Manitoba Hansard — 15 April 2026 (Sitting 42, 43rd Legislature, 3rd Session)

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Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Third Session – Forty-Third Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Tom Lindsey Speaker Vol. LXXX No. 42 – 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 15, 2026 ISSN 0542-5492

MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Forty-Third Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ASAGWARA, Uzoma, Hon. Union Station NDP BALCAEN, Wayne Brandon West PC BEREZA, Jeff Portage la Prairie PC BLASHKO, Tyler Lagimodière NDP BRAR, Diljeet Burrows NDP BUSHIE, Ian, Hon. Keewatinook NDP BYRAM, Jodie Agassiz PC CABLE, Renée, Hon. Southdale NDP CHEN, Jennifer Fort Richmond NDP COMPTON, Carla Tuxedo NDP COOK, Kathleen Roblin PC CORBETT, Shannon Transcona NDP CROSS, Billie Seine River NDP DELA CRUZ, Jelynn Radisson NDP DEVGAN, JD McPhillips NDP EWASKO, Wayne Lac du Bonnet PC FONTAINE, Nahanni, Hon. St.

Johns NDP GOERTZEN, Kelvin Steinbach PC GUENTER, Josh Borderland PC HIEBERT, Carrie Morden-Winkler PC JOHNSON, Derek Interlake-Gimli PC KENNEDY, Nellie, Hon. Assiniboia NDP KHAN, Obby Fort Whyte PC KINEW, Wab, Hon. Fort Rouge NDP KING, Trevor Lakeside PC KOSTYSHYN, Ron, Hon. Dauphin NDP LAGASSÉ, Bob Dawson Trail Ind. LAMOUREUX, Cindy Tyndall Park Lib. LINDSEY, Tom, Hon. Flin Flon NDP LOISELLE, Robert St. Boniface NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Malaya, Hon. Notre Dame NDP MOROZ, Mike, Hon. River Heights NDP MOSES, Jamie, Hon. St. Vital NDP MOYES, Mike, Hon.

Riel NDP NARTH, Konrad La Vérendrye PC NAYLOR, Lisa, Hon. Wolseley NDP NESBITT, Greg Riding Mountain PC OXENHAM, Logan Kirkfield Park NDP PANKRATZ, David Waverley NDP PERCHOTTE, Richard Selkirk PC PIWNIUK, Doyle Turtle Mountain PC REDHEAD, Eric Thompson NDP ROBBINS, Colleen Spruce Woods PC SALA, Adrien, Hon. St. James NDP SANDHU, Mintu, Hon. The Maples NDP SCHMIDT, Tracy, Hon. Rossmere NDP SCHOTT, Rachelle Kildonan-River East NDP SCHULER, Ron Springfield-Ritchot PC SIMARD, Glen, Hon. Brandon East NDP SMITH, Bernadette, Hon. Point Douglas NDP STONE, Lauren Midland PC WASYLIW, Mark Fort Garry Ind.

WHARTON, Jeff Red River North PC WIEBE, Matt, Hon. Concordia NDP WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC Vacant The Pas-Kameesak

1239 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Wednesday, April 15, 2026 The House met at 1:30 p.m. The Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom, know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen.

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

Please be seated. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS The Speaker: Introduction of bills? Com mittee reports? Tabling of reports? Ministerial statements? MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Millennium Gardens Mrs. Rachelle Schott (Kildonan-River East): Honour- able Speaker, I rise today to recognize the incredible and lasting legacy of Millennium Gardens as they celebrate their 25th anniversary, right here in Kildonan-River East. I ask for leave to have the names of my guests entered into Hansard. I was proud to attend this celebration alongside local elected officials from all levels of government.

Moments like this remind us that when we show up for our communities, work together and put people first, we can accomplish great things for our shared constituents. Founded in 2002, Millennium Gardens was created to provide a safe and welcoming space for seniors in our community to connect, garden and spend time outdoors. It continues to serve as a place where neigh- bours who may have downsized from homes with yards to apartments or condos can still enjoy access to green space and the benefits of gardening. Today, the gardens are more vibrant than ever.

The summer season now includes exercise classes, evening concerts and educational sessions that wel - come both experienced gardeners and those simply looking to connect with others in their community. At its heart, Millennium Gardens is also a model for environmental stewardship. Through the planting of native species and the use of ecological gardening practices, the volunteer team supports biodiversity, promotes healthy soil and contributes to climate action in a meaningful and practical way. Millennium Gardens is a true reflection of what can be achieved when caring Manitobans come together.

For 25 years, this space has strengthened both the Chief Peguis Greenway ecosystem and the surrounding neighbourhood through the dedication of its volunteers. I ask all members in this Chamber to please rise to join me in thanking just some of the many volunteers that make this space in credible for Kildonan-River East. Maurice Bernardin, Mel Saunders, Vera Stecy, Kiyoko Ulrich, Gordon Weber. Nathan Froebe Mrs. Lauren Stone (Midland): I am pleased to rise in the House today to recognize Nathan Froebe, a grade 12 student from Carman Collegiate.

Nathan is just one of 36 recipients across Canada who has won the prestigious Loran Scholarship, one of Canada's most competitive and sought-after awards for youth leadership. Nathan joins us today in the gallery with his parents Murray and Victoria and brother Quinn. The Loran Scholarship seeks to identify young students with a guiding sense of purpose: those who demonstrate exceptional strength of character, deep commitment to commu nity service and potential to

1240 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 15, 2026 lead with integrity. The application is a rigorous and a multi-stage process. The scholarship is valued at over $100,000 over four years and includes one -on-one mentorship with a business or community leader. Nathan joins a list of accomplished alumni from the scholarship that includes CEOs, NASA engineers, folks in medicine, Rhodes Scholars and Supreme Court of Canada clerks, to name a few.

Nathan comes from a multi- generational farm in Homewood and plans to attend the University of Guelph, considering studies in agribusiness or crop science, with a long-term interest in sustainable agri- culture. One of his goals is to leave the soil in a better place for the next generation. And, Nathan, knowing your family, and the team at Agassiz Seed, who have been farming sustainably since the 1920s, you are well prepared to take this into the future. Nathan is regularly active in serving his commu- nity.

He's the co -founder and leader of a local youth initiative dedicated to nurturing kindness and volun- teerism. He serves on a community board to address poverty and promoting wellness. In addition to his schoolwork, community commitments and athletics, he's also built and operated a home service business. Nathan, I wish you so much success in university and beyond. I look forward to hearing regular updates from your parents and cannot wait to see where your commitment to service takes you in the future. Congratulations.

Advanced Spine Surgery Technology MLA Jim Maloway (Elmwood): Honourable Speaker, on March 13, as Elmwood MLA, along with my col - leagues representing northeast Winnipeg, members for Concordia (Mr. Wiebe), Kildonan -River East (Mrs. Schott), Radisson (MLA Dela Cruz), Rossmere (MLA Schmidt) and Transcona (MLA Corbett), joined the Premier (Mr. Kinew) and the Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care (MLA Asagwara) at the announcement of a $2.7- million initiative in advanced spine surgery technology at Concordia Hospital.

This new technology will improve access to care, reduce wait times and speed up patient recovery. Patients who once faced long waits and extended hospital stays can now receive minimally invasive procedures using advanced 3-D imaging and precision- guided technology. This surgery won' t require big incisions. These innovations mean most patients can return home the same day, recovering faster and getting back to their daily lives sooner. Honourable Speaker, this initiative is also posi - tioning Manitoba as a leader in specialized care.

Concordia Hospital is now recognized as a spine centre of excellence, attracting surgeons from across Canada and around the world to train here in Winnipeg. This not only strengthens our health- care system today but helps train the next generation of skilled professionals for tomorrow. Most importantly, the impact on patients is profound. Everyone knows someone in their lives suffering chronic back pain. This important treatment option will help them gain their mobility, in depen- dence and quality of life, returning to everyday activities, work and even travel without discomfort.

Thank you and congratulations to Carrie Fruehm, president of Concordia Hospital, and orthopedic spine surgeon, Dr. Jay Toor, and his team. * (13:40) This is what rebuilding health care looks like: investing in innovation, expanding capacity and putting patients first. Thank you. School Bus Driver Day Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): Today, we gather to recognize an important milestone in our province: School Bus Driver Day in Manitoba. I had the pleasure of introducing the legis lation.

Bill 214 was a significant step towards honouring those who ensure Manitoba children's safety on their journeys to and from school. As a former teacher who relied on school buses daily, we thank each and every one of you out there. On June 30, 2015, when I was in opposition, our Legislative Assembly unanimously approved this bill, setting aside the third Wednesday of April each year to celebrate our dedicated bus drivers. And they continue to this day, fostering a safe and nurturing environment.

School bus drivers play a vital role in our com - munities, providing safe and reliable transporta tion for all Manitoba students. They are often the first and last adults students see each school day. Fostering a sense of security and routine, with their friendly smiles and warm greetings, they create a welcoming atmos - phere that helps students feel comfortable and valued. I would like to put on the record, Honourable Speaker, a few bus drivers that have left lasting impressions on many of our lives throughout Manitoba.

April 15, 2026 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1241 Mr. Art Luszeck, who actually was my bus driver and who was the main person that I brought forward, this bill back in 2015. We had Mr. Gmitroski. We had Ms. Greschuk. We had Gail, Tiny Tim, Jackie, Jodi, Allan, Lorne, Ron, Kevin, Mr. Dagg, who recently had just passed. We had John McKee, Larry Lukaschuk and many, many other great bus –school bus drivers in this great province of ours, Honourable Speaker.

I would like and ask my colleagues to stand up today and recognize the over 100 school bus drivers that are watching online virtually today, Honourable Speaker. Introduction of Guests The Speaker: Prior to oral questions, there are some guests in the gallery I'd like to introduce. We have seated in the public gallery from Valley Gardens school 90 grade 6 students under the direc - tion of Alanna Stromberg. And this group is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Concordia (Mr. Wiebe). We welcome you here today.

And I would also like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the public gallery where we have with us today: Vera Stecy, Kiyoko Ulrich, Gordon Weber, Mel Saunders, Maurice Bernadin, who are guests of the honourable member for Kildonan-River East (Mrs. Schott). And on behalf of all honourable members, we welcome you here today. ORAL QUESTIONS Economic Development Concerns Major Projects for Manitoba Mr. Obby Khan (Leader of the Official Opposition): The Premier went to Ottawa and came back with nothing: no major projects, no investments, no economic opportunity.

And worse, no commitment from Mark Carney on the Port of Churchill. Let's be clear, economic growth is essential for the province of Manitoba. Economic growth is the Prime Minister's primary motivation. So the Premier was walking through an open door but Manitobans got nothing. Even the Premier's own half-a-million-dollar American trade rep is worried. To quote Richard Manning, he says: If there con- tinues to be a feasibility study or discussion but no action, that could be problematic. End quote. Well, guess what? We are seeing no action under this NDP government.

Manitoba has no major pro- jects, no hope of one under this NDP government. When will the Premier put economic growth at the forefront of his plans or does he simply not have a plan to grow Manitoba's economy? Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): Honourable Speaker, I want to thank so many members of the federal government because, you know, sometimes when you reach out to people in politics, it always feels like you're fighting and negative and all that. But when we reach out to the federal government, it's like we have a partner, somebody who's going to help us.

