence of the University of Winnipeg; working with the caucus of the official opposition, Mr. Lane Boucher of the University of Manitoba, Ms. Tara Jago of the Brandon University and Ms. Meagan Vestby of the University of Manitoba. Professor Kelly Saunders of Brandon University is the academic director of the program, as most members will know, and the administration of the program on a day -to-day basis is carried out by our own Clerk, Ms.

Patricia Chaychuk. And the caucus representatives on the internship administration committee are the member for Concordia (Mr. Wiebe) and the honourable member for Spruce Woods (Mr. Cullen). And I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of all honourable members, to congratulate the interns on their appointment to the program and hope that they will have a very interesting and successful year ahead with the Assembly. Thank you very much for your service. And it's also my proud duty–my apologies to the members of the Assembly who are waiting for question period; we have a lot of guests today.

It's also my proud duty, if I could take a moment, to introduce our two pages who are with us here; we'll introduce the other ones as they come into their assignments. We have with us Ceanray Harris -Read, who is a student at Collège Churchill, and Kieran Smith, who is a student at Miles Macdonell Collegiate. On behalf of all honourable members, we welcome you here to the Assembly and we hope you enjoy your experience. Thank you for your patience, to members of the Assembly.

October 20, 2015 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2345 ORAL QUESTIONS Mr. Speaker: We'll now proceed with oral questions. Manitoba's Credit Rating Fiscal Management Mr. Brian Pallister (Leader of the Official Opposition): Thanks, Mr. Speaker, and I want to welcome you back and say a welcome back to all our colleagues here and to our staff. It's been a –I hope for all of us–a good opportunity this summer to enjoy Manitoba's many blessings with families and friends, and certainly change was in the air last night, and change is in the air now in our province, of course, with our beautiful seasons changing.

One of the unfortunate changes since we sat here last, however, Mr. Speaker, is the change in our province's credit rating, resulting, naturally, unfortunately, from the government's inability to listen to the warnings the y were given just a few months back. And the costs of these unheeded warnings, unfortunately for Manitobans, are millions if not tens of millions of dollars wasted, going to additional debt service costs over and above what needed to happen if the governme nt had listened.

So these unheeded warnings have a cost, and that cost is less resources, fewer resources available for the priority services Manitobans value most. Now, the reality, of course, of this is that this could have been prevented had the gover nment listened. The Premier apparently now is going to be the agent of change for our province. I'd like to ask him: How will he change his approach and restore our credit rating to our province? Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Mr. Speaker, our credit rating has improved at least three times during our time in office.

It's higher than any credit rating that the members opposite ever had during their entire careers. The debt as a proportion of the economy is lower than when the member opposite was a mem ber of government. The debt servicing costs are 58 cents lower than when the member was in office. When he was in office, debt servicing costs were over 13 cents on the dollar. They're now 5.6 on the –cents on the dollar. The member opposite continues to pursue an aggressive agenda of cuts to core services in Manitoba, Mr. Speaker. It's no surprise he's asked that question today.

We choose to be on the side of Manitobans, to protect essential services for Manitobans, to ensure Manitobans are working. And w hen we do that, and grow the economy, that will allow us to move forward towards a balanced budget in every sense of the word. Mr. Pallister: The Premier continues to mis - represent our agenda and is unwilling to show Manitobans his own, Mr. Speaker, and that is interesting, and an interesting lack of integrity and credibility on display on a daily basis already here.

So our credit rating is now with Anne of Green Gables in PEI, when it used to be with Saskatchewan and Alberta, our neighbours to the west . And the Premier is defending it and saying it's a good thing for our province, when every Manitoban knows it's not a good thing to have your credit rating go down. After years of neglect by this Premier and his colleagues, they now defend the indefensible. They have doubled our debt, and despite promises to get our province's spending, wasteful spending, under his mismanagement under control, he never changes.

And the result is broken trust, not just with credit rating agencies, Mr. Speaker, but with Manitobans at large. The result is a lower credit rating. The result is higher interest charges on our debt and an annual waste of money that was preventable. When will the Premier, who says he's the agent of change, embrace the challenge of changing his reckless approach of mortgaging our future and that of our children? Mr. Selinger: Mr. Speaker, last night, these extreme views that we see from the member opposite were rejected by Canadians. They support our agenda.

