Manitoba Hansard — Sitting 53B (41st Legislature, 3rd Session)

41-3-53b

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Third Session – Forty-First Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Myrna Driedger Speaker Vol. LXXI No. 53B - 1:30 p.m., Thursday, May 24, 2018 ISSN 0542-5492

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

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

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

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

2549 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, May 24, 2018 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Madam Speaker: Good afternoon, everybody. Please be seated. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Madam Speaker: Introduction of bills? Committee reports? Tabling of reports? MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Madam Speaker: The honourable Minister for Sport, Culture and Heritage , and I would indicate that the required 90 minutes notice prior to routine proceedings was provided in accordance with our rule 26(2). Would the honourable minister please proceed with her statement. United Empire Loyalists Day Hon.

Cathy Cox (Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage): Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate United Empire Loyalists Day, which will officially be commemorated on June the 12th by the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada. The United Empire Loyalists were, for the most part, settlers in Thirteen Co lonies who chose to remain loyal to the British Crown at the outbreak of the American Revolution. The Loyalists came from every class, occupation and economic status. There were English, Dutch, German, French Huguenot, First Nations, Scottish and African.

In 1783, the Treaty of Paris recognized the independence of the United States of America and, as a result, Loyalists were now faced with an outdated belief system and were therefore exiled from the society. Loyalists who remained in the third colonies during the revolution were considered traitors and were threatened and stripped of their property if they were too vocal in their beliefs. Of the approximately 70,000 Loyalists who left the United States, about 50,000 went to the British colonies of Quebec , Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.

The Loyalist tradition and commitment to the parliamentary system of government and the common law legal system influenced the passage of the Constitutional Act of 1971, now known as the Canada Act. This framework laid the foundations for the future development of Canada as a nation. Today, we are reminded of the spirit of these early pioneers who, because of their loyalty to the British Crown, sacrificed their lives, homes and professions to migrat e to a new lan d with hopes of building a new life for themselves and their descendants.

I encourage all Manitobans to join me in acknowledging United Empire Loyalists' Day in Manitoba on June 12th, 2018, and to recognize these historic contributions that the United Empire Loyalists have made here in Manitoba. Ms. Flor Marcelino (Logan): I thank the minister for her statement. In May of 1783, the first United Empire Loyalists arrived on the shores of Canada to take refuge under the British Crown in Parr Town, Saint John, Nova Scotia. After approximately 50,000 Loyalist refugees were settled throughout Canada, their arrival pr ofoundly altered our nation's development.

Upon Confederation in 1870, many of these Loyalist settlers immigrated into our province of Manitoba and were known as the United Empire Loyalists. They arrived in Canada seeking a new beginning and represent a part of the mosaic that makes up both our nation and our province. Through their hard work, they established a vibrant economic and multicultural community in Manitoba, and their descendants continue that tradition today.

United Empire Loyalists Day also speaks to the importance of honouring our ongoing commitment to the path of reconciliation where all peoples can come together to respect and honour each other's origins and human rights. I would like to recognize the United Empire Loyalists for their in credible important contributions they have had in building Canada, in creating a unique aspect of our country, our province and our cultural heritage. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

2550 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 24, 2018 Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Burrows): Madam Speaker, I ask for leave to speak in response to the minister's statement. Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to respond to the ministerial statement? [Agreed] Ms. Lamoureux: Next month, we will commemorate the ancestors of 6 million Canadi ans, the Loyalists, who fled the colonies during the American War of Independence and remained faithful to the Crown. These refugees who sacrificed their homes and communities over 200 years ago had their lives forever changed , and thus many indigenous peoples suffered terribly.

Madam S peaker, i t's incredibly important that we remember th e faults of our collective past and move towards a future of understanding and reconciliation. This H ouse often talks about residential schools and the scarring acts that have affected generations of indigenous families. We need to move forward by recognizing our collective past and work towards this reconciliation. With that, we also cannot forget the spirit in which our indigenous people first welcomed us.

Madam Speaker, we must carry this attitude with us forward today, especially because of the anti-refugee rhetoric that is being spewed by leaders all around the world. We, as Canadians, know that this is not the way. I'd like to thank the minister for bringing forward this ministerial statement and thank and welcome those who have joined us today here in the gallery. Thank you. Hon. Steven Fletcher (Assiniboia): I'd like to ask leave to speak to the ministerial statement. Madam Speaker: Does the member have l eave to speak to the ministerial statement? [Agreed] Mr.

Fletcher: Seneca, ' caguya', ' okanaga', Oneida, Mohawk, Tuscarora: these are six of the confederate nations that helped the Empire Loyalists during the second British civil war, sometimes referred to as the War of Independence for the United States and American Revolution. But what it was was, I would argue, a mistake. Seventeen seventy -five–1776 was a long time ago, but I'd like to recognize the –these–the deceased provinces of New Hampshire, Massac husetts, New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and I could go on.

But, Madam Speaker, United Empire Loyalists, I think, have been proven correct: Canada is a better country. So I ask my American cousins, it's not too late. Join the club. Join the Commonwealth. You could be 60 provinces in North America and be loyal to the Queen. You'd–we could have a great army, great social structure. Our politics would be so much better if we just do what the United Empire Loyalists wanted to do in the first place.

And, by the way, Madam Speaker, the Americans wanted to separate because they don't want to pay their taxes for the military expenditures of Britain incurred to defend them from the French. That's right, they didn't want to pay their taxes. Some things never change. Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. The honourable Minister of Agriculture, and I would indicate that the required 90 minutes notice prior to routine proceedings was provided in accordance with our rule 26(2). Would the honourable minister please proceed with his statement. Manitoba 4-H Spring Highway Cleanup Hon.

Ralph Eichler (Minister of Agriculture): On behalf of Manitoba Agriculture and Manitoba Infrastructure, it gives me great pleasure to inform the House of the 32nd annual Manitoba 4- H spring highway c leanup. The cleanup will take place this weekend, and therefore I urge motorists to demonstrate caution when travelling our highways. Manitoba Agriculture and Manitoba Infrastructure are proud to partner with the Manitoba 4-H clubs in this event. The province-wide campaign will take place on Saturday, May the 26th, weather permitting. In case of rain, the alternate date is set for June the 2nd.

All areas are supervised by adult volunteers and are marked with safety signs; 4-H participants will be wearing safety vests and cleanup will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m. to ensure clear visibility for our motorists. Last year, more than 400 volunteers cleaned 264 kilometres of roadsides and ditches, collect ed 863 bags of trash. Recyclable bottles and cans were also delivered to appropriate locations. Through their

May 24, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2551 efforts, participating clubs earne d $6,745 to support their programs. * (13:40) We will all benefit from the dedication of these young people as they raise money for their programs by collecting unsightly trash along our highways. We're pleased to applaud their resourcefulness while learning about civic pride and environmental stewardship. Great things can happen when we work together as a team. This is just another example of Manitoba's great teamwork. We applaud the efforts of Mani toba 4- H clubs and urge motorists to be extra cautious this coming weekend.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Mr. Ted Marcelino (Tyndall Park): Madam Speaker, 4-H's annual highway cleanup is here once again this Saturday. This initiative is among a number of great initiatives organized by 4-H, an organization that helps teach young people leadership, communication skills and self-confidence. Our NDP team knows that Manitobans take pride in our beautiful landscapes and value clean communities. In previous years we have had around 2,000 bags of trash collected and 425 kilometres of roadside cleaned through 4- H's efforts.