So I want to begin by thanking Minister Eleanor Olszewski, who is helping us with the response to Peguis and some of the other surrounding communities like Fisher River and their request to prepare for potential flooding this spring. I got to say, not only are these challenging, impor- tant conversations, but they're made that much easier by having a federal partner who's very positive and solution oriented. And I go beyond that to say that that attitude goes right to the Prime Minister. And so , in our meeting yesterday, we aligned very much on the Port of Churchill.

We signed a co- operation agreement, which means that people are going to get to work in this province, building up our economic future, and we're going to get out of the wa y by making sure that any time there's one– The Speaker: The member's time has expired. The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Port of Churchill Development Mr. Khan: There you have it, Manitoba. The Premier has no economic plans; that's just the facts. The economy in Manitoba is ranked dead last under this NDP government.

The Premier has done nothing to improve Manitoba's economic future, and when he had a chance to secure the deal with the Prime Minister and actually move money into this province to grow our economy, he came back with more pictures of him smiling, Honourable Speaker. No deals, no memorandums of understanding, absolutely nothing. The Premier's own hand -picked trade reps –is worried about the economic future of this province. Months ago, this Premier promised big announce - ments about Churchill. Where are those announce - ments? Manitobans are rising up to the simple fact that

1242 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 15, 2026 this Premier is full of big, fake announcements, just like he's trying to do here today. So, to the Premier, when will Manitobans see a real announcement for economic prosperity on the Port of Churchill and for all– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Mr. Kinew: Yesterday. We were there in the Prime Minister's office. We shook hands. We signed the co-operation agreement. We're moving forward to build up the Port of Churchill. I'll contrast that to what the PCs did for seven long, boring years full of cuts in Manitoba.

All they wanted to do was fight the federal government, and they weren't even good at that. Justin Trudeau came and went, but their government came and went even more quickly than him. And so, while I wish him well, as well as his new partner, Katy Perry, we're hard at work with the new federal government and the new Prime Minister, Mark Carney. So while some folks are probably doomscrolling Coachella updates, we're working for you. We're building up northern Manitoba, we're building up the south, and we're building a bright future for all of our kids.

The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary question. Private Industry Investment Mr. Khan: The Premier says he signed a co-operation agreement; where is it? How many jobs? How much money is coming to the province? And when will this– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. The Speaker: Order. Mr. Khan: –really materialize? Manitoba is a resource economy. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. The Speaker: Order. Mr. Khan: Whether agriculture or mines or manu - facturing or resources, they all drive Manitoba's economy.

But industry is fleeing under this NDP govern- ment because they have destroyed economy and they've destroyed private-sector investment. And now, the Premier is putting up another barrier for private industry to work in Manitoba: The Manitoba Crown Indigenous Corporation. More red tape, more duplication of efforts, less investments, less–[interjection] The Speaker: Order. Mr. Khan: –economic growth and nothing tabled by this NDP Premier. Absolutely nothing from this Premier on that. Why is this government so bent on making it harder for private business to participate and grow Manitoba's economy? Mr.

Kinew: Honourable Speaker, everybody I talk to in Manitoba is so excited about the opportunity we have in Churchill. Well, everybody I hear from except for, you know, a couple people. But we don't let the negative downer types hold us back. Future in this province is going to be built by young people, and it's going to be built by people with dreams and people with ambition.

Of course, the PCs are looking at them selves–ah, great, where does that leave us? * (13:50) When it comes to the future of this province, we're going to work hard to make sure that Manitobans are trained, Manitobans have the capital and Manitobans have the opportunity, and when future historians look back at this period and they look at us building the Port of Churchill to reach Europe, to reach Asia, you know what they're going to say? When America and Donald Trump threatened our country, it was Canada that stood up and saved the day.

The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question. Provincial Fuel Tax Request to Eliminate Mr. Obby Khan (Leader of the Official Opposition): The federal gov ernment was able to take action yesterday when Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that he's cutting the federal portion of the fuel tax until Labour Day. The Prime Minister knows that gas taxes are out of control, that gas prices are out of control and is taking real steps to help Canadians today. Manitoba's Premier? What is he doing? Nothing. He wants to wait another month. Maybe he'll order a new study.

Maybe he'll do nothing or maybe he will continue to blame others for his failures.

April 15, 2026 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1243 The Premier can sign a paper today to eliminate the provincial gas tax for Manitobans permanently that are struggling to fill up their tanks. Will he do it or will he let Mark Carney continue to do the hard work for him? Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): This guy loves our 2023 election campaign. We cut the gas tax. We saved you money and then we cut the gas tax permanently to save you even more money. That's all they have: recycling our old announcements. I congratulated the Prime Minister yesterday on his new majority government.

I also said the first thing that our government did when we formed a majority was to cut the gas tax in Manitoba and it brought down inflation, and I congratulated him on c utting the federal gas tax, which will bring inflation down naturally. So this is how you work together. You share great ideas and you share credit and you give credit where credit is due. On the other side, they charged a gas tax on you and your family every single day they were in office. You can't believe anything that they say now that they want to get re -elected. You can trust our actions to help you save money.

The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr. Khan: The Premier is clearly living in the past. Gas prices right now are at historic highs under this NDP government. The Premier thinks that a gas tax holiday was the best thing a government in Manitoba has ever done. We all know that is laughable, but this Premier actually seems to believe it. He went out of his way yesterday, in an awkward moment, to mention to Mark Carney how he put a gas tax pause on but refuses to do one today. The Premier can do it today.

The Premier can permanently cut the gas tax here in the province of Manitoba to provi de real relief and real affordability for Manitobans today. Will the Premier stand up today and make that announcement, that he's going to remove the prov- incial gas tax today, permanently, for Manitobans? Mr. Kinew: So what? Like, when we cut the gas tax he said it was bad, but now he wants us to cut the gas tax again? The members opposite–[interjection] The Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –don't make any sense. We know what– [interjection] The Speaker: Order, please. Stop the clock–[interjection] Order, please. Order. Order.

We can stop hollering back and forth across the way because when everybody's hollering I don't hear what's being said, so we need to stop it. Yesterday we had a pretty good day. Let's do that again today. The honourable First Minister, I believe, had the floor. Mr. Kinew: So, Honourable Speaker, I'll just point out the member for Lac du Bonnet (Mr. Ewasko) continues to heckle even after your interjection. But when it comes to saving people money, you know what we followed up the gas tax cut with? We cut your property taxes. We made life more affordable by freezing hydro rates.

And you know what we're doing on Canada Day of this year? We're taking the tax off of all food and drinks at the grocery store. Actions speak louder than words. Our actions are to cut taxes and save you money. Their actions? Well, you can see them right now. The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary question. Mr. Khan: The Premier's answer right there tells you how out of touch he is with reality. Food prices are higher than they've ever been. Food suppliers and grocery chains are now starting to add a fuel surcharge on their goods.

This means that groceries soon and basic personal items will be even more expensive under this NDP government because they refuse to act. The tiny savings, the pennies, that this NDP gov ernment are saving you in their NDP budget will be swallowed up by fuel surcharges added on under this NDP government. Manitobans will be left out without any help at the grocery store, and those so- called savings of pennies will be gone. The Premier can avoid this future for Manitobans today. He can permanently remove the provincial gas tax today and help you and your family to make your life more affordable.

Will he do it, yes or no? Mr. Kinew: Why are they clapping, though? Like, I mean, he was in Cabinet when gas was $2 a litre here in Manitoba. That is the high point of gas prices in Manitoba, and he sat at the Cabinet table.

1244 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 15, 2026 And you know what he did? Nothing; he didn't do nothing. They charged the gas tax every single day. We came in. We cut the gas tax. It brought down inflation. And so when he raises his political issue, he's raising one of the positive things that Manitobans like that we've done. That's great. Let's keep talking about it. On their side, he's hired a Liberal as a campaign manager. I'm not sure if the PC caucus knows about this. They're paying for it, for the record; Winnipeg Sun reported on that.

But I'll table these documents that show that the Alberta Liberal Party, unde r the direction of Stephen Carter, is running ads against the United Conservative Party, Danielle Smith's party. So I don't know how that plays out in Borderland or in– The Speaker: The member's time has expired. The honour able member for Borderland. [interjection] Order. Manitoba Jobs Agreement Fee Collection–Use of Funds Inquiry Mr.

Josh Guenter (Borderland): The Manitoba jobs agreement is so bad that not only have the three largest construction associations in the province issued a warning to companies about the risks of bidding on public projects, but they've also asked the Auditor General to investigate the deal. The MJA gives the government the authority to collect 85 cents or more for every labour hour, which comes to $1 million on the four schools that are supposed to be built.

The problem is that when asked, the building trades, who will collect this money, say it's for administration while this minister, after repeated questions from media, could only say, safety training. This is what corruption looks like. So I'll give the minister yet another chance to clear the air. Can he tell us: Where is this money going? Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): You know, last week I was on Golden West radio.

We were talking abut the minimum wage that's going up in Manitoba, and the radio host–I guess a former colleague of this member– asked, well, what about the people who make more than minimum wage, and what are you going to do to make sure that their wages go up and keep pace with the increases to minimum wage. And I really wish I had delivered this live on the radio, but I'll say it now: that's a union. What you're talking about there is a union. If you want people's wages to go up over time in the building trades, for the electricians, for the carpenters, have a union.

It raises wages for everybody in the com munity, including non-union members. So for young people who are thinking about, how do I get involved–[interjection] The Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –in the Port of Churchill? How do I build up Manitoba's future? Well, one of the ways that you can get started is calling your local union hall, asking if you can apprentice and ask to earn a Red Seal to get your ticket. This is how we're going to build Manitoba together, not by trying to tear each apart like the PCs. The Speaker: The honourable member for Borderland, on a supplementary question. Mr.

Guenter: You know, this isn't about union or non-union; this is about worker choice, and the Premier should respect worker choice. * (14:00) Manitoba's construction associations are alarmed that this NDP government is giving itself the power to divert potentially millions of dollars from public investment with no trans parency, all in an effort to enrich their political friends who are run ning ads for the NDP. In fact, Ron Hambley, president of the WCA, said that many of Manitoba's own homegrown construction companies are, quote, suspicious of the MJA and will, quote, simply stay away.

Will the minister apologize for trying to drive Manitoba companies into the ground and will he come clean about the political fees he is collecting from Manitoba workers? Mr. Kinew: I love worker choice. I also love a woman's choice to choose what they want to do with their own bodies. And when we're talking about worker choice, every worker that I know chooses to make more money, and that's why we're fighting for you to get better wages. They want the money to go to the rich; we want the money to go to you. Yesterday, I was speaking to the Defence Minister, Minister David McGuinty.

We're talking about all the amazing investments that are coming to CFB Shilo, that are coming to 17 Wing, that are be–going to be coming to future facilities in Manitoba.

April 15, 2026 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1245 And I asked him, so, are these union jobs? Are they going to be paying the prevailing union wage? And he says, absolutely, 100 per cent. So we're on board with the Manitoba jobs agree - ment. The federal government is using the same approach. Pierre Poilievre proposes to use the same approach. The only people who are in the pocket of the rich and powerful are the member for Borderland and the soon-to-be-retired PC leader. The Speaker: The honourable member for Borderland, on a final supplementary question. Impact on Project Costs and Workers Mr.

Guenter: You know, the reality is –it's very important that this NDP government, this Premier hear this, because the reality is that nobody except this NDP government and their political friends in the building trades support the Manitoba jobs agreement. Everyone w ho actually builds schools, hospitals, roads and bridges says this deal will drive up costs, chase bidders away and hurt non- union Manitoba workers who make up 88 per cent of this sector.