They support an agenda of creating g ood jobs for Canadians through infrastructure investments. They support an agenda of building on our universal health-care system, with additional support for home care, a program that was invented here in Manitoba more than 40 years ago, Mr. Speaker. They support opportunities for people to get skills training, something we're doing in Manitoba, with over 10,000 internships in this province. The member opposite's social and views on the economy make him look like –make Stephen Harper look like a moderate. His views make Stephen Harper look like a moderate.

2346 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA October 20, 2015 His plan is to cut core services. He says there's inefficiencies. Tell us which services he thinks are inefficient: education for young people, early childhood development? He says he wants to privati ze daycare. He says he wants to privatize social services. It's very clear, Mr. Speaker, that his extreme views do not serve Manitobans today or tomorrow. Mr. Pallister: Wow, Mr. Speaker, what a diatribe from a fearful man. He's just labelled every Manitoban who believes in the importance of balancing their own books as an extremist. Unbelievable.

Manitobans understand the necessity of balancing their books. Municipal officials all across the province understand the necessity of balancing their books. Only the Premier and his misguided and clueless financial management team does not. * (14:20) They have doubled our debt, and the agent of change is not over on that side of the House, Mr. Speaker, because the same tired and reckless approach that has seen us steal from our future hopes to pay for his political agenda continues. His own colleagues, Mr. Speaker, half of them in his leadership race, did not acknowledge him as the agent of ch ange.

Rather, they wanted him replaced, and this is why: because he refuses to accept the need to change. Is his former front -bench member who said that his priorities were not those of Manitobans but rather his own, to get re -elected, is that member rig ht, or is everyone else right? Mr. Selinger: Mr. Speaker, it's very clear that there has been no change in the Leader of the Opposition over the summer holidays. He's recycling–and it's the only recycling program he supports –the same old lines over and over again. We will have a more robust strategy for climate change as we go forward.

We will have a more robust strategy for early childhood development. We will have a more robust strategy for growing the economy with infrastructure investments, and we will see a federal partner supporting us on that now. We will have a more robust strategy for prevention for children coming into care, Mr. Speaker, that respects indigenous people, their language and their culture and their capacity to look after themselves. Those are the things that we strive towards, Mr. Speaker, and we will do it in a fiscally responsible way. Our debt servicing costs are less than half than when he was in office.

Our debt as a proportion of the economy is less than when he was in offi ce. Our economy has doubled. We have the best job creation record in the country –best job creation record in the country –the second lowest unemployment rate. Only the member opposite has missed that obvious truth, Mr. Speaker, and wants to turn the clock back once again. Manitoba's Credit Rating Debt Servicing Costs Mr. Cameron Friesen (Morden-Winkler): Mr. Speaker, where this NDP government is robust is in debt and deficit accumulation. Mr. Speaker, the NDP's broken financial record remains the same.

A year ago, Moody's Investors Service, a leading provider of credit ratings and risk analysis, revised their economic outlook on Manitoba and threatened to lower the province's credit rating. And this summer, Moody's acted, and they downgraded Manitoba's credit rating for the first time in 30 years in this province. What does the Finance Minister have to say about his lack of action to lead to this and the millions of dollars that will now be required to service the debt at higher lending rates? Hon. Greg Dewar (Minister of Finance): Well, Mr. Speaker, the member is simply wrong.

We came into office, Moody's ranking for Manitoba was a Aa3; we're now a Aa2. The bottom line is our ranking is higher now than it was when the Leader of the Opposition was in government. You know, Moody 's looks at the bottom line. Our government's position, our job is to look at the bottom line for Manitoba families. That is why we have the second lowest unemployment rate in Canada. And it is our government's job, it's our government's goal, Mr. Speaker, to have the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, and we're heading in that direction. Mr.

Friesen: Well, the Minister of Finance is correct about one thing: Moody's looks at the bottom line. And when they looked at it, they cited a loss of fiscal discipline leading to a continued and sustained increase in debt and debt service ratios beyond projections. That's not good news.