All plastics bottles and aluminum cans collected are picked up for recycling. Madam Speaker, 4- H's annual highway cleanup is an important tradition that teaches our young the value of environmental consciousness and community service. These types of initiatives are an integral part of teaching important skills and values, like civic engagement and leadership, that have inspired many of today's leaders. Drivers are asked to use extra caution this weekend while on the roads. All work areas are supervised by adult volunteers and marked with safety signs.

All 4 -H participants will be wearing a safety vest and the cleanup takes place only between the hours of 9 a.m.– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, I ask leave to speak to the minister's statement. Madam Speaker: Is there leave for the member to speak to the statement? [Agreed] Mr. Gerrard: Madam Speaker, 4 -H clubs are a tremendous asset to Manitoba and they are very important in our young people learning skills like leadership, like teamwork, like communication. My daughter Pauline was in a 4 -H club and found it a tremendous learning experience.

She got to spend some time on a farm and have a granny mentor who helped her understand what it was like to be on a dairy farm, is where they were, and it was a great experience for her. The MLA for Kewatinook, her children spent time in 4 -H clubs, and I imagine if we circled the MLAs here we would find many more children, leaders who had been in 4 -H clubs. It's tremendous learning experience. This Saturday is the annual cleanup along the roads all over Manitoba. It is a tremendous e ffort, contributes to our environment, making us an attractive province and attractive roads.

It's important for drivers to be aware that the 4 -H kids and young people will be out there and to watch out for them. So I thank, once again, the 4- H teamwork a nd their wonderful work on behalf of all Manitobans. Thank you. Madam Speaker: The honourable Minister of Infrastructure, and I would indicate that the required 90 minutes notice prior to routine proceedings was provided in accordance with our rule 26(2). Would the honourable minister please proceed with his statement. Wildfire Update Hon. Ron Schuler (Minister of Infrastructure): Safety and security of Manitobans is our continued first priority.

I wish to provide the house with an update on the current wildfire fighting activities in the province of Manitoba. The Manitoba Emerg ency Measures Organization, or E MO, is currently monitoring the provincial wildfire situation. There are a number of wildfires burning in various locations that are impacting multiple communities due to the proximity of fires and related smoke. Multiple provincial, federal, and local authority agencies and non-governmental organizations are engaged in responding to the fires.

2552 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 24, 2018 Increased fire behaviour observed with warm and windy conditions extending into the night , challenging control efforts on existi ng fires; j oint response efforts continue in many areas. Safety of residents and first responders remains the priority. The following resources have been deployed throughout the province: nine water bombers –four from Quebec–20 helicopters and approximately 20 bulldozers. The use of these resources are co-ordinated through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre , in accordance with mutual aid agreements.

In addition to our crews we have 100 emergency firefighters, 80 out -of-province init ial attack firefighters and an additional 40 arriving today, all from Ontario. Madam Speaker, t otal fires as of today: 173. The average for this date is 105. Indigenous Services Canada has engaged the Canadian Red Cross and the Canadian Armed Forces to a ssist with evacuations in the following communities. Little Grand Rapids First Nation has now almost been evacuated entirely.

The Canadian Red Cross is working with stakeholders in the city of Winnipeg to ensure continuity of health care, provision of soc ial services and evacuation supports for evacuees when they arrive. In the Pauingassi First Nation, the community of up to 300 residents located adjacent to Little Grand Rapids First Nation is also being affected by fire and smoke, and the federal governm ent, with the Red Cross, are beginning evacuation procedures. Sapotaweyak Cree Nation : starting May 21 st, 660 people were evacuated due to multiple fires in close proximity to the community.

Evacuees were sent to hotels in The Pas and Swan River. Evacuations are being co -ordinated by the Canadian Red Cross. Kinonjeoshtegon, or Jackhead, First Nation: due to increased smoke in the community, evacuations of 100 priority health individuals and other s at risk in the–community members took place on May 22nd, and they went to Fisher River and Winnipeg. A nd conditions have improved so these evacuees will return home today. Evacuations are being co -ordinated by Canadian Red Cross.

Also, Indigenous Services Canada requested assistance of the Canadian Armed Forces to support the evacuations from Little Grand Rapids and Pauingassi First Nations. Indigenous and Northern Relations has co-ordinated the evacuation of Pelican Rapids. Starting May 21st, 38 people were evacuated due to fires. Evacuees were sent to hotels in Dauphin. Evacuations are being co -ordinated by Manitoba Indigenous and Northern Relations. In the RMs of Grahamdale and West Interlake or Ashern, f ires near Ashern continue to move with swift–with shifting winds and are currently moving away from Ashern.

This has reduced the threat to Ashern since Monday and fire protection continues. Fire crews are also continuing to work to protect properties near Mulvihill, south of Ashern , and Madam Speaker, Highway No. 6 is currently open. The e xpected hot temperatures and winds continue to be factors with these fires. The RMs of Grahamdale and West Interlake each have a state of local emergency in place and evacuation contingency plans are in place. Manitoba EMO will continue to monitor the ongoing situations across the province and co-ordinate teleconferences and the agencies involved.

We wish to thank all agencies, governments and individuals who are involved in this very important work that is being undertaken under very challenging circumstances. They're doing so to ensure the safety and security of all affected by the current wildfire situation. We wish to remind everyone to please obey all fire bans and to keep their properties clear of any combustible materials to reduce your risk. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Mr.

Jim Maloway (Elmwood): As this crisis continues to spread across Manitoba, fire crews continue to work tirelessly at all hours of the day to protect residents' homes, prevent new fires from starting, and current ones from spreading. * (13:50) Efforts in Little Grand Rapids have protected a third of the buildings and many homes in the community. With the fires only being a short 4.5 kilometres away from Pauingassi First Nation, I know that efforts from those fighting fires from the air and on the ground will not slow down.

May 24, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2553 Fires near Sapotaweyak First Nation remained under control, with no homes being lost, and thanks to firefighting efforts, the evacuation order has been lifted for Kinonjeoshtegon, or Jackhead, First Nation. And as t he 11,000- hectare fire near Ashern, Manitoba, continues to leave residents on evacuation standby, they continue to face fear and uncertainty as flames encroach on their community.

Though conditions of heavy smoke prove difficult, the Canadian Red Cross, C anadian Armed Forces and Indigenous Services Canada and many independent airlines continue to work together to ensure the safety of all affected communities. Our hearts and thoughts continue to be with all the evacuees, families, communities and first responders who continue to face the wildfire devastation. We can only hope that with the forecast that some relief is in sight. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, I ask leave to speak to the minister's statement.

Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to respond to the ministerial statement? [Agreed] Mr. Gerrard: I want to thank the minister for his update on the fire situation. I also want to thank the Canadian Armed Forces for their incredible efforts to evacuate people from Little Grand Rapids and Pauingassi. I hear from the MLA for Kewatinook, who's keeping in very close touch with people on the ground, that it's hoped that everyone will be evacuated from the two communities by the end of the day. I hope t his will be the case, and I want to thank all those who have been part of this really important effort.

I would ask the minister if the updates to the fire map could be made twice a day instead of just daily, particularly when it's close to communities. I think this is important to have that information in the morning and in the evening in terms of where we are. I was disturbed, for example, this morning to find early on that the latest map was from Tuesday, and I think that we can do better in terms of ma king sure that everyone is ready and prepared.

I know that the map has now been updated to the situation from yesterday, but when we're faced with a quickly moving fire, I suggest that updating the map twice a day would be very useful. The images that we have seen of families and children and elders wearing masks to protect themselves from breathing in toxins from the smoke are vivid, and they emphasize the need to have fire plans which result in the evacuation of people before conditions deteriorate to th e extent that they have done at Little Grand Rapids.