At a time when Manitoba needs to see economic growth, why is this government actively working against Manitoba's construction industry, in which 53,000 non-union Manitobans earn their paycheques? Mr. Kinew: Well, this team right 'heah' is going to get those 53,000 Manitobans better wages, better pen- sions and more protection on the job site because of the Manitoba jobs agreement. Sounds pretty good to me. Sounds pretty good to anyone who's ever had to earn their own way in life.

However, Stephen Carter–that member's new cam- paign manager in the next election –said about Pierre Poilievre, and I quote: They, the Conservative Party of Canada, were going to win the next election. Then, unfortunately, everything changed for them; for - tunately for the rest of us. End quote. So, again, this is the one who's going to be design- ing the new signs to put up in Borderland, somebody who opposes Pierre Poilievre. How is that going to look on the back of the member's next election leaflet? Post-Graduate Work Permit Holders Request for Government Action to Retain Mrs.

Carrie Hiebert (Morden-Winkler): Honour- able Speaker, there are postgraduate work permit holders the minister committed to fighting for, yet the minister has remained silent on what specific actions are being taken. These individuals are already here and working, so why isn't the government acting? What concrete steps has the minister taken to secure options and solutions for these workers, and when will they see results? Hon. Malaya Marcelino (Minister of Labour and Immigration): I'm very honoured to be able to rise today, to be able to speak on this issue; this very, very important issue.

These past few days, I was in Ottawa along with the head of the Business Council of Manitoba, along with the head of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, and with one voice, we were able to tell our counter - parts at the Prime Minister's Office, as well as with the federal immigration minister, that here in Manitoba, we value our Manitoba workers, their immigration needs. We value the immigration needs of Manitoba employers, and also the immigration needs of our communities and municipalities outside of Winnipeg in rural areas and in the North.

With one voice, we were able to say that we wel- come– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. The honourable member for Morden-Winkler, on a supplementary question. Request for Meeting With Minister Mrs. Hiebert: Honourable Speaker, rather than pro- viding clear and timely information, many feel they've been left with uncertainty. Instead of meeting with those affected, the minister communicated through media. Will the minister commit to meeting with them and clearly outlining what options are available to them today? MLA Marcelino: The member is putting incorrect information on the record.

Our ministers have been meeting with folks on –past on February 20. And members of my staff–because I wasn't here in Manitoba– were able to meet with folks again over the last few days. So–but at this point, I just need to remind the House that work permits is in the jurisdiction of the federal government. So Manitoba's role is to advocate for these workers, to advocate to extend the work permits, and we've been doing that in 2024. We di d that in 2025. And we're doing it in 2026, to advocate for the extension of these work permits.

1246 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 15, 2026 This is a decision– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. The honourable member for Morden-Winker, on a final supplementary question. Post-Graduate Work Permit Extension Request for Framework and Data Mrs. Carrie Hiebert (Morden-Winkler): I have spoken to local Manitoba MPs who have told me that they've reached out to the minister's office with no reply. Will the minister release the full decision-making framework and data behind these extensions so all the Manitobans can be confident the process is fair and not subject to selective or preferential treatment?

Hon. Malaya Marcelino (Minister of Labour and Immigration): The Premier (Mr. Kinew) and I were actually present with most of the Manitoba MPs yesterday in Ottawa together, alongside the Manitoba business community, all with one voice, all saying the same thing: that Manitoba welcomes newcomers. We welcome their contribution here in our province. We value them, and we are doing our very best to provide a path to permanent residency for those who con- tribute to Manitoba and for those who want to make Manitoba their forever home.

Again, this is the jurisdiction of the federal govern- ment, whether or not they're going to agree to extend these work permits. The Conservatives on this side of the House have no leg to stand on. They have failed to process 2,178– The Speaker: The member's time has expired. Teacher Professional Conduct Commissioner Nature and Characterization of Departure Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): Honourable Speaker, April 8, the Minister of Education said that Mrs. Taillefer had resigned. The Premier said on April 10 that the Minister of Education was misleading Manitobans and Mrs. Taillefer was actually fired.

Yesterday, Mrs. Taillefer had sent out the facts that what the Premier had said was factually incorrect. Will the Minister of Education stand up today and apologize to the Manitobans for either Mrs. Taillefer, herself, or the Premier misleading Manitobans? Hon. Tracy Schmidt (Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning): Again, the safety of students here in Manitoba is of utmost importance and it's certainly our top priority.

That's why it's our government that took the leadership to bring in the registry, and that's why it's our govern ment–myself, the Premier, our whole team–that took the leadership as a team in lockstep to move in a different direction. That's what real leadership looks like, Honourable Speaker. The MLA, the member for Lac du Bonnet, was not a real leader when he was in government. He is not a real leader now. When he was the Education Minister, he didn't stand up for teachers. He cut their funding. He lied about it during the election, and they laughed at him during the election.

What else has he done, Honourable Speaker? He made an offensive joke about Indigenous Manitobans and refused to apologize. He continues that racist behaviour in the Chamber today. Will the member for Lac du Bonnet stand up– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Order, please. Get the clock stopped. I would ask the honourable minister to withdraw the part about he lied. MLA Schmidt: Withdrawn. Mr. Ewasko: Once again, unbecoming of a minister of the Crown, Honourable Speaker. So the Minister of Education said–[interjection] The Speaker: Order. Mr.

Ewasko: –and I quote: Whether it's resign– [interjection] The Speaker: Order. Mr. Ewasko: – terminate, fire, part ways–call it what you will –it's semantics. It's a messy HR issue. End quote. Honourable Speaker, a press secretary suing this Minister of Families (MLA Fontaine) for racial discrimination is a messy HR issue. [interjection] * (14:10) The Speaker: Order. Mr. Ewasko: So I'll give the Education Minister another chance. Will she stand up today–[interjection] The Speaker: Order, please.

April 15, 2026 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1247 Stop the clock. The Minister of Families needs to come to order. Mr. Ewasko: Will the Education Minister –she has one more chance to stand up and apologize to Manitobans for misleading them, either her or the Premier (Mr. Kinew)– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. MLA Schmidt: Manitobans know who they can trust when it comes to public education. That's why it's our government that brought in the teacher registry, and that's why it's our government that took the leadership and acted immediately when we need to go in a new direction.

And why did we do that, Honourable Speaker? We did it for the kids. We did it for Manitoba families. Let's review their record. Let's review some of the headlines when the failed member from Lac du Bonnet was the failed Education minister. Okay, let's go, let's–in the Free Press in September 2022: Groups speak out against underfunding public education and a move to privatization. That's his record, Honourable Speaker. Here's another headline: Winnipeg School Division raises concerns about chronic underfunding in the new budget–from 2023, his time in office. Let's read– The Speaker: Member's time has expired.

The honourable member for Lac du Bonnet, on a final supplementary question. Mr. Ewasko: In fact, this Education Minister can't focus enough to answer this question, Honourable Speaker. Matter of fact, this Education Minister signed a new contract with the former commissioner that extends from April 13, which is this past Monday, to July 13, 2026, which Ms. Taillefer has said that was signed by the Education Minister and her. Does the–is the Premier aware of this, or is this going to be another contract that the member–or the– Mrs. Taillefer is going to be fired from, Honourable Speaker?

I'll give the Premier a chance to apologize for misleading Manitobans on this file. MLA Schmidt: When it comes to protecting kids here in Manitoba, Manitobans know who they can trust. Manitobans know they have a government that will take leadership and will act. But let's look at his time as the failed interim leader of the failed PC caucus, Honourable Speaker. As the interim leader, he failed to take action against the MLAs accused and his former colleagues of ethics violations, a member that continues to sit in this Chamber today, the member for Red River North (Mr.

Wharton), who should be disgraced and ashamed of his behaviour. What else did he do as interim leader, Honourable Speaker? As interim leader–[interjection] The Speaker: Order. MLA Schmidt: –the member for Lac du Bonnet refused to address the MLA for Borderland's Islamophobic remarks. He refused to remove Patrick Allard. What else did he do? We still haven't heard about the intimacy coach, Honourable Speaker. What happened to the intimacy– The Speaker: The member's time has expired. Teacher Professional Conduct Commissioner Concern Regarding Part-Time Nature of Position Ms.

Jodie Byram (Agassiz): This Education Minister has a chance to be honest here today with Manitobans. Yesterday, she refused to back up her Premier and denounce what the former registrar said. Instead, she tried to deflect and dodge like she continues here today. What my constituents want to know is, did this minister always think that protecting Manitoba children was a part -time job? Or did she also only discover that about the position after Mrs. Taillefer resigned? Hon.

Tracy Schmidt (Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning): The fact of the matter is, is that the Premier and I worked very closely on this file and it's unfortunate the way that it's played out in the media, but what we did, Honourable Speaker – [interjection] The Speaker: Order. MLA Schmidt: –was in the best interest of Manitobans. And it was done to make sure that Manitoba kids are protected by a commissioner that lives and works in Manitoba. So sue me, okay? What we do is in the interest of Manitobans. That's what we're always going to do.

So the members oppo- site can get up and we can debate all day; it was a firing, it was a hiring, it was a termination. The fact of the matter is, kids today in Manitoba are safer under this NDP government than they ever were under this failed PC mess of a joke.

1248 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 15, 2026 The Speaker: The honourable member for Agassiz, on a supplementary question. Ms. Byram: When our PC government brought in the framework for the registry, it was always envisioned as a full-time role. But this minister was okay with it being done part -time. Why, she was even okay with Mrs. Taillefer continuing to work full -time in Saskatchewan at the start of her contract. So is Bobbi Taillefer right? Was her firing a political move by the Premier, or was her working con- ditions always a problem?

MLA Schmidt: I don't know what to tell you, Hon- ourable Speaker. We are moving forward in the best interest of Manitoba children and Manitoba families and Manitoba schools. We're working hard to identify a brand-new commissioner that's going to be working right her e in Manitoba, and that's what Manitoba families expect. That's why we took the action that we did. And we've been hearing amazing feedback from the sector about the appointment of our interim com- missioner, David Yeo. We thank him so much for taking on this very important role.

And, again, I want to speak directly to Manitobans and reassure them that despite the negative, dark insinuations coming from the other side of the House that we remain committed to protecting kids. The office of the independent commissioner remains open to receive your complaints, investigate your complaints and make sure every student here in Manitoba is safe. The Speaker: The honourable member for Agassiz, on a final supplementary question. Request for Public Release of Correspondence Ms. Byram: The minister can't have it both ways. Either Bobbi Taillefer resigned or was fired, and there is no middle ground.

The Premier said there was no ambiguity. If this minister has nothing to hide, will she commit to publicly releasing the emails between Mrs. Taillefer and her deputy ministers? Public records either exist or they don't. If the minister and her Premier have been honest with Manitobans, wouldn't they want to release the evidence? MLA Schmidt: Yes, it's really unfortunate, Honour- able Speaker. The teacher registry is a monumental step taken by our government to protect students here in Manitoba. That's what we should be talking about. But this is what Manitobans have come to expect from the opposition.

They want to talk about–they want to make political attacks; they want to make –worse– disgusting personal attacks. That's what they want to do. They think about them selves; they want to try to score their political points. What we're doing on this side of the House, Honourable Speaker, is dealing with a com missioner that needed to be dealt with. We're going to appoint a brand new commissioner.