October 20, 2015 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2347 This government has doubled Manitoba's debt in just eight years, debt service costs are up, int er- national bond rating agencies have lost confidence with this government's financial record, and all Manitobans pay the consequence. My question for this Finance Minister: Will he indicate how much more Manitobans will spend this year on debt service costs as a result of his financial mismanagement? Mr. Dewar : When w e came into office we were spending about 13 cents on the dollar to service the debt.

Last year it was 5.7 cents on the dollar to service the debt. This year it's 5.6 cents on the dollar to service the debt. Our net -debt-to-GDP ratio is lower than what it was when the members opposite were in govern- ment, Mr. Speaker. We're focusing on the bottom line for Manitobans. We have a new partner in Ottawa; we're eager to work with them. You know, I was reminded the other day about, you know, the Liberal leader in Ottawa, Mr. Speaker, he's going to run small deficits and invest in infrastructure, just like this government. Mr. Friesen: Mr.

Speaker, I would remind the Finance Minister that a structural deficit of half a billion dollars is nothing small. Mr. Speaker, Dominion Bond Rating Service, in their August Manitoba rating report, said that the Manitoba government continues to disappoint. And Manitobans are disappointed to learn that millions more is now going to service rising debt costs, and that means millions less for front -line services that Manitobans rely on. Mr. Speaker, it's bad news even if the Finance Minister won't admit it in this Chamber.

Will the Finance Minister today admit the strong likelihood of more bad news on the horizon when Standard & Poor's issues their report on the NDP government's failed economic record? Mr. Dewar : In reference, Mr. Speaker, the Conference Board of Canada, TD Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, Scotiabank, CIBC, Bank of Montreal, all of these indicators are projecting that Manitoba will have one of the fastest growing economies in Canada.

Unemployment rate s fell last month, 5–to 5.2 per cent, only a tick above Saskatchewan, and it's this government's goal to have the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, and the only ones who don't like that is the Leader of the Opposition and the negative nellies that sit with him. Untendered Contracts Auditor General's Report Mr. Reg Helwer (Brandon West): Mr. Speaker, according to the Auditor General of Manitoba, we know that the NDP government supper –suffers from an epidemic, an epidemic of awarding untendered contracts.

The AG office emphasized in its report that government must ensure that citizens receive good value for their tax dollars when it acquires goods and services. A competitive procurement process helps achieve that and also ensure vendors get fair access to government business. Manitobans are tired of the same NDP broken promises of accountability. Mr. Speaker, how can the Minister of Finance defend the exponential rise in the use of untendered contracts by this NDP government? Hon. Dave Chomiak (Minister of Mineral Resources): As the matter was discussed earlier during the course of these events, normally, Mr.

Speaker, I understand the matter's under your perusal, but notwithstanding that, we have no problem talking about what new processes are now in place as a result of an Auditor General's report, an Auditor General's report that looked at the processes, asked for changes, and, in fact, we are the first place, I believe, probably in Canada that provides online all contracts tendered and untendered, online to all Manitobans, 24 hours a day. We've taken a system that was an archaic system and we're building it into a more functional system.

And with respect to any contracts that are–that have been particularly raised by the members opposite, that mat ter is under perusal and has been directed to be asked for a review by this government by the Ombudsman. Mr. Helwer: Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General found that at least $274 million was awarded in untendered contracts by the NDP during an 18-month audit. This does not include the untendered STARS clan–contract of $159 million. The NDP's addiction to untendered contracts is a clear sign Manitobans are paying more and getting less under the NDP. Mr.

Speaker, how can the minister responsible ensure that Manitobans are getting value for their tax dollar?

2348 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA October 20, 2015 Mr. Chomiak: Mr. Speaker, the vast majority of contracts are competitive and, in fact, the places that are untendered are generally places of e mergency situations like spending money in floods, spending money in other emergencies, something members opposite might go away on holidays and not recognize. The largest untendered contract in the history of Manitoba was the wholesale sale of MTS and privatization by members opposite, Mr. Speaker. That was the biggest scandal and the biggest untendered contract in the history of Manitoba. Mr. Helwer: Well, Mr.