I want, in this context, to thank the minister for his offer yesterday to provide the fire plans for the affected communities. I look forward to receiving copies of these fire plans as soon as possible and I thank the minister for his efforts in this respect. It will–when the acute crisis is over and, as is normal–be important to review plans so that we're ready for future situations and to make sure everything is updated and in the best possible planning environment.

I thank everyone for their concern about what's happening and hope that we have no lives lost and that these fires can be effectively kept under control. Thank you. Introduction of Guests Madam Speaker: Prior to members' statements, because I'm not sure how long our guests are going to be here, but I do want to introduce to you some special guests that we have in the Speaker's Gallery today. We have with us Ms. Ana Beltrame, the consul general of Brazil in Toronto, along with Mr. Gustavo Zentner, the honourary consul for Brazil in Manitoba, newly appointed.

And on behalf of all honourable members, we welcome you to the Manitoba Legislature. MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Billie-Jo Thompson Mr. Kelly Bindle (Thompson): Madam Speaker, recycling has come a long way in our province and I'm happy to say it continues to grow in the North. The growing public awareness of the positive impacts and differences recycling can make in helping to preserve our environment can be attributed to the hard work, dedication and determination by people who genuinely care about the environment and want to make a difference.

People like Billie -Jo Thompson, manager of the Thompson Recycling Centre, and their board members and staff, who in early January 2017–or,

2554 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 24, 2018 sorry–in early December 2017 celebrated the milestone of diverting 1 million kilograms of materials from landfill within a one-year period. In 2017 the centre went on to set a personal best record of diverting 1,022,000 kilograms of material from landfill and are on pace to exceed that number this year. Billie-Jo moved to Thompson in 1989 and originally started her career through volunteering at the Thompson Recycling Centre nine years ago. Today, she's still working there, managing the centre and contributing to setting recycling records in the North.

Her goal is to make the Thompson Recycling Centre a northern hub and expand it by promoting recycling in surrounding First Nations and remote communities, cottage areas and hydro stations and camps. Thompson Recycling Centre operates with two management and six s taff positions and continues to increase productivity with the same number of people.

And this is also made possible by the volunteer efforts of 2017 Thompson Recycling Centre board members, Jeff Fountain, Anthony McInnis, Milt Goble, Peter Aarinola, Linda Horner, Saima Azi z, Tim Gibson, Prasid Bhattarai, and City of Thompson liaison councillor, Duncan Wong. In recognition of the efforts, progress and accomplishments of board members, management and staff of the Thompson Recycle Centre, please join me in welcoming Billie-Jo Thompson, who is in the gallery today, and in thanking them for making a difference in the North. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Thompson.

Mr. Bindle: Madam Speaker, I request leave to have the names of the 2017 Thompson Recycling Centre staff members included on the permanent record in Hansard. Madam Speaker: Is there leave to include those names in Hansard? [Agreed] 2017 Thompson Recycling Centre staff: Manager Billie-Jo Thompson, Wesley Dick, Lance Keam, Kayson Klatt, Darby McKie, Ross Munroe, Donald Muskwagon and Ronnie Weenusk. Midwestern Legislative Conference Mr. Doyle Piwniuk (Arthur-Virden): Madam Speaker, I 'm–I rise here to acknowledge the 2018 Midwestern Legislative Conference being hosted in Winnipeg from July 15th to the 18th.

Manitoba very much appreciates the honour of being the host province for t he Council of State Governments Midwestern Legislative Conference' s 73rd annual meeting. The Council of State Governments is the US's only non- partisan association of state officials serving for three branches of governments in all 50 states and US territories.

CSG fosters the ir interstate exchange and insights and ideas to help states officials shape public policy, offer opportunities for state and provincial officials to collaborate and create problem -solving partnerships and assist in advocating for beneficial Canada- US trade and policy. CSG Midwest, through the Midwestern Legislative Conference, focu ses on meetings that needs for state and provincial policymakers and leaders in North America's heartland, which includes 11 Midwest states as well as four Canadian provinces that participated in th e MLC for the past 14 years.

We've been offered –we've often realized that US states can carry our messages and concerns forward to the US federal government. The MLC resolutions are one of the most–major examples of this approach. The importance of these relationships and mutual understandings cannot be overstated . That is why MLC is such a great opportunity to share ideas and work together and strengthen our region.

Manitoba's involvement with the MLC has allowed us to forge many friendships, and my colleagues note that excitement of opportunities to get together to share ideas, generate consensus on items and share importance and, in a bit of having fun, exploring each host state and province has to offer while we do so. MLC only occurs in Canada every decade almost, and we also are very pleased that we're hosting–this province is–in 2018. Planning for the 2018 Midwest is well under way. We have put together a collection of interesting venues that we believe is a great showcase of our beautiful city of Winnipeg.

The opening night 's reception will be hosted in the Legislative grounds on the southern plaza, inside the Manitoba Legislative Buildin g, where we will

May 24, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2555 offer a unique Manitoba welcome with sampling s of made-in-Manitoba food and beverages. After dinner, guests will be invited to tour the amazing Legislative Building and attend a very special legislative session featuring our US colleagues demonstrating a–question period helps advance governance in Manitoba. On family night, we will be showcasing award-winning Journey to Churchill exhibit, home of our polar bears and northern species , where our visitors will experience a nose-to-nose with every– real-life polar bear.

Last but certainly not least, the state dinner will be taking place inside the Canadian m useum of human rights, the first museum solely dedicated for the evolution and celebration of future human rights. * (14:00) In closing, Madam Speaker, I am encouraged– [interjection]–fellow members –of the –promote the 2018 MLC Manitoba to many contacts, as many as we can. Promotion of the Manitoba and Canada as a friend, ally, partner of the US and is most important. So Manitoba, where I have –I'll finish off that and – we've come a long ways since the loyalists and we want everybody to enjoy it.

Thank you. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order, please. I did give the member a lot of latitude –a lot– with the encouragement of members from all sides because we are involved, all of us, in that conference. So I just want to know that I didn't do that on my own. I was looking at everybody nodding to let him go ahead.

Introduction of Guests Madam Speaker: And before they leave the gallery, we do have seated in the public gallery from Garden Valley Collegiate, if they're still here, 75 grade 9 students under the direction of Brent Giesbrecht, and this group is located in the constituency of the honourable Minister of Finance (Mr. Friesen). On behalf of members here, we welcome you to the Legislature. Recognizing Indigenous Midwives Mrs. Bernadette Smith (Point Douglas): In the past, midwifery was a common practice among First Nation communities.

In the last 100 years this practice has begun decreasing due to colonization and changes in the health- care system. As a result, many rural and first –remote First Nations are for ced to leave their communities to access the care they need. Despite the challengers, there still remain four incredibly strong midwives here in Manitoba: Darlene Birch, Nathalie Pambrun, Sandi Howard and Melissa Brown. They all provide essential services and care to women and their children throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum. These indigenous midwives are primary reproductive health-care providers.

They believe that the overall health and well -being of indigenous communities begins with the reintegration of values and teachings that reflect their cultural identity. Indigenous midwifery is a catalyst for positive change through ceremony, healing and reproductive justice. Darlene has practised indigenous midwifery for 35 years and was instrument al in developing midwifery legislation here in Manitoba that was inclusive of indigenous midwives. Her work assisted in the creation of UCN's Aboriginal midwifery baccalaureate program.