And we're going to do that because what we're focused on is serving Manitobans and protecting Manitoba kids, giving them the very best experience that they can have in school, not just so that they're safe, but also, they had more than 800 new teachers– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Port of Churchill Plus Project Co-operation Agreement MLA JD Devgan (McPhillips): Honourable Speaker, Manitobans appre ciate the potential of the Port of Churchill as a gateway to global markets and a driver of good jobs across the province.

With new federal partnerships growing and growing international interest, the potential is finally being realized. Can the Premier please tell the House how our government is working with partners to unlock the full potential of Churchill? Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): I want to thank our col- league from McPhillips for this amazing and timely question. When we see what's going on in the world right now, and then we look across western Canada and all the economic growth that happens because of the resources in the West, we know that we need to hit international markets more quickly and with higher throughput.

So we have tidewater in Manitoba which creates this generational opportunity. And though the war in Iran has punished everybody at the pump, it does mean that our potential export partners in Europe, in Asia are even more desperate to buy our resources. So that's why I was in Ottawa yesterday to announce the co-operation agreement that ensures that when we build the church of–Port of Churchill project plus that there'll be one project, one review, people getting to work more quickly, respecting the environment, working with Indigenous nations but making sure that we take our economy to the next level.

April 15, 2026 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1249 Good news for Manitoba. Good news for Canada. Good times are here– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Economic Growth in Manitoba Business Investment Concerns Mrs. Lauren Stone (Midland): Manitoba's economy is eroding under this NDP. Moody's credit rating agency has issued warnings to this govern ment on Manitoba's economic growth. Deloitte has actually downloaded Manitoba's economic G -D-P–G–projec- tions for 2026 to just 1 per cent.

And, just today, the Canadian federation for inde- pendent business latest report release shows that busi- ness con fidence is being eroded. In fact, under this NDP, the last six consecutive quarters, more busi - nesses in Manitoba are closing than enteri ng. That's fewer private-sector jobs, fewer op portunities and a shrinking economy. Why has this NDP created a high tax, high regula- tory, anti-business climate that is driving– * (14:20) The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Hon.

Adrien Sala (Minister of Finance): Honour- able Speaker, the last Stats Canada report showed 11,000 jobs created in Manitoba last month. An Honourable Member: Ten thousand in the private sector. MLA Sala: And 10,000 of those were in the private sector. We're doing the work of building the economy here in Manitoba. Also happy to say, one of the lowest unemployment rates in the entire country. And, of course, we continue to do the work of building up the economy. The Premier (Mr. Kinew) was just in Ottawa yesterday moving Churchill forward. We know that's an incredible opportunity for our economy.

And that's in addition to all the important work we're doing to build up our workers here in Manitoba. Our recent budget invested over 7 million new dollars to train 'apprentishes' –apprentices to make sure that we can do the work of supporting businesses and supporting more economic growth right here in Manitoba. The Speaker: The honourable member for Midland, on a supplementary question. Mrs.

Stone: Let's walk through this NDP's record since they came into office: six consecutive quarters of business exits verse entries; lowest economic growth in the entire country; highest education taxes across the entire country; the highest provincial income taxes in the West; second highest equalization transfers and handouts; and $40 billion of debt. That's this NDP's record since they came into office. While the PCs are committed to increasing the basic personal amount to $30,000 that will actually help Manitoba families who are struggling, the NDP is doing the opposite.

At what point will this NDP admit they're driving the economy into the ground while more Manitobans are struggling? MLA Sala: Let's review the record, shall we, Honour- able Speaker? In one year, we took a $2-billion deficit down by 40 per cent. And then, with our most recent budget, we posted the lowest deficit number in the entire country. Let's read the headlines from the credit rating agencies and financial institutions. DBRS headline: Balance within reach. BMO headline: Surplus is calling. Royal Bank headline: Manitoba Budget 2026, path to balance maintained despite negative in- year surprise.

National Bank: Budget on track to be balanced next year despite new affordability measures and higher capital spending. What are they saying, the experts? That we're getting the work done, we're investing in fixing health care, making life more affordable while we bring forward a fiscally sustainable path. This government is going to do the work of sup- porting Manitobans– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Increase in Retail Theft in Brandon Request for Business Supports Mrs.

Colleen Robbins (Spruce Woods): Honourable Speaker, small businesses in Brandon are sounding the alarm as retail theft continues to rise, with data from Brandon Police Service showing a 40 per cent increase in shoplifting incidents. The Brandon Chamber of Commerce has made it clear that this is not just a business issue; it's a community issue, with local shop owners now facing growing financial losses, rising security costs and concerns for staff safety.

1250 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 15, 2026 My question to the minister is this: Can small businesses in Brandon and across Westman expect support from this government or will they be con- tinued to be left behind? Hon. Matt Wiebe (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I appreciate the question. We were just in Brandon yesterday meeting with the chamber of commerce. They were very excited to hear about the work that we're doing.

Our plan to get tough on crime and also tough on the causes of crime is working, and it's bringing down the crime rates across this province, including in the city of Brandon. We know, across Manitoba, the Crime Severity Index is down by 4 per cent. We know that youth crime is down by 10 per cent across this province. And retail theft–you know, an area that we have focused on as a gov ernment–we are seeing improve- ments. We're going to continue to work with the people of Brandon, with the chamber of commerce, the mayor and the chief of police. And we're going to continue to get results.

Youth School Attendance Rates Crime Reduction Measure Mr. Mark Wasyliw (Fort Garry): Manitobans are appalled at the level of street crime under this government and especially appalled by youth crime. Angus Reid released a poll last week that revealed only 27 per cent of Manitobans feel the Kinew govern- ment has done a good job on crime. Winnipeg Police Service says youth shoplifting up 50 per cent, youth break and 'ienter' up 30 per cent, youth crime is up 29 per cent over the past five years, and I'll table the report. These are crimes happening during the day when children should be in school, but aren't.

The Premier has known 15,000 children are chronically absent from school. Keeping those children in school not only protects them, but it also reduces youth crime. Why does this Premier continue to refuse to act? Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): When we're talking about keeping you safe, we're talking about one of the most impor tant responsibilities that we have in government, and that's why I'm proud of the fact that the Minister of Justice has overseen a dramatic drop in the homicide rate in Manitoba. It's at the lowest level that it's been in more than two decades.

When it comes to recreation and education and keeping kids on a positive path, this is why we're building rinks, we're building ball diamonds; this is why we started the universal school food program so that every kid can learn and not have to do so on an empty stomach. There's a lot of hypocrisy from the member. He makes himself wealthy off of defending the very criminals that he's trying to practise scaremongering about in the Chamber here today. We kicked him out of our caucus because he makes money off of Peter Nygård.

On this side, we'll always condemn activities like that, we'll always condemn the Epstein files and we'll focus on you, making our community safer by invest- ing in young people and– The Speaker: The member's time has expired. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. The Speaker: Order, please. Order, please. Speaker's Ruling The Speaker: I would ask all members to remain in their seats. I have a ruling. Hon. Nahanni Fontaine (Government House Leader): On a matter of privilege. The Speaker: On a matter of privilege. I will hear your matter of privilege as soon as I've done this point of order–or, this ruling, I'm sorry.

Following oral questions and the raising of a matter of privilege on March 17, 2026, the honourable First Minister rose on a point of order, alleging that in his response to the matter of privilege, the honourable Official Opposition House Leader (Mr. Johnson) had reflected on the Chair in violation of the rules. The honourable Official Opposition House Leader spoke to this point of order, and I took it under advisement. Reflecting on the Chair is a serious circumstance in any parliament or legislature.

In the fourth edition of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Janse and LeBlanc state in citations 7.7 and 7.8 that:

(7.7) The actions of the Speaker and any other chair occupants may not be criticized in debate or by any means except by way of a substantive motion;

(7.8) Reflections on the character or actions of the Speaker–an allegation of bias, for example –could be taken by the House as breaches of privilege and punished accordingly.

April 15, 2026 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1251 In the Hansard transcript from the exchange in question, the honourable Opposition House Leader did mention that I had to call the government members to order on several occasions. In making such a comment, I would say the member came dangerously close to reflecting on the Chair, and I would urge the honourable Official Opposition House Leader to take more care with his comments in the future. I'm ruling that the honourable First Minister did not have a point of order in this instance.

However, while I'm on this topic, I would note that there have been numerous occasions in recent weeks when members have criticized the actions of the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker. I am respectfully requesting that in the future, all members carefully consider their comments before they speak in the House to ensure that what they say cannot be taken as a reflection on the Chair, on the role of the Chair, on a ruling of the Chair or on the performance of the individuals in the Chair. Thank you for your attention to this ruling. * (14:30) MATTER OF PRIVILEGE Hon.

Nahanni Fontaine (Government House Leader): It's unfortunate that so quickly after I had recently gotten up a couple of weeks ago to point out really egregious, disgusting, bigoted behaviour for–from the member of–for Fort Whyte (Mr. Khan), the Leader of the Op position, I have to rise again to put on the official record for all Manitobans to read at some point in history that, once again, a member of the PC caucus has shown his true colours and has created a toxic and unsafe workplace for members of our side, in –of our caucus here. The member for Lac du Bonnet (Mr.

Ewasko), during QP, yelled across as he was heckling as the Premier (Mr. Kinew) was speaking and answering his questions that were posed to him. The member for Lac du Bonnet yelled over at the Premier: You're drunk, you're drunk. I thought you quit drinking. I would've thought that after everything that hap- pened and was proven to be true last week, that members opposite would've learned something, anything. But again, the member for Lac du Bonnet has shown that members of the PC caucus can't control themselves.

They're rearing their anti -Indigenous racism, which I will point out is not the first time that a member of that PC caucus has said something so degrading and disparaging to the Premier that–in respect of him being an Indigenous man and leaning into those racist tropes about Indigenous men. Everybody in this Chamber knows that the Premier lives a good life. And yet the member for Lac du Bonnet is so incredibly disrespectful and so incredibly disgusting that he has to heckle something that is so uncalled for towards the Premier. That is a personal attack.

It contributes to a toxic and unsafe working environment for the Premier, for the Deputy Premier (MLA Asagwara), for every single member of our NDP caucus. Day and day, week after week, year after year, we have to put up with members opposite and their bigoted, racist, misogynistic comments that they level towards us on this side of the House. And it never stops. Even last week, when the Leader of the Opposition was shown to be putting false facts on the record, here we are again. Honourable Speaker, I ask the member for Lac du Bonnet to get up in this House and apologize to the Premier.

And I also refer this to a committee. The Speaker: The–before I recognize other members to speak to this matter of privilege, I would remind members to keep their comments germane to this matter of privilege. The–oh, sorry. MLA Fontaine: Sorry, Honourable Speaker. I move, seconded by the Minister for Education, that this be referred to a committee of the House. The Speaker: Okay. Mr. Derek Johnson (Official Opposition House Leader): This is just another tactic to try and distract from the failing NDP government. Transphobic – [interjection] The Speaker: Order, please. Mr.

Johnson: –misogynistic, bigot, homophobic, racist: those are words that have been yelled across the House from the government side. And that's – [interjection] The Speaker: Order. Mr. Johnson: –that's just to me, Honourable Speaker, and that is just from the Government House Leader. These are words that mean a lot, are not accepted in other parts of this country as parliamentary language, but they continue to be slung across this House over and over and over again.