Speaker, perhaps the minister forgot to read the report, because out of a test sample, the A uditor General found that more than 50 per cent of untendered contracts were awarded without an acceptable demonstrated circumstance. This points to the fact that the NDP is not following its own due diligence when awarding these contracts and may be wast ing millions of taxpayers' dollars. Mr. Speaker, will the minister concede that the NDP's epidemic dependence on untendered contracts is one of the many ways in which NDP waste is threatening front-line services? Mr. Chomiak: Mr.

Speaker, members opposit e ought to be careful what they say. It was members opposite who wanted to privatize home care. It was members opposite who privatized the MTS. It's members opposite who want to privatize daycare. It's members opposite who want to privatize our health-care services. * (14:30) And, you know, if members opposite really knew what they were talking about, they would know that in the budget legislation they could've passed months ago there are measures in that budget legislation that deal with tendered contrac ts and they would've passed that legislation.

Instead, they've delayed the passage of the very legislation that would've helped improve the situation. And the Auditor General –and most contracts that are untendered are emergency situations or situations like Bombardier where you only have one manufacturer that can provide parts to emergency planes that deal with flood and fire situations. Mr. Speaker, they are looking at the wrong issue. They could've– Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The honourable minister's time for this question has elapsed. Children in Care Manitoba Numbers Mr.

Ian Wishart (Portage la Prairie): All Manitobans are concerned with the number of children in care under this Family Services Minister. Freedom of information requests to this department have taken longer than five months to be answered. Accordingly, the latest number we have for the number of children in care of CFS is from April, putting it at 10,852 children in care, plus over 600 with extensions in care. This minister must know how many children she is responsible for. Could the minister please tell this House and all Manitobans: How many children are currently in care? Hon.

Kerri Irvin -Ross (Minister of Family Services): We are all very aware of our responsibility of the priority of keeping Manitoban children safe, and that's what the front -line staff do every day. They're working in communities across this province addressing the issues of families with the priority of keeping families together, and that's why we've made record investments in prevention. That's why we're supporting our not -for-profit organizations for parenting courses, providing child education and support. We're going to continue to do that. We know we have a lot more work to do.

We know that the issues facing some of our families –the trauma that they have experienced through residential schools, the racism, the colonization, the '60s scoop–we need to address them. We have the partners. We're continuing to work, and every day our job is to keep Manitoba children safe while keeping families together. Child Apprehension Rates Long-Term Impact Mr. Ian Wishart (Portage la Prairie): I would take it the answer is, no, she doesn't know.

Time and time again we see parents who have lost their children to CFS speaking up about heavy – how heavy -handed this minister and ministry has been in apprehending children, yet the minister repeats ad nauseam that they only apprehend when they have no other choice. As of April, Manitoba had 10,852 children in care. The province of Saskatchewan, which has

October 20, 2015 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2349 nearly identical populations and demographics, has 4,600 children in care. Perhaps the minister can tell us why she reaches the last resort so much more often than Saskatchewan. Hon. Kerri Irvin -Ross (Minister of Family Services): As I've stated previously and I will continue to state, the No. 1 priority is the safety of children in Manitoba. We work every day with our community partners to address those issues and w e will continue to do that.

We know that we have a lot of work to do when it comes to prevention, and that's why we're making record investments. That's why we've been talking about supporting universal child care. That's why we've increased the funding for prevention programs by 60 per cent when dealing with families in the Family Enhancement program. We're going to continue to do that. We are going to continue to do that while we build a system that prevents children from coming into care.

We are not g oing to take the reckless cuts that the members opposite when they slashed the rates to foster parents, told front-line workers to take 10 days off, put children at risk. We're going to continue to work with families, to work with our partners and to support devolution. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The honourable minister's time on this question has elapsed. Mr. Wishart: Mr. Speaker, she continues to apprehend at twice the rate of our neighbouring province. To this government these children may merely be numbers, but they are far more. Each is a child with hopes and dreams.