Sandi and Melissa both graduated from this program, which was sadly c ut by the current government in 2016. Sandi currently serves northern families in Thompson and surrounding areas. In addition to supporting families, Melissa is the current founder of Zaagi'idiwin, an organization that trains indigenous doulas and reconnec ts families with traditional birth knowledge. Nathalie is a Franco -Manitoban Metis midwife who has practised nationally, internationally and now practises at the Birth Centre in Winnipeg.

Darlene, Melissa and Nathalie are founding members–or co -chairs o f the National Aboriginal Council of Midwives who advocate for the restoration of midwifery education and services. Today, I want–I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking them for their incredible work that they do as indigenous midwives , for the heartfelt work that they continue to do here in Manitoba on behalf of all of us. Drought Preparedness Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, Manitoba needs a plan to deal with the drought. With climate change we will have increased

2556 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 24, 2018 wet weather some years and increased dry years at other times. Just as we've prepared with a floodway for Winnipeg for a one -in-700-year flood, we need a plan to deal with the one-in-700-year drought. The drought could be multi -year. Yet the provincial government has not yet presented such a plan. It needs to. Such a plan needs an aggressive approach to storing more water on the land in wet years so we are ready for dry years. A drought will initially disproportionately affect farmers. We need a drought plan developed together with agricultural producers.

There also needs to be a plan for community water supplies. Which communities will be most affected? What will happen if the Red or Assiniboine river dries up? How will communities manage if they do? Addressing wildfires will be a priority. Do we have an adequate plan? [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Gerrard: Though we have experience tackling wildfires, there are gaps. Last year a small fire in the Island Lake area wasn' t put out quickly when it was small and t he result was a very large fire which required large-scale evacuations.

Planning with northern communities , including First Nation communities , needs to be further advanced, especially after what happened at Fort McMurray in Alberta. A plan for Manitoba Hydro in the case of a drought is needed. Extended dry weather could have severe consequences for our largest Crown corporation and for the electricity supply. I suspect we're not fully prepared for a multi-year drought. Water is t he stuff of life. We need to be ready not just for floods, but for a drought. It will come. Will we be ready?

Madam Speaker: I just want to revert back the honourable member for Point Douglas, who did have a request. Mrs. Smith: I ask for leave to include the names in Hansard. Madam Speaker: Is there leave to include those names in Hansard? [Agreed] Jordan Brown, Sage Brown, Shilo Brown, Gena Boubard, Gene Boubard, Gerri Boubard, Nuna Mauro, Nathalie Pambrun, Cecil Sveinson Provincial Government's Achievements Mr. Andrew Micklefield (Rossmere): I didn't get finished yesterday when I was talking about some of our government's achievements so I'd like to continue today.

The NDP left Manitoba–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Micklefield: –with annual deficits approaching a billion dollars a year because they spent millions more every day than they brought in. We are fixing the finances; we' ve reduced the annual deficit by nearly half. For the first time in a long t ime, every government department is managing within its budget. Manitoba's private investment in property is the second highest among all provinces. H ousing starts are second highest among provinces . Statistics Canada predicts capital spending growth in Manitoba to be the highest in Canada this year.

Last year saw the largest agriculture sales in Manitoba history, the largest vehicle sales increase in Canada and we have the highest population growth rates in the country. People earn more today in averag e weekly earnings than they have for four years. More people are starting businesses. Substantially more Manitoba products are being exported to the USA and overseas markets. Manitoba is blessed with the largest employment gains in 15 years and the lowest unemployment in Canada. Last year Manitoba had the highest number of births since 1972.

Two years ago we were the child poverty capital of 'canya'–Canada, but today we are fifth out of 10 provinces. [interjection] Madam Speaker, that is no laughing matter. It is our goal to be Canada's most improved province. Madam Speaker, there is much more to do, but we are well on our way. We're benefi ting f rom a health budget with a half-billion-dollar increase over the last two years. We are benefitting from record numbers of doctors.

We're benefitting from 60 more paramedics, from a new pediatric heart unit, from a new children's epilepsy unit, from ambulance fees 30 per cent less than two years ago and from emergency room wait times down 18 per cent from last year. We are building seven schools. We are building five RAAM rapid access to addictions medication

May 24, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2557 clinics. We're increasing university scholarships five fold from $4 million to $20 million– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Some Honourable Members: Leave. Madam Speaker: Order. It sounded like there was a request for leave for the member to continue? Some Honourable Members: No. Madam Speaker: Leave has been denied. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Order, please. Order. Introduction of Guests Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, we have some further guests in the gallery.

We have seated in the public gallery from Parkland Christian School nine grade 5 to 9 students under the direction of Ron Friesen, and this group is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Dauphin (Mr. Michaleski). On behalf of all honourable members here, we welcome you to the Manitoba Legislature. * * * Madam Speaker: And it is our tradition when we have our pages that are here for the last day, we have a little bit of a farewell speech to make to them, and I just wanted to tell you a little about Lydia.

Lydia Gork is a grade 11 student who will be graduating from the international baccalaur eate program at Kelvin High School in 2019. She would like to become a parliamentary or Senate page in Ottawa following her graduation. * (14:10) Lydia hopes to pursue post -secondary education at Western University for their integrated biochemical engineering and law program. She has a strong interest in writing and speaking in both French and English. She aspires to use her skills to advocate for others.

Lydia is a flight sergeant in the air cadet program and has the parade position of squadron commander at 176 Boeing of Canada Air Cadet Squadron. She spends her summers working for the City of Winnipeg at a day camp with special needs youth. The page program is one of Lydia's most valued experiences. Her appreciation for democracy has been strengthened as a result of her time in the Chamber. The Legislative Assembly has demonstrated the power of politics. It opened a door for Lydia and constantly inspires her. She will always seek more opportunities to become engaged.

And on behalf of all of us, Lydia, we wish you all the best. ORAL QUESTIONS Western Canadian Premiers' Conference Wildfire Prevention Discussions Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Madam Speaker, people in Little Grand Rapids and Pauingassi First Nation have been through a lot these past few days. We know that the images and video that we've seen coming from the community, those images are very harrowing. They show severe and dangerous wildfires. They also show the pain, the concern of those being forced to leave their communities and the feelings that they have.

When fire strikes we know that we all have to come together to support those in need, whether that's in Kinonjeoshtegon, Brandon, Sapotaweyak, Little Grand Rapids or Ashern we should all be there for one another. What the evacuees need now is the support and attention of the government as the blazes are being battled, but also to take care of them in their time of need. I would ask the Premier if he can update the House whether collaborating on fighting wildfires was discussed at the Western Canadian Premiers' Conference. Hon.

Brian Pallister (Premier): Well, collaboration is, of course, essential at this time and at all times, Madam Speaker. That's why we are working diligently not only with other provincial governments and with the federal government on a number of fronts, but also co- ordinating our efforts as best as possible during these challenging times with respect to the fires that have occurred and that, unfortunately, are likely to occur, given the realities of climate change, in the future.

That is why we have developed, with the co-operation and involvement of a great many Manitobans, a climate change plan, a green plan for our province that we're very proud of.

2558 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 24, 2018 And I appreciate the member's comments about the need for co -operation. We will stand with all of our agencies and work together in co-operation with other provincial governments and the federal government, and their resources are appreciated as well, Madam Speaker, as we face this important challenge together and offer support and encouragement to all Manitobans directly and indirectly affected. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Northern Manitoba Wildfires Communication Procedures Mr.

Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Madam Speaker, it's clear from some of the comments that we heard out of the Department of Sustainable Development yesterday, and the leadership of Little Grand Rapids that there was some sort of breakdown in communication regarding the evacuation that was taking place of that community. When a crisis or disaster strikes, communities should know that there is a plan in place, but also that there is a necessary back and forth to ensure that such a plan can be executed.

This should look at, you know, ways of transporting people out of the community, the firefighting in the ground, but also, of course, all the logistical consideration that needs to be taking place behind the scenes. Now, these plans should be communicated to everyone. Everyone should be on the same page. Given what we've heard over the past day or so, can the Premier tell us what steps he will take to improve communication between his departments, First Nations, municipalities and all those who may be affected by wildfires this year? Hon.

Brian Pallister (Premier): Frankly, Madam Speaker, we've had the opportunity in Manitoba for some time to learn through our own failures and experience improvements as a consequence. I expect that that will be the reality here as well. There are always opportunities for improvement; continuous improvement is what we are about and what we will pursue. We will endeavour, of course, in the midst of these trying circumstances to offer total support and encouragement to all agencies as they co -operate with the best interests of Manitobans at the centre of every decision that is made.

Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Mr. Kinew: Madam Speaker, this is the second year in a row where hundreds and even thousands of Manitobans have been forced to leave their homes because of the threat of wildfires. Now, it's a sad fact of life that these wildfires appear to be getting more and more common.

Now, I remember last year I had the opportunity to tour some of the evacuation centres with people from the Bear Clan and from the Red Cross, and there were many criticisms, there were many issues that arose during those times that people were awa y from their community. Some had to do with safety and security; others had to do with the conditions and, you know, access to some of the, you know, necessities of life that people had in those areas. I understand that the government conducted a review of some of the evacuation procedures and the support to evacuees that was conducted last year.

I'm wondering if the Premier can tell us what steps the government has taken to improve the supports and the services that will be provided to Manitobans while they are evacuated from their communities this year. Mr. Pallister: Having been in this elected role for a little bit of time, Madam Speaker, I have had some experience going back, even into the 1990s, of working as part of teams to address the needs of those who have been victimized by nature's abhorrent behaviour.

Whether it was evacuees because of rail -line disasters or northern fires or floods, there are always incredible stresses endured by the people who are affected. And it will be imperative that in the follow-up to the handling of this event, as has been the case for years in our province and in others across the country, that we use every opportunity to learn how we can do a better job in future such occurrences, because nature has a way of repeating this kind of unacceptable behaviour, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question.

Bureau de l'éducation française Assistant Deputy Minister Position Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Aujourd'hui, on va présenter des pétitions qui incluent plus que 1 500 noms de

May 24, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2559 Manitobains et Manitobaines qui sont opposés aux coupures du Bureau de l'éducation française du gouvernement Pallister. Canadian Parents for French ont aussi fait un sondage de leurs membres : il n'y avait aucun parent qui a appuyé la décision d'éliminer le poste de sous-ministre adjoint du BEF. Quinze cent parents qui appuient le poste, et zéro qui appuie la coupure du gouvernement. Les francophones et francophile s de cette province crient à haute voix. Quand est-ce que le gouvernement va rétablir le poste de sous-ministre adjoint?

Translation Today, we are going to present petitions that include the names of more than 1,500 Manitobans who are opposed to the cut s made to the Bureau de l'éducation française by the Pallister government. Canadian Parents for French also did a survey of its members and there were no parents who supported the decision to eliminate the BEF’s assistant deputy minister position. There a re 1,500 parents who support the position and none who support the cut by this government. Francophones and francophiles in this province are being very vocal.

When is this government going to reinstate the position of assistant deputy minister? Hon. Bria n Pallister (Premier): J'apprécie la question de l’honorable député, madame Speaker. Il est important de se souvenir et de respecter des volontés des Manitobains. Translation I appreciate the honourable member’s question, Madam Speaker. It is important to remember and respect the wishes of Manitobans. English Manitobans elected this government to fix our finances after a decade of debt, to repair our services, Madam Speaker, after a decade of decay and, of course, to rebuild our economy after a decade of decline.

And we are focused on doing that. Nous concentrons nos efforts d’une façon réfléchie et modérée car les Manitobains apprécient les finances stables, pour eux- mêmes et le gouvernement aussi. Translation We are focusing our efforts in a very thoughtful and moderate manner because Manitobans appreciate stable finances for themselves and for the government. English I recognize that the member has raised some specific concerns. We have every intention of continuing to focus on making sure that we build a government that is stronger, more responsive to the people of Manitoba, in every respect, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr. Kinew: Mais la coupure du gouvernement a créé une situation dans le département où les francophones qui travaillent sur l'éducation française doivent avancer leurs idées en anglais dans le département. Alors, c'est pas vraiment un système d'éducation bilingue. Translation But the cuts made by this government have created a situation in the department where francophones who work in the field of French language education have to put forward their ideas in Engl ish in the department.

So it is not really a bilingual education system. English So it's 1,500 Manitobans who have brought this forward today. They're concerned about the cuts to the bureau of education en française [in French] here in Manitoba, and agai n, I would remind the House that the Canadian Parents for French, another organization, they surveyed their members; they found no one supported the government's decision to eliminate the assistant deputy minister position in the French education department.

So I would ask the Premier again: Will he reverse that decision and re -establish a post for the assistant deputy minister for BEF? Mr. Pallister: I would emphasize the inaccuracies in the member's

preamble, Madam Speaker, to any Manitoban, whether a Franco or Anglais [English]; it doesn't matter. * (14:20) We are trimming at the top. We'll continue to trim at the top because the top of government is far

2560 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 24, 2018 too big–was far too big. And we have every plan to continue to strengthen front-line services, whether in education for Franco- Manitoba students or for anyone else and we'll continue to emphasize that these changes are necessary and we'll strengthen the quality of services going forward. The previous government was unfortunately engaged in the practice of building government at the top, not on the front line, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Mr.

Kinew: Mais, Madame la Présidente, beaucoup de monde dans la francophonie ici au Manitoba ne comprend pas comment perdre un francophone dans le département–qui pourrait appuyer l'éducation française–comment ça va améliorer la qualité d'éducation française dans notre province. Ça ne fait aucun sens. Translation But, Madam Speaker, many people in the Francophonie here in Manitoba don't understand how losing a francophone in the department who could support French language education, how this is going to improve the quality of French language education in our province? It doesn't make sense.

English So again, people in the French community are wondering, based on the type of rhetoric like the Premier's just shared here, how is it that French education, not only for francophones but also in French immersion schools all over the province, how is it going to be fixed? How is it going to improve when they lose having a francophone in the department who can take forward their concerns, who can build support for them, who can deal with them in their mother tongue? And that is the question left here.

So I'd ask the minister –I would ask the First Minister, rather: Will he reverse his decision and add again the assistant deputy minister position for BEF? Mr. Pallister: Well, Madam Speaker, the previous administration–and the member speaks in defence of its decisions now –managed to create an unsustainable situation where all departments were under pressure, where we were effectively borrowing $10 million every single day in addition–over and above–the amounts we were raising in revenue. Ten million a day handed to the young students of our province to bear that burden.

Ces objectifs d'une plus grand stabilité financière, de sécurité sociale et de solidité économique sont les priorités des Manitobains, et par conséquent, ils sont les priorités de ce gouvernement aussi. Translation These objectives of greater financial, social and economic stability are priorities for Manitobans, and as a result they are priorities for this government as well. English These are our priorities, Madam Speaker: to create sustainable educational opportunities, sustainable health -care opportunities, sustainable services for the future of our province, to make it stronger, not weaker.