1252 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 15, 2026 The member does not have a standing order. The motion that was moved was not submitted in writing, as it's supposed to be. And I await your decision, but this is not a member–matter of privilege. The Speaker: So I thank members for their contribu- tions. To the speakers, I am going to take this matter of privilege under advisement. But while I'm taking it under advisement, I would ask all members: How many times have I cautioned people about screaming insults back and forth across the Chamber?

How many times have I cautioned members about, I can't hear what's being said when people are screaming back and forth across the Chamber? So I will take this matter of privilege under advisement because these matters are important. * * * The Speaker: And the time for oral questions has also expired. Petitions? No petitions. Grievances? ORDERS OF THE DAY GOVERNMENT BUSINESS Hon. Nahanni Fontaine (Government House Leader): Can you– Honourable Speaker, can you please call the start of Committee of Supply. [interjection] The Speaker: Order, please.

So the House will now dissolve into Committee of Supply, and I would ask the honourable Deputy Speaker to please take the Chair. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY (Concurrent Sections) ROOM 254 HOUSING, ADDICTIONS AND HOMELESSNESS * (14:50) The Chairperson (Rachelle Schott): Will the Committee of Supply please come to order. This

section of the Committee of Supply will now consider the Estimates of the Department of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness. Does the honourable minister have an opening statement? An Honourable Member: I do. The Chairperson: The honourable minister. Hon. Bernadette Smith (Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness ): On behalf of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness, I'm pleased to present the '26-27 financial Estimates.

Budget 2026 reflects our government's continued commitment to lowering costs for Manitobans, strengthening communities and ensuring Manitobans have–can have access to safe housing and supports to ensure their success. The investments outlined in our government's budgets are a direct response to the chal- lenges Manitobans face every day related to housing, homelessness, mental health and addictions. These issues are complex and interconnected and are rooted in history and systemic racism.

There are no simple solutions, but we are com - mitted to doing the work with compassion and in partnership with communities and service providers. Budget 2026 builds on the work already under way through Your Way Home strategy, Manitoba's plan to end chronic homelessness. It demonstrates our govern- ment's ongoing commitment as a person- centred, evidence-based approach to care with a commitment to truth and reconciliation and providing meaningful support to Indigenous-led solutions. This year's budget includes new investments to support people moving from encampments and shelters into safe, affordable housing.

Almost $9 million in investments will go toward the expansion of transi - tional and supportive housing for people exiting encampments. Our government has also made a commitment to the ongoing development of a navigation centre, where people exiting encampments, hospitals or other institutions will be directly connected to housing and supports in their com munity. By doing so, we will make–we will help to reduce the strains on health care and the justice system.

Our government recognizes that we cannot make progress on ending chronic homelessness without addressing the critical shortage of social and afford- able housing. Budget 2026 invests $12.8 million in funding to support the creation of up to 215 new social and affordable housing units across the province. * (15:00) We have and continue to make generational investments, like 447 Webb. Members across the way never built or purchased one single unit of social housing in their seven and a half years of government. We know we need a continuum of housing needs and we are continuing to offer incentives. This includes a

April 15, 2026 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1253 commitment of up to $176.5 million to support rental housing construction through to 2020– or 2030 under the rental housing construction incentive, with enhanced benefits available for housing. This includes $13,500 for affordable units and $8,500 for market rent units. This is in stark contrast to our predecessors, the members across the way, who sold off social housing and boarded up Manitoba Housing, our Crown jewel, causing hundreds of Manitobans to end up homeless.

Honourable Chair, we understand that for many Manitobans exiting homelessness, securing housing is just the first step. Individuals need supports to heal, address trauma and build skills to succeed. Budget 2026 strengthens wrap- around supports in new and existing housing units, helping to ensure people exiting homelessness are set up for long- term success and stability. Our efforts to increase the supply of social and affordable housing through new construction will be successful only if we protect what we already have.

Budget 2026 includes significant investments to repair and maintain provincially owned social housing, en- suring these homes remain safe, dignified and afford- able for Manitobans who rely on them. Once again, I'd like to put on the record that it is our government–when we came into office, one of our first actions was to invest in Manitoba Housing, pulling the plywood off the windows that the previous government boarded up, ensuring that Manitoba ns had a safe, dignified place that they could call home.

It is this government that values housing as an essen- tial public asset, supports safer communities and works to maintain affordable –affordability today while continuing to grow the social and affor dable housing supply. Honourable Chair, this is a generational invest - ment. Our government recognizes the harms and risks associated with homelessness. They are immediate and we are responding to these urgent needs. Budget 2026 invests nearly $1.8 million in immediate supports for people experiencing homelessness, meeting people where they are at and providing timely assistance when individuals need it most.

Our government remains committed to building a compassionate, inclusive mental health system with addiction supports that prioritize dignity, safety, and recovery. This year's budget strengthens investments in harm reduction, outreach and stabilization supports for people navigating mental health and substance use challenges. It's important that we interconnect between mental health and addictions and homelessness, that are recognized, that our work reflects this.

We continue to work closely with partners across government and with community to expand treatment, recovery and navigation supports, ensuring Manitobans can access help when and where they need it. Our investments build on and complement broader investments across government. By working along- side our partners in Health, Justice, Families and other departments, we're ensuring that the issues related to housing, homelessness, mental health and addictions are addressed through a co- ordinated, whole -of- government approach. The most efficient way to address homelessness is prevention.

As the cost of living continues to rise, more Manitobans are under pressure to make ends meet. Budget 2026 responds to these realities through a broad range of affordability measures, including increasing the renters affordability tax credit, removing the PST from all food purchases at grocery stores, making transit for young people free and enhancing supports for seniors and people with disabilities. These measures play a critical role in the response to homelessness, stabilizing households and prevent - ing homelessness before it occurs.

They target seniors, families and Manitobans living with disabilities, who are among our most vulnerable. Again, this is in contrast to what Manitobans experienced under the previous failed govern ment. During a cost -of-living crisis and global pandemic, the members opposite were nowhere to be found. This government works on reducing costs for families and supporting Manitobans, unlike members opposite who didn't respond and left Manitobans.

Our government's budget is balanced and com - passionate, one that responds to immediate needs of Manitobans, one that continues to build a system, one that continues to build partnerships, one that continues to build housing supply for long- term, sustainable change–generational change. This is challenging. It's hard. It's complex heart work. And we recognize that there's still much more to do, but we're up for the challenge. We're up for working with our partners. That's why we continue to work with our federal partners, our municipal partners, our community partners.

And we are working to ensure that those individuals' met–needs are met. Our government remains committed to listening to Manitobans, to learning from com munity and taking

1254 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 15, 2026 action to make a meaningful difference in people's lives right here and across our province.

I want to thank all of those organizations that are on the front line each and every day that are working to ensure Manitobans are housed, that they're getting their mental health needs met, that they are ensuring that those that are struggling with subst ance use, that they are, you know, met with compassion and that we are keeping them alive enough to connect them with care, and that we are, you know, as a government, here to work alongside you, to ensure that we are taking a balanced approach. Because we can't treat people if they are not alive.

And we knew that coming into government, we had to create a new ministry, and we heard from Manitobans how important it was to meet people where they were at and to create an environment, an ecosystem where people could do well and get on a path of success. And that's exactly what our govern- ment is doing. Miigwech. The Chairperson: We thank the minister for those comments. Does the critic of the official opposition have an opening statement? An Honourable Member: Yes, thank you. The Chairperson: The member for Portage la Prairie.

MLA Jeff Bereza (Portage la Prairie): Thank you, honourable Chair, I believe I refer to you as. Is that correct? Thank you. Just a couple –or just a couple things to say before we get started off, and then I think it's important that we get into the questions on this as quickly as possible. I took over the chair –or the critic's position of addictions, homelessness and Manitoba Housing over the last number of months.

And I spent a lot of time over in the Point Douglas area and other parts of Manitoba, hearing in my own community of Portage la Prairie about the issues that were going on in Manitoba Housing facilities. And it turned out that the people in the Manitoba Housing facilities helped to make change there. It was referred to that there was over $5 million spent on one of the Manitoba Housing facilities in Portage la Prairie, and when we FIPPA'd it, it turned out to be $21,000. So, again, this is what we're talking about here when we look at, you know, what' s going on with housing and addictions right now.

We just heard yesterday the amount of people that we're seeing that are homeless right now are at absolutely record numbers. In a country like ours, in a province like ours, this should not be happening. We have not seen this government do anything to encourage or make that better in any way, shape or form. We've seen consultations happening, we've seen announcements happening and absolutely no plans.

So, I look forward to asking some of these ques - tions so not only can we give it to the –to all of the public, but so I can go back to the people of Point Douglas, the people that are worried about their busi- nesses, the people that are worried about their homes and the people that are worried that they're being kicked out of a place with nowhere to go, and I can tell them the answers to these questions I'm looking for. Thank you. * (15:10) The Chairperson: We thank the member. Under Manitoba practice, debate on the minister's salary is the last item considered for a de partment in the Committee of Supply.

My apologies, I skipped–oh no, sorry–we're good. I'll start that again. Under Manitoba practice, debate on the minister's salary is the last item considered for a department in the Committee of Supply. Accordingly, we shall now defer consideration of line item 24.1(a), contained in resolution 24.1. At this time, we now invite the minister's staff to join us at the table and we ask that the minister introduce the staff in attendance. Ms. Smith: So I'd like to introduce the staff that are here with me supporting, my amazing team here.

So first, I'd like to introduce Carolina Stecher who is my director of ministerial affairs. Carolina, prior to joining Housing, Addictions and Homelessness in January 2025 was a director in Labour and Immigration. She has over 25 years of political and organizing exper ience, working as an assistant formally to a city councillor, a member of Parliament and served in 10 –served with 10 different Cabinet ministers and three different NDP governments– quite the ex perience.

Carolina's also worked in the non-profit charitable sector in community en gage- ment and as a senior researcher and writer for a major funder here in Winnipeg. She has extensive

April 15, 2026 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1255 organizing experience and holds a bachelor of arts from the University of Winnipeg. And next to her is Charlene Paquin. Charlene is the deputy minister in my de partment. She joined us in March of 2025. She started her public service career as a practicum student in Veterans Affairs in the public service. In the public service in 2001, where she spent over 20 years with the Province.

She then became a policy analyst and spent 15 years with the Department of Families, including as the executive director of Employment and Income Assistance Program and assistant deputy minister for EIA disability programs and early learning and childhood. She also served as a Manitoba 'obundsmen' – [interjection]–Ombudsman before taking on the role of Civil Service commissioner. Quite the resume. She was a deputy minister for Sport, Culture and Heritage and associate clerk for public service transformation.

So, three years prior to her recent appoint ment, Charlene was with Deloitte Canada, where she worked specifically with government and public sector organ- izations across various provinces, with a strong focus on human and social services. Charlene holds a bachelor of arts degree in sociology and justice and law enforcement from the University of Winnipeg and a master's in social work with policy planning and administration from the University of Manitoba. And then down, second from the end, is Brian Malkowich.

Brian Malkowich started his career with the Manitoba government 36 years ago and he's an ADM and has served in a variety of senior roles with social services and has been, well, the COO and ADM for two years. Brian has a track record of working and is an integral service environment dealing with com - plex situations and collaborating with numerous stake- holders on a variety of intricate issues to achieve posi- tive outcomes.