When children and their families are separated, these hopes and dreams are often destroyed. We know that over 40 per cent of the children in care had at least one parent who was in care. It would appear that the care offered by this ministry through CFS to children is doing little to break the cycle. So I ask the minister: Where are these supports that these children need to help accomplish the dreams in their lives? Ms. Irvin -Ross: The apprehension of a child does not come lightly.

It is after a critical assessment has been completed; it's after family conversations have happened; it's after they've identified the need of protection of a child. I know that the member opposite said we should set that aside, that shouldn't be the priority. Well, I'm telling you today, this is this side of the House, that is our priority: the safety of children. We know that when children are in care we need to pr ovide them with the services that they require, and that's why we do. That's why we've supported the development of specialized foster parents.

We did not cut the rate for foster parents at all like the members opposite. That's why we continue to look at developing strategies, as we have at Marymound, for children with complex needs that are dealing with mental health and addictions. That's why we're investing in StreetReach to ensure that we have the ability to work with these families and these children where they need the support. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The honourable minister's time on this question has elapsed. Ambulance Services Case Concern Mr. Cliff Graydon (Emerson): Mr.

Speaker, this minister has repeatedly blamed everyone but herself for the waste and mismanagement of the health -care system. There are over 30 ERs closed at any one time in Manitoba, many being closed permanently. During question period on June 22nd, she referred to our questioning, and as I quote, they're beating a dead horse. Will the minister relay that message to Esther Hildebrand [phonetic], who waited for an hour and a half for an ambulance to come from Steinbach to get a ride to the Health Sciences Centre while the Altona ambulance sat in a garage beside the Altona community health centre? Hon.

Sharon Blady (Minister of Health): I'd like to thank the member for the question, and what I would like to do is assure all Manitobans, especially those in rural Manitoba, that we are making efforts and working hard to make life better for rural Manitobans in terms of health care. We are making sure that all families–again, they all deserve access to safe, high-quality health care close to home. And that's why we've been adding medical facilities and expanding services in those areas. We have been working on physician recruitment and retention, which is–and, again, we are working with

2350 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA October 20, 2015 our communities in each of those areas, and we are working with the regional health authorities. So I can assure Manitobans that we continue to work, and we continue to work with those communities and those RHAs in a way that was not heard of with members opposite, who sent doctors fleeing and who closed hospitals. Mr. Graydon: Well, Mr. Speaker, the R –ERs were open when this government was in power. Mr. Speaker, Esther Hildebrand [phonetic] is a senior, lives on a fixed income and has learned to manage her money carefully.

She could not understand why an ambulance had to come from Steinbach, an hour and a half away, when another ambulance sat 200 yards away. She now has proof that Manitobans are paying more for less and this minister is threatening front-line services. Mrs. Hildebrand [phonetic] wants to know why and desires a response to her letter to the minister. Ms. Blady: I thank the member for the question, and I can assure him that I deal with all correspondence and will deal–and will respond directly to the member–to the individual noted.

I can reassure her not only that we are working with the region but also that –again, to remind her that the members' opposite plan involves one of two- tier health care, something that I don't think she would be very impressed with. The fact that they have, you know, in their time, decreased the number of medical training spots, can you believe that, they're advocating for increased health care, but they're the very folks that decreased medical training spots?

And Charles Adler asked the simple, direct question of the Finance critic five times in a row, actually, what solutions did they have for Manitoba's health-care system, five times, but the member for Morden-Winkler (Mr. Friesen) didn't want to answer. He couldn't answer because there are no plans. He also, when asked– when–if he would commit–Geoff Currier asked him if he would commit to ensure that they would– Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The honourable minister's time on this question has elapsed. Health-Care System Access to ER Services Mr. Cliff Graydon (Emerson): Mr.

Speaker, if I could give the minister some advice, she woul d be better off if she paid more attention to her job than what we think. With over 30 ERs being closed in Manitoba, it's clear that the NDP's policies are failing Manitobans not just in Altona but in every corner of the province. The Manitobans who do not have access to the health-care system have paid for that service, Mr. Speaker. And when will this minister quit making excuses and be honest with Manitobans and provide them with the quality care that they have paid for in advance? Hon.