Not giant at the top with lowest quality services offered to students and on the front line, but the other way around: stronger at the base, stronger with the students. That's how we're building our education system and in every other respect, building our government, Madam Speaker. Education System Funding Concerns Mr. Matt Wiebe (Concordia): Day after day this minister refuses to be accountable for the cuts that he's making in our education funding in our province. We know that enrolment in our schools is growing.

We know that inflation is going up, and yet this government's funding to school divisions has been held flat or cut in absolute terms this last year. And to add insult to injury, in the last year this minister underspent his Education and Training budget by $40 million. Yet the minister can't point to one teacher, one expert, one parent who would ever say that cutting education funding will lead to better outcomes. No plan to make our schools and our supports for students better starts with cuts. So will the minister stand and be accountable for his real cuts to our education system in this province? Hon.

Ian Wishart (Minister of Education and Training): I thank the member for the question. He's been on this theme all week, believing that we are leaving unspent money that was allocated to our department. And we have i nvested, as per our

May 24, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2561 Estimates, in all of the items that we have budgeted for. And we are providing the services for Manitoba students. In fact, we spent a record amount this year: $1.323 billion on the K -to-12 system in Manitoba, the second highest on a per -student basis of any province in Canada. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Concordia, on a supplementary question. Mr. Wiebe: According to this minister's department's own documents, last year the minister also cut capital funding by over $25 mi llion.

All the while, every day he stands up here in the House and he says that there's more capital needs than ever. So if the minister is so concerned about infrastructure deficits, why would he cut the infrastructure and the capital budget by $25 milli on? The minister has tried time and time again – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Wiebe: –to claim that giving less to school divisions and building less infrastructure is actually more, but the facts are clear and they're here in black and white. Now teachers and school divisions are sick of the spin, and they want this minister to be accountable for his cuts.

So will the minister admit that he is wrong and apologize for his shortchanging our students and our schools? Mr. Wishart: I'm actually pleased that the member is finally owning up to the fact that in –when they were in government they left us a record deficit in terms of maintenance of $450 million. Our government has focused on safety, security and access issues when it comes to schools and we're making sure that Manitoba students and teachers have the best access to education and, in the meantime, we're investing heavily in seven new schools.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Concordia, on a final supplementary. Mr. Wiebe: Madam Speaker, despite this minister's spin, teachers will not be taking this government's cuts lying down. They're tired of being told to do more with less. Teachers are paying out of pocket for supplies because of funding cuts. They're being told to not just be teachers, but to be social workers, therapists, confidantes, and sometimes even parents to our students. They're saying that our kids need more supports than ever and yet this minister refuses to listen.

Well, teachers are coming to this building tomorrow, to the steps of this Legislature, to make it absolutely clear to this government that they oppose these cuts to education. I ask: Will the minister meet the teachers on the steps of this Legislature and tell them to their face why he is cutting education funding in this province? Mr. Wishart: Actually, I have met teachers already today. I was at their MTS meeting this morning bringing them greetings and good wishes in their annual meeting process, and I will be returning to be part of their meeting again this evening.

I continue to have an ongoing dialogue with MTS and respect their opinion. Yes, we don't always agree. We talked about that this morning. But we certainly have a much better discussion than is happening across the floor here. Accessibility for Manitobans Act Implementation Timeline Mrs. Bernadette Smith (Point Douglas): Barrier-Free Manitoba raised a number of concerns regarding this government's commitment to implementing the accessibility for Manitoba act. They note that t he minister continues to miss important dates, deadlines in the implementation of this act.

In their words, this is a very discouraging pattern. We've seen the government attempt to place a wait-list on the inclusion support program, and now, they're ignoring the AMA. Why isn't this minister making accessibility for all Manitobans a priority? Hon. Scott Fielding (Minister of Families): Ensuring that accessibility is a priority for this government is something that we've focused on. That's something that we have committed to. We recently had a meeting with our advisory council. I asked exactly that question: are we on track?

And I can tell you we are on track to hit all of the standards within the time frame that–allotted. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Point Douglas, on a supplementary question. Mrs. Smith: Manitoba notes three missed deadlines: the minister still hasn't presented his annual plan, the accessibility employment standards regulation has

2562 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 24, 2018 not been passed and there's still no progress on the development of a compliance framework. These deadlines shouldn't be a surprise to this minister, but maybe he's been more focus ed on cutting housing and cuts to folks on Rent Assist than making Manitobans more accessible. Will the minister commit to meeting the remaining deadlines on time? Mr. Fielding : The member continuously puts on false information onto the record. I can tel l you this government has enhanced things like housing.

We've built over 487 new units opened, spent money on operating and the rent-geared-to-income; in terms of those, 42 per cent are social housing. We've also made advancements in terms of the Rent Assi st program where close to 3,000 more people are supported and over 3,300 will be supported in the year end. We want to continue to work with accessibilities to hit the targets in terms of the guidelines, in terms of the standards that have been set out, M adam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Point Douglas, on a final supplementary. * (14:30) Mrs. Smith: I'll say it again.

Our government was building hundreds of housing units. The MA was an important step forward in– [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs. Smith: –ensuring Manitoba is truly an accessible place for all families. But the act alone has not made this a reality. Concrete actions and planning need to happen in order for the vision of the AMA to come into effect. When a minister misses deadlines to release his annual implementation plan two years in a row –just like the poverty plan–that's not progress. That's inattention. That's ignoring the issues rather than making it a priority.

Will this minister commit to pr esenting the implementation plan today? Mr. Fielding: The member brings up two topics in terms of poverty as well as accessibility. I can tell you, in terms of poverty, we are making progress. Stats Canada has recently brought out the income statistics and it showed that Manitoba has grown compared to other provinces. At one point under the NDP administration we were last in terms of child poverty. That has grown to about middle of the pack. I call that an improvement in terms of processes that have been. Recently had a meeting with Jim Baker who heads up our accessibility.

We had discussions in terms of timelines. He is of the opinion that we will hit all the targets that are 'acorporated' into the accessibility–the five standards that are in place. Retirement Homes for LGBTTQ* Seniors Rainbow Resource Centre Proposal Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns ): For many senior LGBTTQ* Manitobans, moving into a retirement residence can mean having to hide one's true self. It's a harrowing prospect and it underlines the need for a seniors home where everyone can feel welcome and safe.

It's encouraging to see the Rainbow Resource Centre conducting a feasibility study for the LG – for a LGBTTQ* seniors home. The centre needs support. They're asking for funds to conduct this very important study. Will the Minister of Health support the Rainbow Resource Centre's proposal for funds? Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Minister of Health , Seniors and Active Living ): We know that across Manitoba there has been a shortage of PCH s, of seniors housing, of a number of different models of care for those who are aging, over the last many years, Madam Speaker.

That, of course, grew under the former NDP government at a variety of different levels and a number of different communities in a number of different ways. Certainly we are open in terms of accepting a variety of different proposals. We've gotten many from different communities. Some have already advanced to the planning and soon to the construction stage, but of course we're alw ays open to new ideas in terms of how to fill the gap that was left by the former NDP government. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, on a supplementary question. Personal-Care Homes Construction Inquiry Ms.

Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): The minister's record on personal -care homes is really quite poor.