His many years of experience in pro- gram management, service delivery and fiscal respon- sibility has been a valuable contribution that really helps take strategic priorities and turns them into operational business plans. And when I first met Brian, I was coming for a tour and meeting staff, and people were coming in to pay their rent and they were like –knew Brian by his first name. And when I was coming for tours of build- ings, people were coming up to Brian and knew Brian by their–by his first name.

So it just speaks to the level of relationship that he creates with folks that are living in Manitoba Housing. Carolyn Ryan, who's over here beside our deputy minister, started with the Manitoba government in 1999 and joined Manitoba Housing as a senior policy analyst in 2004, and she just celebrated 25 years with our government. So she's been working really hard. And since then, she has served in a variety of leadership roles within the cor poration, including in housing, delivery, portfolio manage ment, strategic initiatives and operation.

She's been the CEO, so chief executive officer, of the Manitoba Housing, a nd assistant deputy minister in the department of Housing, Addictions, Homelessness since 2023. Carolyn also sits on the board of End Homelessness Winnipeg. She's a graduate of the University of Manitoba. Carolyn has a bachelor of arts degree in economics and a bachelor of social work and a master of social work, or –yes, a master of social work. Carolyn's married and is a proud mother of two daughters, and yes, I go and watch them perform at Folklorama every year, so. Heather, who is –yes, she's just raised her hand.

Heather joined us recently, although I met her in the sector working in mental health. She joined Manitoba Department of Housing as a deputy assistant minister as–mental health and addictions division on June 2, 2025. She has over 25 years of leading and working within the commu nity-based organizations across Manitoba, and most recently as executive director of Heartwood Healing Centre, and that's where I first met her. Heather's vast experience and knowledge from her time working with community organizations really was an important, and is an important, asset in her current role within our department.

She leads the development of provincial policy, service and system planning in the areas of treatment and continued care related to mental health and addictions, harm reduc - tions and support for children and youth. And then we have Rob, just over here –just raise your hand, Rob. Rob has been with the government for over 35 years, providing guidance and advice in both programming and finance for multiple depart - ments. He began his career in 1990 as a Fisheries biologist in the natural resources sector, where he led programs related to Indigenous commercial and recreational fisheries throughout the province.

And no, Mr. Bushie, you cannot steal him with his knowledge–or Minister Bushie–

1256 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 15, 2026 The Chairperson: I apologize for the interruption, Honourable Minister. We just need to refer to every - one in this committee room by their ministerial title or constituency, and then through the Chair. Apologize for the interruption. Ms. Smith: I apologize for that. With his knowledge and experience in resource planning, he turned his attention to the finance part of government to work with both internal and external partners to secure the necessary resources to imple- ment a number of government-wide initiatives.

So over this past year and a half, Rob has been involved in co- ordinating the department's finance and corporate services sector –section by supporting high-profile, public-facing programs for the benefit of all Manitobans. So we're very lucky to have him on our team, as we are everyone I've introduced so far. And then we have Dwayne –right beside him – Rewniak, who is the acting assistant deputy minister and also the chief executive officer of the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation.

So, Dwayne joined the department in 2001 and has over 25 years of housing experience, including 17 years of managing in a senior level environment.

Dwayne brings strong background knowledge in various housing specializations, including housing policy and programs, social and affordable housing delivery models, asset management, land manage - ment and intergovernmental relationships. * (15:20) And, again, anywhere I go, everyone just speaks highly of, you know, this team and how they work collaboratively to ensure that Manitobans–whether it's working towards meeting Manitobans where they're at with their mental health, addictions, housing or getting housing built, this team has worked incredibly hard to ensure that those folks are getting their needs met.

And I did miss one member of our team, Jorge, who–where is–Jorge, you didn't put your own résumé in here. So Jorge's –[interjection] Yes, you left your own résumé out. So Jorge joined me also in March of 2025 and is my special adviser, or my special assist ant–sorry, special assistant. And he works very closely with me and does amazing work and keeps me on task. So I want to thank him for the work that he does, as well, and he works alongside Carolyn and myself.

So this is a team that supports me and supports the work and supports Manitobans, and I just want to lift the work up that you're doing, civil servants but also our political team as well. You do such incredible work to support Manitobans, you know, whether that's, again, around mental health, addictions, getting more housing built or getting those folks that are homeless or that need –making sure that those folks aren't exiting to homeless –prevention work. You're doing incredible work, and I just want to l ift you all up.

But those that aren't even here, I also want to live up–lift up the civil servants that are doing amazing work across our sector. The Chairperson: We thank the minister. According to rule 78(16), during the considera - tion of departmental Estimates, questioning for each department shall proceed in a global manner with questions put separately on all resolutions once the official opposition critic indicates that questioning has concluded. The floor is now open for questions. MLA Bereza: First of all, welcome everybody that's here today.

I appreciate your bios and that, but we have a ton of questions that we want to ask here. So I want to get moving on this. First of all, I just wanted to make sure that this is the official booklet for supplements of Estimates for Manitoba Housing, Addictions and Homelessness, as it looks a little thin. My first question is: What is the total new spend for treatment facilities such as RAAM clinics or the Bruce or Anne Oake recovery centres and where would it be found in the supplement here? Thank you.

The Chairperson: I would just like to gently remind all members that in the committee we are not permitted to use exhibits. So holding materials up and referring to them and their content would be con- sidered an exhibit. So we need to refrain from that moving forward. Thank you. Ms. Smith: So while my team is putting together answers to that question that that member has asked, I just want to put some facts on the record that the member had put on the record with his opening statement.

He had put on the record that we had put – I can't remember what the number was –$21,000– or $21,000 was invested in Oak Tree Towers.

April 15, 2026 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1257 I want to let the member know that, in fact, there– it was $4.2 million that has been invested into Oak Tree Towers since we took government. Under the former govern ment, there was an 87 per cent reduction in maintenance in Manitoba Housing, which left Manitobans feeling unsafe, left Manitobans with less security, which left Manitobans without tenant support services, which left Manitobans without the security that they needed. Security guards were let go, tenant service co -ordinators were let go. People were being fired.

People were –staff were fearful of their jobs. The former government was selling off social and affordable housing. It took seconds to sell. There were hundreds of units sold under the former govern ment. And, you know, we're playing catch- up under our government, and we've made generational invest - ments. We're seeing, you know, folks get housed with the proper supports that they needed so des perately under the failed former government. I want to bring the attention –and I'll update the– update this committee, the numbers today that we've housed. We've actually housed 217 folks out of encampments.

These are 217 Manitobans who, under the former government, left without housing, without proper support. You know, these were folks who needed mental health supports, who needed addiction supports, who needed safe and dignified housing. And members across, you know, under the failed government, didn't provide those services. Instead, they were focused on slashing and reducing staffing, reducing security for folks and leaving them in unsafe conditions. When I took over this role as minister and I toured Manitoba Housing, I felt like –and I've said this, you know, many times –I felt like I was in Detroit.

The level of graffiti in the buildings, soon as you walked in. People were coming out to me from units, saying, like, they didn't even want to come out of their units, they felt so unsafe.

And as I was meeting with these folks and listen- ing to them, and as we were, you know, meeting as a team and strategizing how we were going to turn this around and the amount of work that it was going to take to get this back on track and get the safety and security of our buildings that were left in di srepair, that were boarded up when families needed housing; when, quite frankly, people were left out on the street without any support. And, you know, members across the way have the audacity to say that, you know, we are not provi ding housing.

They didn't build one single social housing unit under their government. They didn't–they sold off housing. They fired workers. They fired security guards. They didn't invest in housing until their last year because they were so des perate to keep gov ernment. But that didn't work. Manitobans weren't fooled by that. They knew that they had already did damage under their seven years before that. So Manitobans won't be fooled, you know, by them any–in what they're saying, because they know that we're doing the work. We've housed 217 people.

We put over 2,000 units back online that they took offline and boarded up, and we put families into those units. * (15:30) MLA Bereza: I'm wondering if the minister's apologizing for her department, since she's saying that the FIPPA that was received was –that we received was inaccurate, especially since it took the inter ven- tion of the Ombudsman's office to get the office to meet the legal requirements for FIPPA. I also want to mention, when we're talking about Manitoba Housing units, I can talk about two specifically in my own constituency. One that I spent a tremendous amount of time at was Oak Tree Towers.

This was a building where the minister was often invited out to our meetings that we had. We still continue to have meetings out there. There was a number of drug dealers that were living in the apartment. I can call them drug dealers because that's what the RCMP was calling them. The front door of the building was broken so many times that they finally, after our recommendations, put in a glass or a plastic that couldn't be broken so the people could feel a little more secure. There was people that were dealing drugs in the building, and we know that because we know that's why they were thrown out.

The RCMP were there on a daily basis along with the community safety officers, which, again, they could have been doing other things with. Again, there was no services for these people. There was nowhere for them to go. The people that were living in the building were threatened to be thrown out of the building if they kept contacting Manitoba Housing because it was for the same things over and over.

1258 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 15, 2026 We have another apartment building in Portage la Prairie called Stephens Apartments that currently right now is sitting with a 40 to 60 per cent vacancy rate in the building, and nobody seems to know why. There is no support for these people. People yelling and screaming in the Manitoba Housing pro - jects–in the Manitoba Housing buildings that are there, and, again, invited time and time again.

Again the minister didn't answer the question that I asked, so I will ask it once again: What is the total new spend for treatment facilities such as RAAM clinics or the Bruce and Anne Oake recovery centres? So what was the spend on that and where can I find it in the Supplement to the Estimates and expenditures? Thank you. Ms. Smith: So the answer to that member's question: It is in the supplements in

section 24.2 on page 107. So it shows the grants to organizations that delivers these services and it is an appropriation to community organizations to deliver services. So it does show a $5.7-million, in new dollars, for treatment spaces. And again, we are increasing and supporting and meeting people where they're at. I want to go back to security in properties and what's being done. So we're improving the safety and well-being of tenants and employees; that's been a priority from–for our government since we took gov- ernment. We heard that from tenants when we, you know, visited the buildings.

When we took gov ern- ment, we were receiving numer ous, numer ous, numerous emails, phone calls from residents, from employees. The staff turnover was so high because they were fearful of working in these buildings because the previous government was not resourcing these buildings properly. In fact, you know, they were giving–telling the people who were working there that they have to evict people immediately. There was a housing shortage, and they were telling them that if they were more than one family –and we often know that families, especially Indigenous families, will live as more than one family unit.

And under a housing crisis, we know that we can't simply just, you know, kick people out, that we have to work with them. And if there –they aren't causing issue and the other family is okay with their cousin living with them or their aunt living with them or, in fact, their grandmother or even their mother, because intergenerationally, that's how we support one another. But under the former government, what was happening is they were –someone was staying with them over 30 days, they were issuing eviction notices.

We changed that practice and we said, we know we have a housing crisis and, in fact, what we'd like to do is work with, you know, tenants. And if that's – tenants are okay with someone living with them and they're not causing any issue in the units, then we will, in fact, work with them to ensure that that is okay. And we will work to ensure, if there are, you know, bigger units, that we can move them to a bigger unit if–we'll put–if we can, because we have a national housing crisis.

And, you know, the former failed government put us further behind, in fact, selling off housing, not supporting people well, putting them further into their addictions. When I was in–the critic, all four shelters are in my riding. I would often visit there and I would see, you know, Jeff–I'm going to use just somebody's name–I would–they would get housed. I'd come back there six months later and Jeff would be back there. And I'd say to Jeff: Jeff, why are you back? And he'd say, well, you know, I didn't get the proper sup- ports I needed to stay housed. And we were gathering this information.