Sharon Blady (Minister of Health): I thank the member for the question. I will tell Manitobans what we've been doing. We joined with the community in Notre Dame de Lourdes to begin construction on their new health-care centre. We recently began construction for the new Tabor Home in Morden- Winkler. We opened our first two rural QuickCare clinics in Steinbach and in Selkirk.

We have new or renovated hospitals in many communities across Manitoba, including Beausejour and Pinawa, and a new hospital on the way in Selkirk. * (14:40) We've invested in 175 new ambulances, most for rural and northern Manitoba, including an announcement this September for a further 52 replacement ambulances to further modernize the fleet, which contrasts greatly to the cuts in, oh, Morden-Winkler back in 1997 where over $8 million from hospitals and PCHs were cut, including $1.3 million in the Morden area. Portage hospital, $1.6 million was cut by the members opposite. So we are working with people.

We are working with communities– Mr. S peaker: Order, please. The honourable minister's time on this question has elapsed. Zebra Mussel Infestation Costs and Long-Term Impact Mr. Shannon Martin (Morris): Mr. Speaker, under today's NDP, we have seen the single largest economic and environmental disaster occur that, due to the zebra mussel infestation in Lake Winnipeg, it has been declared, I quote, a lost cause. This government has known since 2009 that t his 'invasi' species has entered our watershed, and they have done nothing, Mr. Speaker.

October 20, 2015 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2351 Can the minister explain to Manitobans how his government could go from standing on the bow of the SS Minnow and declaring victory last summer to declaring a lost cause this summer? Hon. Thomas Nevakshonoff (Minister of Conservation and Water Stewardship): I want to thank the member for the question. I sincerely thank him, because it's very important that we get to repeat the message that Manitobans have to hear.

Each and every one of us individually has a responsibility to try and address –[interjection] Well, if members would like to listen, I will give them the response. The message, Mr. Speaker, is clean, drain and dry. Each –an individual Manitoban, with boats, when they leave waters that have challenges with zebra mussels, have to take individual action to make sure that their boats are clean and dry and are safe to transport and put in other bodies of water. So, Mr. Speaker, I sincerely thank the member for the question that allows me to put that message once again on the record.

Effectiveness of Potassium Chloride Mr. Martin: Mr. Speaker, the NDP has always been more interested in headlines than hard work. Will this minister acknowledge that before his government even initiated the half -million-dollar science project, dumping hundreds of tons of potash into Lake Winnipeg, he knew, as noted by University of Winnipeg biologist Dr. Pip, and I quote, that the lake was past the point of saving? Mr. Nevakshonoff: Mr.

Speaker, I'm astonished that the member opposite –members opposite –that they would criticize an action of this government taken to sincerely–[interjection] Well, they can make all of the noise that they want, but we made a sincere effort last summer to contain the spread of zebra mussels in the four harbours in Lake Winnipeg. It was an entirely legitimate act taken in order to try and stave this off. Unfortunately, veligers had already spread into the main body of the lake, and at that point, Mr. Speaker, you're dealing with a different situation, which we continue to do so, and– Mr. Speaker: Order, please.

The honourable minister's time on this question has elapsed. Costs and Long-Term Impact Mr. Martin: Mr. Speaker, according to Dr. Pip, and I quote, the problem is irreversible, and, in fact, it's a catastrophe; it's a disaster. End quote. While zebra mussels multiply by the millions, so does the cost of the damage incurred. Can the minister provide Manitobans an estimate of the long-term cost implications resulting from his government's absolute failure on this file? Mr. Nevakshonoff: Well, Mr. Speaker, members opposite may be ready to give up on Lake Winnipeg, but this government certainly is not.

And if members opposite think that this was something that we just became aware of, they're wrong as well. This is a problem that has been on the horizon for many years. When, in fact, my predecessor, the honourable Clif Evans, when he was first elected in 1990, the first question he put to the Environment minister opposite was a question on zebra mussels. So this is a long -standing problem. The provincial government has been engaged for years in the process of communication with the public in order to ge t them to tread carefully. If members opposite aren't aware of that, then that's their loss– Mr.