May 24, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2563 One of his first actions as minister was to cancel the planned PCH projects for Lac du Bonnet and Winnipeg. That means that we're even further behind in meeting the need for PCH beds. In fact, Madam Speaker, FIPPA requests show that since 2016 this government has not built one new personal-care-home bed in two years. All they could accomplish was to put forward a press release on a project that our NDP government initiated. Why has the minister not built one new – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Fontaine: –PCH bed in two years? Hon.

Kelvin Goertzen (Minister of Health , Seniors and Active Living ): Well, of course, Madam Speaker, the member's

preamble was wrong, but she did make an interesting point within her

preamble when she talked about Lac du Bonnet. And that was an interesting project because you always knew that spring was coming in Manitoba because the NDP would drive out to Lac du Bonnet, they would bring their 45 c ommunicators, they'd set up a big table, they'd have some cake, they'd call all the good people from Lac du Bonnet and the surrounding area together, they'd handle the knife, they'd cut the cake and they'd say, we're going to build the Lac du Bonnet PCH–and it never happened. But, of course, next spring would come, there'd be more cake, more communicators, but no PCH.

Madam Speaker, that's their record. We're going to get things done where they didn't. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, on a final supplementary. Ms. Fontaine: The demand across the province for PCH beds is great. FIPPA requests show that in the Southern Health RHA there are 341 people waiting for a PCH bed just this past March. In the Prairie Mountain Health over 200 people were waiting, but this government still has not built one single new PCH bed since taking office. What they did, instead, was cancel hundreds of planned beds instead.

We're further behind because of–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Fontaine: –this minister's cuts. How many new PCH beds does the minister plan to build in this fiscal year? Madam Speaker: The honourable Minister of – [interjection] Order. Mr. Goertzen: And, Madam Speaker, we could take all of those paper plans that the NDP had over the last 17 years that never amounted to anything.

If we could have taken all of those paper plans that they announced with the cake and with the communicators, if we could take all of those paper plans and build PCHs with those paper plans, then we might have enough, Madam Speaker. But we are taking significant action when it comes, particularly, with –to transitional housing, which the NDP voted against, Madam Speaker. We saw that there was a need for transitional housing. Now, they didn't like it because not everybody was unionized who was involved in the transitional housing.

But we took the wait -list down for those who were waiting in a Winnipeg hospital to get into a personal -care home down from about 140 to less than 10 last week, and all the N DP had to do–to say about that particular plan is we don't like it because they're not all unionized; we're going to vote against it. We're going to get it done. They can continue to be ideological on this issue. Northern Manitoba Wildfires Little Grand Rapids Evacuees Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Burrows): Madam Speaker, this government continues to fail the people of Little Grand Rapids.

I'm sure you've seen the photographs of children and elders sitting in a smoking–a smoky gym wearing medical masks as their only protection from the toxins. It is my understanding that a crew working in a water treatment plant in Little Grand Rapids were able to book a charter plane to fly out of the community, yet this government was not able to either use its own planes or charter others to help evacuate residents and had to call the Canadian military in. We want to thank the Canadian Armed Forces, but we can't help but wonder: Why has this government not been doing everything in their power to help Manitobans?

Hon. Ron Schuler (Minister of Infrastructure ): I would caution all members, this is a very serious issue, and to bring politics and incriminate individuals in this process is probably not helpful.

2564 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 24, 2018 I would like to advise the House that insofar as Little Grand Rapids is concerned, we have evacuated 93 per cent of the residents, and we are currently – under the work of the RCMP, they are currently going door to door to ensure that everybody's been evacuated. And this good work is being done through the leadership of the federal government and the Red Cross. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Burrows, on a supplementary question. Ms.

Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, Little Grand Rapids' Chief Raymond Keeper was quoted in the media yesterday saying it's no longer an evacuation but a rescue mission. His comme nts are echoed by other indigenous leaders. Councillor Clinton Keeper said, this could have been prevented, all of this chaos; we could have evacuated earlier if people had listened to us. Madam Speaker, this is not a new issue, and with this government' s inability to be proactive, Manitobans are being deeply harmed.

Public safety should be of the utmost importance, so I have to ask: Why is protecting northern Manitobans from wildfires not a priority for this government? Mr. Schuler: Madam Speaker, I'm not too sure politicians who are trying to drive panic and indicate that people are being harmed in this process is very helpful. I would suggest to the member that the federal government, who has responsibility for Little Grand Rapids, and their partner, the Red Cross, have done everything they can. The community has been evacuated.

Currently in the community are, amongst others, RCMP officers and Emergency Measures individuals, along with individuals that are helping to run the community, and at a moment 's notice they, too, can be evacuated. I don't think driving fear and panic is the right thing to be doing at this moment. * (14:40) Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Burrows, on a final supplementary. Northern Manitoba Evacuees Protection from Criminal Activity Ms.

Cindy Lamoureux (Burrows): Madam Speaker, currently the member from Kewatinook is working with the Island Lake residents to help deal with the crystal meth crisis in their community. The crisis started last summer when residents were forced to flee their homes due to an approaching wildfire, something similar to what is happening right now. These evacuees were flown to Winnipeg for temporary shelter. It was during their stay in Winnipeg that crystal meth dealers took advantage of them, which resulted in a crystal meth crisis in the communities of Island Lake.

Madam Speaker, we want to know what the plan is to protect evacuees from drug dealers and other criminal activity. Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Without exception, in th ese times, Madam Speaker, whether it's community leaders or citizens of communities impacted directly, indirectly, family members around the province, around the country are exceptionally on edge, to put it mildly. Political opportunism around disasters is a sad thing when you see it. We're seeing it today.

I would not encourage the member to do anything but work effectively to advise, to work with the agencies that are doing their very best in difficult and trying circumstances. To offer that example of teamwork would be the best thing to put on display at this point, Madam Speaker, and always. Education System Government Investments Mr. Scott Johnston (St. James): We have heard a lot of fiction coming from the members opposite over the last few weeks. Our PC government is working hard to repair the services after a decade of decay and decline under the previous NDP government.

Instead of recognizing our record investments in health care and education, there are some that would rather just fear monger. Can the Minister of Education please share some facts, not fictions, that are having such a positive effect on our students? Hon. Ian Wishart (Minister of Education and Training): I'd like to thank the member for the question. The fact is that in Bu dget 2018 our government is spending a record $1.323 billion on public school education in Manitoba. Madam Speaker, the fact is that school divisions are responsible for their budgets and the province expects them to make the decisions

May 24, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2565 that are best for the students, the same as we do. The fact is Statistics Canada data shows that on a cost-per-student basis Manitoba spends the second highest among provinces at 12–or $12,855. Madam Speaker, the fact is our government is investing in education for the best for students in Manitoba. Madam Speaker: Order. Mining Sector Government Intention Mr. Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): Since coming into office this government has sat back and watched as 169 people in Thompson got layoff notices.

According to Andrea McLandress of the Mining Association of Manitoba, Province isn't support of the industry. We've seen this government cut about $1 million from their resource development budget. They cut spending on the geological survey. Now they've abandoned the Mining a nd Minerals Convention. Madam Speaker, we're left to wonder: Why is this government abandoning mining in this province? Hon. Blaine Pedersen (Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade): Our government continues to work with the mining industry to rebui ld it from a–after a decade of despair from the previous NDP government.

I should add that we have a excellent working relationship with the industry. I was at the prospectors' meeting last week; we had a great meeting. The previous minister of GET was al so there last year, and prior to that the previous government never, ever sat down with the prospectors association in their history. The mining industry describes Manitoba as an untapped potential. We'll continue to work with the mining industry to build this great natural resource. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Order. The honourable member for Flin Flon, on a supplementary question.