And then I'd come back and I'd see another person that was back there and they'd say, I didn't get my mental health needs met. And I –you know, so we quickly were starting to gather all this information.

And when we came into government, we knew that all this was interconnected and we needed to create a department so that we could support people well and support them along a continuum so that they can be properly supported, not–in their homes, and not just give them four walls, but help them to be well in their homes, but onto a path of success, you know, whether that's getting their mental health diagnosis, whether that's getting their addictions, you know, met, whether that's reuniting them with their fa milies, whether that's helping them get into programs.

We just were –in this budget, we're investing $2.5 million into adult education because we know that people want to go back to school and get into programs. And that's the kind of work that this government is doing. We recognize that people want to move and get on to –out of the circumstances that the previous government put them in. And we're going to continue to do that work because we're listening to Manitobans.

April 15, 2026 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1259 MLA Bereza: The ministry–the minister recently told the media the first thing that she did on taking office was to throw out a stack of eviction notices. * (15:40) Is it this policy shift why I've heard from count - less Manitobans and countless Manitobans living in Manitoba Housing who feel like violent criminals are allowed to run the buildings and there are no con- sequences for offenders? What message does this send to Manitobans who want to feel safe in their own homes?

And I asked that question because that's exactly what was going on in the Manitoba Housing unit in Portage la Prairie that I refer to as Oak Tree Towers. There was people in there –there was everything from prostitution, there was stolen goods being broken down, including bicycles. There was –again, this is information that I had received from both the commu- nity safety officers as well as the RCMP. There was the smell of drugs cooking in some of the apartments.

So, again, I'll ask that question: Is this policy shift why I have heard of countless Manitobans who feel like violent criminals are allowed to run the buildings and there are no consequences for these offenders? The RCMP, time after time–in Portage la Prairie, there was even other people involved that were trying to get rid of these people but couldn't, and there was no criterium for who was taken in; it was just, if they needed a place to stay, that's where they could stay. And, again, we all want to see people housed, but we all want to see them with the proper services that are needed for them.

So, again, I'll ask the minister that question, if that was–if the eviction notices to throw everybody out was a policy shift. Ms. Smith: Okay. I just–there's a lot to unpack there. So, first, I'm going to give you a correction from the supplements because we thought you were looking at a different book. So correction just on the page of 107, where it shows the grants to organizations that deliver these services. So it's actually in that supple- ment book that you have on page 37 and page 46. So, just a correction, it's not on 107. In terms of Stephens, Stephens is a sponsored, managed building.

And, right now, we aren't tenanting new folks into the building because we are doing a full refresh on that building. Again, former government did not do renovations on buildings. They left them in disrepair and there is lots of repairs that need to be done on that building. So, again, we are making sure that we are keeping buildings, you know, in good repair and that we are providing safe housing that is dignified for folks. Again, when I came into this portfolio, I went into buildings that I–you know, I spent time as a youth in poverty, and I lived in some pretty rundown houses.

But to say that I've ever lived in something like that, I never have, and I've never been in something like that. And people were living in that. And the former government was allowing people to live in that, and I was ashamed. I have to say, I was ashamed that the former government would allow people to live like that. But we're not doing that. We're going to ensure that we are fixing up what we –the, you know, Manitobans invested in. And that's our invest ment, and we're going to continue to ensure that they don't go into derelict conditions. So let's talk about some language here that the member has used.

So the member has used projects to talk about housing. These aren't housing projects. These are people's places of residence. These aren't housing projects. We're not talking about–you know, these are people's places of residence. Language matters. You are, you know, essentially undignifying people's places of residence and saying that they live in projects. You know how undignifying that you were saying to folks. Like, these are folks that deserve safe, dignified living. And for you to use language–for the member to use language like that is not okay.

So I'd ask that member to withdraw and, you know, apologize for using language like that. Housing is housing is housing, no matter where they live and what they live in. And we are building in–our govern- ment is building mixed-market housing so that you do not know what or who is living in that housing, regardless of your income. The second point I want to raise is, that member referred to people who are sexually exploited– An Honourable Member: Yes. Ms. Smith: –as prostitutes. They–nobody wants to be in that– An Honourable Member: Agreed.

1260 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 15, 2026 Ms. Smith: Then I would ask that member to with - draw that language. Because, again, these are people who are sexually exploited. These are folks who do not, you know, want to be in these circum stances. Trauma has led to some of these folks being in these circumstances. And we need to put resources in place so people aren't having to do, you know, these kinds of work. So again, language matters.

I'm going to go back to, you know, Point Douglas, and you talked about, in your opening remarks, that we were kicking folks out of places– The Chairperson: I apologize, Honourable Minister. Just a reminder, comments needs to be made through the Chair, and I'd kindly ask for the back- ground conversations and interjections to cease when it's not the member that has the floor. Thank you. Ms. Smith: Miigwech. I thank you for that introjection, honourable Speaker. So in the opening comments of the member, he referred to people being kicked out –kicked out of where?

On–in our government, we do take, you know, criminality in our buildings seriously. We are working with Winnipeg Police, RCMP. We do work through the R TB process. And if there is criminality in our buildings, we do issue eviction notices. And safety and security in our buildings is No. 1. And, you know, for that member to say that that is not the case is false. And we have been working 'tiressly' to get our buildings under control, something that the members opposite created.

MLA Bereza: I just want to point out while we're here, we need to get some questions answered, you know, and we haven't had any of that, that we've heard any answers to any of these questions. Regarding the Stephens Apartment in Portage la Prairie, which I've been in a number of times: I've been through a number of these apartments. There is a tremendous amount of, like I said, vacancy in those apartments.

To–the people that are running the apart- ment or renting out the apartment have told me over and over that they have been asking this government when those apartments will be refurbished, when they will be going through these changes, when they will be able to have people live in them. * (15:50) So if the minister could answer, so I can let my constituents know, the Stephens Apartments in Portage la Prairie, when will a refurbishing start and when will those apartments be able to be lived in again?

As we are seeing from what we heard in the media yesterday that the amount of homeless people in Manitoba is at record levels right now. None of us want to see people 'unhabited'; we want to see people taken care of; we want to see people have the proper services. But again my question to the minister is: Can the minister let us know when the Manitoba Housing building that is being looked after by somebody else in Portage la Prairie, referred to as the Stephens Apartments, that the third party has been asking for it to be refurbished, when will that start? Ms.

Smith: So I did let the member know that, you know, the Stephens Apartments is third-party managed and that it was going through a deep refresh. Communications with the tenants has happened. It's–approximately $13.4 million is going to be put into interior and exterior upgrades. That work is going to start in '26-27 and it'll take approximately one and a half years, if everything goes as planned. I t'll also include mechanical and electrical systems that need to be upgraded. The design and drawings are underway. And again, holding vacancies is about minimizing disruptions once repairs start.

We can't tenant, you know, these apartments and then move people. That's disrupting people's ecosystems, just like the members opposite did when they, you know, didn't suppor t folks at Lions Manor, when seniors were begging the former government to support them when they–when that building got sold off; just like 385 Smith when they got–when that building got sold off and all those tenants had to move out.

And I'll add that many of those went into encamp- ments, went into shelter and then later into encamp - ments, many of whom I spoke to that later, unfortunately, you know, due to their own safety, had to stay up all night, got deeper into addictions because of their own safety and didn't have a government that supported them, didn't have a government who pro- vided safe housing that, you know, took seconds to sell. And that was, you know, getting rid of Manitoba Housing, which is a Crown jewel, which is the only way that we can ensure that we are providing rent geared to income –true rent geared to income as a

April 15, 2026 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1261 government. And we have, you know, the –we have that responsibility. So I just got a confirmation that construction will begin in fall of 2026 at the Stephens Apartments, you know.

And that's something that we should celebrate, that we are investing in the Crown jewel of Manitoba Housing to ensure that electrical is being upgraded, that these folks are going to have a beautiful new apartment to come back to–the exterior and the interiors; that the mechanical systems are being upgraded, something that, you know, the previous government didn't do in many of these buildings.

And now our government is having to, you know, play catch-up and bring these buildings up to code and ensure that Manitobans have what they should have always had –a beautiful apartment to live in, a safe apartment to build–to live in, to have staff that support them in a way that is conducive to having an eco- system where everyone can come out of their apart - ment and say hi to their neighbours and feel safe and have a common space where they can gather. But under the former government, that wasn't the case.

People wouldn't come out of their apartments because the former gov ernment, they fired security guards, they fired staff. They were telling staff that they had to turn the work around that they were doing instead of building com munity, evict people. And, you know, we've turned that around, yes. And I said we are still working with RCMP and Winnipeg police when there is a criminal matter.

We are evicting people because we are tough on crime and we're tough on the proceeds of crime and we are keeping our building safe and secure and ensuring that, you know, people that are living in our buildings have a safe environment and they can build an eco- system where they can build a community, unlike the former government who cut, slashed and didn't value community and the ecosystems that were built there. MLA Bereza: I just want to refer back to the minister's comments a few minutes ago about some of the language that I was using.

The language I was using was the language that I heard from the RCMP and also the CSO was there. I do want to ask, you know, when it does come to–and Stephens Apartment, because it is in my in my constituency. I was just there last week and the third party that is looking after it took me into some of the apartments that are sitting vacant and empt y. They look fine. Could the minister let us know what repairs are required in those buildings and why nobody can live in them at this time?

Again, that was why the third party took me in there because they were saying, at the time to me, that they thought that some of these places were able to be lived in. I'm not saying all, but some of them were –that they took me into. I'm not sure why there wasn't somebody living in them. Thank you. * (16:00) Ms. Smith: Language does matter, and as a teacher, you know, when I was teaching, I was a role model in front of a classroom and I modelled what I wanted my students to be like.

And we, in the last couple of weeks, learned that the Leader of the Opposition, who the member opposite sits beside, lied in the House. And, you know, the member had an opportunity to stand up and be a bigger person. And, again, that member talks about, this was the RCMP's language. That member has an opportunity to change that language and be that bigger person. So I again, through the Chair, would invite that member to correct, you know, the RCMP's language.

I often do that; I go and– The Chairperson: The–I'd just like to remind all members we are not permitted to use the word lied in the Chamber or in the committee room, so I'll just kindly ask the minister to withdraw that statement. Ms. Smith: Withdrawn. So we heard early in the week that there was–you know, someone said they didn't say something and we know that that was untrue. And we know that because it was–the recording came out. And the member sits beside that member in the House, and that member had an opportunity to correct the record and not stand beside that person who said something that was untrue.

And, again, I want to just say that as an educator, you know, when I see something that is not right, that I'm not a bystander, that I'm an upstander; that I've, in the past, gone and done culturally relevant training for RCMP. And I've talked to them about language and that language is important and when we talk about anti-racism training, this is important. And you are a leader. You are an MLA for, you know, your constituent, but you're an MLA for all of the province and you have an opportunity. So I'm going to prefence that and then I'm going to just go back to Stephens again.

1262 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 15, 2026 The Chairperson: I'd just like to remind all folks that we need to have all comments and questions directed through the Chair. Ms. Smith: So I'm going to go back to Stephens now and Stephens needs a lot of repairs. Again, it's exterior, interior upgrades. And I would have asked–I would ask that member, you know, in that former failed government, why they didn't do the work on this apartment years ago when it was needed. This apartment is 30, 40 years old.