Speaker: Order, please. The honourable minister's time on this question has elapsed. Water Protection Act Timeline for Proclamation Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, the impact of zebra mussels, the invasion in Lake Winnipeg, on hydro dams, on beaches, on recreation, on our fishery in Lake Winnipeg, remain very concerning. Even worse, the introduction and passing of the bill essential to give powers to conservation officers to address and prevent transfer of aquatic invasive species to other lakes has proceeded in glacial slow motion. The bill still has not been proclaimed.

I ask the Premier: When will Bill 12, The Water Protection Amendment Act, which received royal assent on June the 30th, finally be proclaimed? Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): I thank the member for the question because, essentially, he's acknowledging that we have put additional measures in place to deal with zebra mussels. It's very important.

2352 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA October 20, 2015 It's a responsibility of all of us to put proper regulatory measures in place. It's the responsibility of boaters to make sure that their boats are properly cleaned. We will provide facilities to them to do that kind of cleansing of their boats. We will provide additional facilities for them to do that, to make sure that their boats are properly cleaned. This issue is not unique to Manitoba. It's on two lakes n ow. We want to make sure –and in the Red River.

We want to make sure it doesn't spread any further, so we will be taking all the necessary measures that we're aware of. And we will be working with scientists as well, something that hasn't been done –something that hasn't been done –as the member knows from River Heights. The ability to work with scientists to identify ways that we can continue to reduce the risk of zebra mussels is an important step that we're taking.

And we have a scientific advisory committee working with the department, and that resource will allow us to inform the public on the best ways possible that we can prevent the spread of zebra mussels in Manitoba. Mr. Gerrard: Mr. Speaker, by July 2014 it was very clear that zebra mussel invasio n of Lake Winnipeg was of a large scale. Manitoba Liberals knew that urgent action was needed to prevent the spread to other lakes and called for return of the Legislature last summer immediately in September to pass the legislation and get it proclaimed. But this government has dilly -dallied.

This government didn't even introduce the bill until December last year. It wasn't passed until June of this year. The bill has not even been proclaimed. Why has this government, I ask the Premier, why has this gov ernment been so slow on such a critical issue to Manitobans, and why has the government been so slow that the zebra mussel problem has now spread to Cedar Lake? Mr. Selinger: Again, I appreciate the question from the member opposite. He will know full well that the transport of zebra mussels is illegal under federal law.

Our measures are intended to enstrengthen our capacity to prevent the spread of zebra mussels in Manitoba. They have now been detected in the Red River. They have been detected in Lake Winnipeg. When they were detected in Lake Winnipeg, we took a very vigorous–we put in place a very vigorous program to ensure that they didn't spread further. Regrettably, some of them have done that. We've recently been informed that one veliger was discovered in Cedar Lake, one too many, I might add, Mr. Speaker.

That lake is not directly connected to Lake Winnipeg, so it suggests that there was a transport there by some human conveyance to that lake. So the most important thing to do, Mr. Speaker, is to get resources in place, including public education, which members opposite have scoffed at. The more we can equip our citizens to do the right thing on the way they transport boat and the way–boats and the way they handle recreation opportunities, the gr eater our capacity to protect the 100,000 lakes we have in Manitoba, and we will do that in co-operation with the citizens of this province.

Zebra Mussel Infestation Lake Protection Plans Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, the problem is this government hasn't even proclaimed the legislation which is so critical and they're not even enforcing other aspects of legislation which are there. The government has had, at best, intermittent deployment of a few watercraft inspection stations. Are there inspection stations in Dauphin River to prevent the spread up Dauphin River into Lake St. Martin from Lake Manitoba? Is there a plan to prevent spread by float planes? Where is it?

Why would the Premier increase the responsibilities of conservation officers while reducing the budget to pay for them and to do inspections? Why is the Premier going so slow and employing half measures to deal with a crisis on lakes in Manitoba? Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Again, I appreciate the question.