Could have, you know, had the mechanical and electrical systems upgraded, probably years ago, but we're, again, we're having to come behind and do the work that should have been done years ago. Do we want to put people in these apartments and then have to uproot them and move them? And, again, I used the, you know, the example of Lions Manor. That was a 55+ building. That ecosystem was disrupted because the former government didn't, you know, get involved and help support those seniors. That's no longer a 55+ building. That ecosystem's been disrupted.

Those folks have moved in various places because they can't afford that rent because the former govern- ment didn't intervene and help those folks. We will not be putting folks into a building where we're going to have to uproot them in the fall of next year–the fall of this year–and have to move them. So for that member to say, to put people in there and then to move them again, is, you know, shameful. I wouldn't want to work some –move somewhere and then have to be moved in a few–less than a year.

So I'm going to tell the member the scope of the proposed work in the next set of questions because there's like a lot of –I don't–well, maybe I can do this in 40 seconds. So the deep refresh work includes: renovation of exterior, interiors, such as improved building assemblies of exterior wall finish; siding; windows; reconfigura- tion of studio suites to increase the number of one-bedroom suites.

So, again, there's a big need in Portage for one - bedroom suites, reconfiguration of main floor suites to accessibility suites –a need in Portage for acces - sibility units, interior unit and communal area upgrades, crawl space im provement, mechanical and plumbing upgrades, fire, life safety upgrade –you would want that for people of Portage in that building.

MLA Bereza: I didn't hear in there, and maybe I missed it or maybe it wasn't there yet: is the third party that's looking after the building, and correct me if I'm wrong, you know, please let me know, but they said the place was infested with cockroaches, just like the current Portage hospital is infested with cockroaches. So what I'm asking is, why the delay on the –into the new Portage regional hospital when there's cock- roaches in the current Portage hospital?

So why is it okay to have people not living in Stephens Apartments, but it is okay for people to be living in the current Portage hospital that now the people will not move in there until next year at this time? * (16:10) Ms. Smith: So, you know, that member is raising questions about pest management in hospitals, so I would urge that member to take that question to Health. That's a health -related question that's –you know, is about the hospital that's got nothing to do with housing.

But what I will share with that member is that, you know, since we took govern ment, the pest –the number of units that require treatment has gone down by over half. Under the former failed govern ment, they were evicting people. They weren't supporting people. Under our govern ment, we actually are support - ing and helping people that have accessibility issues, that have mental health issues, that need extra supports–and moving their furniture, we have folks that will come in and help support them. Under the former gov ernment, what they were doing is they were just evicting people.

We're not taking that approach. We know that we need to work and support tenants and meet them where they're at, something the former government never did. That's why we see the– you know, the high numbers of people in encamp- ments, in shelters unsupported. We're going to con- tinue to meet people where they're at. We're going to continue to, you know, ensure that we're putting funds into maintaining our Crown jewel, Manitoba Housing, something the former government never did. They put boards on our Crown jewel and left people out in the cold, left people without services or supports.

We know that, from speaking and knocking on doors and listening to Manitobans, that they don't want to see people in encampments. They don't want to see people unsupported. They want to see people in homes with dignified support, with–you know, ensuring that they get mental health supports, ensuring that

April 15, 2026 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1263 there's a balanced approach. Unlike members opposite who are like, let's not save lives in Manitoba, let's, you know, leave people on the streets without any supports and let them die of overdoses. We know that Manitobans don't want that. We can't, you know, support Manitobans without ensuring that we lead them to the supports and services that they need.

And we're doing that right in our buildings, you know, whether that's through ensuring that we are working with Manitobans that need supports because they have accessibility issues and can't move their furniture if they do have pest management issues, whether that's –they need deep refreshes in their buildings. And we're not going to continue to tenant those buildings because we don't want to disrupt an eco- system and move them six months later, which is – which the member opposite is suggesting we do.

You know, we're talking about the fall of 2026 and this member is saying, tenant that building and then disrupt them and move them out. Like, these folks need accessible units in Portage la Prairie, which our government is going to do in the Stephens building. In Portage la Prairie, they need more single units in that building, which our govern- ment is going to do in this deep refresh. They need more. They need to –an upgrade on fire life safety. That member doesn't want that to happen in that building? We're doing that work because the former government didn't do that work in those buildings.

We're going to continue to support and meet Manitobans where they're at. We're continuing to put more housing online. Former government didn't build one single social housing unit. Only in their last year did they start putting money into maintenance because they were desperate to keep gov ernment. We're not that kind of government. We're going to support, meet Manitobans where they're at. Because we know that we need to support them so they can get on a path of success, into pro- grams, into jobs, you know, so they can get into market rent.

We believe in, you know, Manitobans, whether they're in encampments, whether they're in shelters, whether they've been in incar ceration and they're coming out and they need another chance. We're going to help and support them wherever they're at. Unlike members opposite who just say, pull your bootstraps up and, you know, do it, we know that people need help and Manitobans have sent us here with that direction: to help and support, meet people where they're at and we're going to do that because we believe in them.

MLA Bereza: So what I'm hearing here, because I'm not getting an answer on this, is the minister seems to say that, you know, they're not –or they're–they don't want to disrupt people that are living in places like Stephens Apartments because of the cockroach issues. But it's okay to leave people living in a hospital with cockroach issues. Is that what you're supporting? That it is okay to be–have a double standard; that it's okay for cock- roaches to be in hospitals, like which is currently in the Portage general hospital right now.

And we don't want to move people out of there to get them away from these cockroaches until this year at next time – next year at this time, according to this government. But where there's an apartment with cockroaches, they should be treated differently and those cock- roaches should be getting–be ridden of imme diately. And yet, we leave people that could be lying in bed dying in a hospital where there's cockroaches in the hospital. Is that correct, yes or no? The Chairperson: Just a reminder to all members that we need to make sure all comments and questions are through the Chair.

And we've strayed a little bit away from the matter at hand today. The topic is the Housing, Addictions and Homelessness. And so we just ask the member to rephrase the question in a manner that's directly related to this portfolio. Thank you. MLA Bereza: Why is there a stark difference in the different departments in government regarding this issue? The Chairperson: So what we are needing here is for the questions to be tied back to the Estimates specific- ally, not just the department as a whole.

So the Estimates is the matter at hand here today, so some - thing in the Estimates book that was made reference to earlier. Thank you. MLA Bereza: We'll move on from this. We were talking about cockroaches in apartments and I was asking about cockroaches in hotels –or sorry –in hospitals. And, again, it's still a pest, and the only

1264 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 15, 2026 reason I said that is there's different de partments, so why is one department treating it different than others? I'll move on to my next question, which is: What is the total new spend for drug consumption? * (16:20) Ms. Smith: I would ask for clarification on that ques- tion. The member asked for–what is the spend on drug consumption. Is that member referring to what is, you know, what is the government investing into a supervised consumption site? And, again, like, we can't put a dollar figure on saving lives.

There has been no, you know, lives lost in any supervised consumption site in all of Canada, and I would point that member to the data that's on the Canadian website. We know that Manitoba is taking a four -pillared approach, which is harm reduction so that we can lead people to treatment and recovery. We're taking a balanced approach when it comes to en forcement. You know, we're tough on crime, tough on the pro- ceeds of crime. We're standing up a meth task force.

We have the meth –the top person working on–that's working on the meth task force and ensuring that we are taking off–taking these drugs off of the streets. And there's been, you know, some high-level drug busts that have happened in the community lately, and I really want to uplift the work that's been done on the front line–whether that's RCMP or Winnipeg police– in ensuring that these toxic drugs are gett ing off the streets. We all are doing –we all want the same thing, right? We all want to keep our community safe. We all want to keep our kids safe.

We all want to make sure that these toxic drugs are getting off the street, and I think we can say we're all on the same team when it comes to that. We want to keep Manitobans alive and we want to sure–ensure that we're educating Manitobans, which is why we've, you know, invested into the school nutrition program. And we're even going further than that in this new budget: We're ensuring that kids are getting onto buses free so that transit isn't an issue in how kids are getting to school. Some families can't afford a school bus.

You know, I lived in– quite a way fro m school, and when my kids were in–when they were in middle school, school bus was free. But then when they went into high school, I now had to pay for a school bus, so, you know, parents can't always afford that. So this is ensuring that kids can get to school free on transit. We're ensuring that parents can also get free day- care as well. And this is, you know, going to be in some of our Manitoba Housing buildings and ensuring that when we're building, that we're building with that in mind.

We have mixed- market units that are being built with daycares that are going to be in there. So, again, it's transformative work that is taking a whole-of-government approach and we are ensuring that we are, you know, making investments that are going to be generational. I was talking to federal minister Chartrand the other day and we were talking about generational change and, what is it going to take and how are we going to do it and, you know just a big tackle. An Honourable Member: Point of order. Point of Order The Chairperson: The member for Portage la Prairie, on a point of order.

MLA Bereza: Point of order on–we're talking about housing. So am I okay to go ahead? So point of order on– we're talking here about housing and homelessness and we're talking about school nutrition and that, so that is my point of order. And bring it back to the relevance of what we're here to discuss today, which was my question regarding the drug consumption site. The Chairperson: The minister, on the same point of order. Ms. Smith: The point of order is, you know, out of order in terms of –we are taking a four -pillared, balanced approach, and education is part of that approach.

And I know that member is referring to transit, and getting kids to school is part of the education part of that. And, you know, schools are a part of educa - tion. And ensuring that kids are getting to school, graduating, is a part of the whole -of-government approach. The Chairperson: So I thank all members for your comments. This is not a point of order. Within the allotted five minutes per member for speaking and their con- tributions from both sides, we allow a little bit of variance and leeway and hope that all members draw it back before the end of their speaking point.

We would get absolutely nothing accomplished here if we interjected at every point in time.

April 15, 2026 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1265 So I will now re -address the minister for the response. * * * Ms. Smith: As I was saying, we take a four -pillared approach, and the last pillar I was talking about was education and ensuring that we are getting kids to school, that they're graduating on time and that we have many tools in the toolbox to ensure that, you know, where we are taking a balanced approach, whether that is with adults and whether that is with youth and whether that's with families.

I want to, you know, just turn our attention to some great work that's being done right across our great province and uplift all of those organizations that are on the front lines each and every day that aren't trained to do the work that they're doing. Y ou know, I think about Main Street Project, I think about North End Women's Centre –and I think that that member was at committee when those folks came and spoke–and I think about Point Douglas women's centre. Many of these organizations came and talked about having to do overdose reversals. And that's not their work, right?

Their work is to support and support women. But they've had to, you know, pivot and, unfor - tunately, support people. And that's why it's so impor- tant that we open up a supervised consumption site, so that we can lead these folks that are unsupervised in the community to these supports, so that we can get them connected with the resources that they so des - perately needed for so long. You know, under the former government, they had a premier who threw a report on the floor that made the recommendation that a supervised consump- tion be opened.

They had a minister that said that they went to Vancouver and visited a supervised consump- tion site and never even went inside: went and gawked at people outside, you know. How shameful. And I'll continue on that line in my next question– or my next answer. MLA Bereza: May we take a five-minute break? The Chairperson: Is it agreed by all members that we take a

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	43-3-42
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	43rd 3rd hansardpdf 42.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	b45eae1662b3a0fe2156a354b94c3037e4eb34a6

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