The federa l Conservative government slashed the Department of Environment in a way that had not been seen since the member opposite was in Parliament, when the Liberals slashed the Environment Department. * (14:50) We in Manitoba have increased resources –we have increased resources to deal with zebra mussels in Manitoba. We have brought in very vigorous legislation to reduce nutrient loading in Lake Winnipeg. That is an important dimension of controlling zebra mussels, and we will look at additional ways that we can do that.

October 20, 2015 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2353 The bill has been passed in the Legislature. We all agree it took too long to pass. The opposition could have expedited that. We were ready to pass it as soon as it was introduced into the Legislature. They wanted to dilly -dally on that. The bill has now been passed. Proper regulations will be put in place, but in the meantime we will continue with a public education program. We will continue with enhanced support for treatment of boats to ensure that those veligers and zebra mussels do not transport to additional lakes.

But it's really important that we all have a team effort on this with citizens and government and non- profit– Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The honourable minister's–First Minister's time on this question has elapsed. Blue Dot Declaration Prairie Climate Centre Mr. Rob Altemeyer (Wolseley): Well, it's good to see the environment finally getting some attention from members opposite. We must be getting close to a provincial election. Doesn't happen the three and a half years prior to now.

And speaking of the environment, wouldn't you know it, I had a chance meeting with one of my lifetime idols, a fellow by the name of Dr. David Suzuki. I don't know if members opposite know who he is or the work that he has done, but he actually came to Manitoba because our government made a commitment to his Blue Dot declaration campaign before any other province in the country did. I'm wondering if our wonderful Minister for Conservation could inform this House, particularly the members opposite, what the environment is and what we're doing to protect it for all Manitobans. Hon.

Thomas Nevakshonoff (Minister of Conservation and Water Stewardship): I want to thank the member for the question. It gives me the opportunity to put on the record that Manitoba is now the first province to sign on to the Blue Dot accord of Dr. David Suzuki, one of the premier environmentalists in the world, in case members opposite aren't aware of that fact. Part of the announcement, we will be putting $400,000 toward the constitution of the Prairie Climate Centre based in the U niversity of Winnipeg. They will be working in conjunction with the international institute of sustainable development.

The host entity will be the Richardson College for the Environment. The focus will be on the environment. If members opposite have a ny doubts left that climate change is a reality, I would just remind them of the flood of 2011, the greatest natural disaster– Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The honourable minister's time on this question has elapsed. Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Physician Numbers Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister of Health: As of today, how many doctors are we short in the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority? Hon.

Sharon Blady (Minister of Health): I'd like to thank the member for the question. And I would like to remind, you know, members that we are working diligently with all members of the regional health authority. I know they have a problem with hard work, Mr. Speaker, but I can tell you that what we've bee n doing is we've been increasing class sizes from the 70 that they cut them down to, and what we've done with that as well is we've already fulfilled our 2011 election commitment to add 200 more doctors. In fact, we've added 276.

And we're working with the regional health authorities on how to better deploy and how to get them out, get doctors out to where they're needed. Whether it's building the My Health Teams, whether it's bringing out QuickCare clinics to rural areas, we are actually working with do ctors, and we're doing so in a way that will meet the needs of communities all around Manitoba. Mr. Ewasko : Mr. Speaker, Manitobans know that this NDP government's waste and mismanagement is hurting essential front -line services.

In fact, at the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority's AGM it was reported that, in fact, the IERHA are short 60-plus physicians. How can hard- working Manitobans trust what this Minister of Health and her government has to say? Ms. Blady: Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for the question. And I can tell you what Manitobans can trust. They can trust a team that actually hires more doctors, trains more doctors, and that according to

2354 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA October 20, 2015 CIHI, Manitoba is among the best in the nation on rural doctor retention. That's CIHI. And I look to the numbers that we get from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and you know what? Our very worst year was 2005, where we only attracted, only gained, 10 docs. You know what their best year was? Zero: 1994, zero. They flatlined. That was their best year, a flat line. Our worst year was a gain of 10. Their worst year was a loss of 75. Our best year was a gain of 83. Their best year was a flat

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	40-4-68b
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	40th 4th hansardpdf 68b.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	a4f2fc3444aabe682335aa927fcf1c28675f377b

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