Northern Reserve Fund Meeting with Mayor Mr. Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): This government talks about collaboration and co-operation– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Mr. Lindsey: –but this Premier (Mr. Pallister) and this government refuse to actually act. For example, the minister was in Thompson– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Mr. Lindsey: –but he refused to meet with the mayor of Thompson to discuss whether or not the mining reserve fund could be used. So you know, they say one thing, they do another; they say they're listening, but they're not; they're refusing to lead.

Will the Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade commit to meeting with the mayor of Thompson today to address the jobs crisis in the North and to discuss the mining reserve fund? Madam Speaker: It's getting very loud in here and I'm starting to have a lot of difficulty hearing the questions and answers. So I would ask for everybody's co-operation, please. Hon. Blaine Pedersen (Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade): Madam Speaker, I've met with Mayor Fenske a number of times. The Minister of Sustainable Development (Ms. Squires) has met with Mayor Fenske.

The Minister of Indigenous Relations has met with Mayor Fenske. The Minister of Families (Mr. Fielding) has met with Mayor Fenske. I can go on and on. The Minister of Crown Services (Mr. Cullen), the Min ister of Justice (Mrs. Stefanson), the Minister of Heritage, Culture – Infrastructure has met. Just last week the Minister of Education was in Thompson to announce further training. Madam Speaker, where the former NDP government failed, we will succeed. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Order. Contamination of Food Supply Public Reporting Process Mr.

Rob Altemeyer (Wolseley): An informational question, to begin with, for the Minister of Agriculture. Could he please inform the House what a public citizen should do if they become aware of possible contamination of our food supply and what the consequences could be if that person says nothing? Hon. Ralph Eichler (Minister of Agriculture): Finally, an ag question, Madam Speaker. But I can tell the H ouse loud and clear that we have the safest food inspection in all of Canada.

2566 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 24, 2018 Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Wolseley, on a supplementary question. Interlake Fisheries Case Concern Storage Container Contamination Mr. Rob Altemeyer (Wolseley): The Minister of Agriculture, then, should probably have a conversation with his colleague, the Minister of Sustainable Development, who we have documentation showing is involved in a cover -up of a contamination of the food supply. I would like to table three copies of two freedom of information requests which we have finally received answers to.

They document quite clearly that fishers in the Interlake received contaminated containers in which they were instructed to store their fish. Those containe rs had, quote, a brown, sloppy liquid in the bottom of them. This government has known about it since January 31st, and they have said absolutely nothing. Is anyone going to take responsibility for this fishery fiasco? Hon. Rochelle Squires (Minister of Sustainable Development): Madam Speaker, member opposite is clearly fear mongering and putting false information on the record.

I wish he'd found his voice when his government took Lake Winnipeg to being the most threatened lake in the world. Under our government, Manitoba lakes are open for business. We're seeing record high prices for walleye, record high prices for sauger and new markets for whitefish. We –with the open market we're working with all the stakeholders about the unacceptable d elay in payment and we're fully co-operating with other officials who are involved in this investigation. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Wolseley, on a final supplementary. Mr. Altemeyer: False information, Madam Speaker?

Well, here's the paper trail from the government's own records showing exactly what has gone wrong and whose fault it is. In March of last year, the government sent out a public notice that they were no longer having their conservation officers track down fish exports effective immediately. How well has that worked out for us? * (14:50) Then, on December 2nd, the very second day that–after they had got rid of the single desk in the fishery, that's when the contaminated containers arrived. That's when the fish from Manitoba was put in them. That's when it was sent to the United States.

January 31st the government knows about it. It doesn't go on the public record until February 15th thanks to a paper in the Interlake. Who is responsible for this fiasco and why is the government not doing anything to protect the food supply on either side of the Canada-US border. Ms. Squires: Well, fear mongering and putting false information on the record is really what this member's speciality is. I only wish that he had cared about the fisher ies when Sea- Watch had warned people not to consume products out of Lake Winnipeg, Lake Winnipegosis or Lake Manitoba. Where was his voice then?

We're fully cooperating with all the stakeholders. We're getting to the bottom of the unacceptable delay in p ayment from –with four fish sheds and we're working towards–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Squires: –a resolution. Madam Speaker: Time for oral questions – [interjection]–the time for oral questions has expired. [interjection] Order. The time for oral questions has expired. PETITIONS Bureau de l'éducation française Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Oui–[interjection] Translation Yes–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr.

Kinew: Je désire présenter la pétition suivante à l'Assemblée législative. Voici les raisons de la présente pétition :

(1) Le Manitoba fait la promotion d'un système éducatif dynamique en français et en anglais depuis plusieurs décennies. Au niveau national, les Canadiens ont depuis longtemps démontré l eur engagement envers un système éducatif dans les deux langues officielles et le Manitoba a depuis

May 24, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2567 longtemps exercé un leadership de premier plan en matière d'éducation de la langue française.

(2) Le Bureau de l'éducation française (BEF) développe, évalue et administre les politiques et les programmes relatifs à l'éducation en français. II offre une gamme de services et d'appuis pédagogiques aux écoles et aux enseignants du Manitoba, et gère tous les programmes provenant de l'Entente Canada-Manitoba relative à l'enseignement dans la langue de la minorité et à l'enseignement de la langue seconde. II offre également du perfectionnement professionnel aux enseignants et aux directions d'écoles.

(3) Le sous-ministre adjoint du BEF apportait et défendait–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –les questions importantes touchant à l'éducation en français au Manitoba à la table de négociation du gouvernement. Sans cet accès direct, les parents et les parties prenantes ont perdu leur voix à la table de négociation.

(4) L'éducation en français ne peut pas être un calque de l'éducation en anglais, car elle doit refléter les particularités culturelles dans toute sa programmation afin d'être pertinente et efficace. Un BEF qui fonctionne à plein régime est essentiel pour une programmation de qualité dispensée par les éducateurs et éducatrices du Manitoba pour le bien des élèves inscrits dans les programmes de la langue française au Manitoba.

Nous demandons à l'Assemblée législative du Manitoba ce qui suit : (1) d'exhorter le gouvernement provincial à effectuer une restauration rapide du poste du sous-ministre adjoint responsable du B ureau de l'éducation française, BEF; (2) d'exhorter le gouvernement provincial à renforcer l'intégrité du BEF, en assura nt le maintien de son personnel et des ressources nécessaires à son bon fonctionnement. Et cette pétition a été signée par Liliana Ardiles, Bading Bessi Kama, Cindy Wes tra et plusieurs autres Manitobains et Manitobaines.

Translation I wish to present this petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. These are the reasons for this petition:

(1) Manitoba has fostered a vibrant education system in both French and English for decades. Canadians have shown a long- standing commitment to education in both official languages, and Manitoba has for many years demonstrated strong leadership with respect to French language education.

(2) The Bureau de l'éducation française, BEF, develops, assesses and administers policies and programs respecting French language education. It provides a range of services and instructional supports to Manitoba schools and teachers and oversees all programs under the Canada- Manitoba Agreement for Minority Language Education and Second-Language Instruction. It also provides professional development to educators.

(3) The BEF's assistant deputy minister used to bring to the negotiating table and defend important matters related to French language education in Manitoba. Without that direct access, parents and other stakeholders have lost their voice at the negotiating table.

(4) French language education cannot simply be a duplicate of English education as its programming must be culturally relevant in order to be effective. A fully functioning BEF is essential to the quality programming provided by Manitoba educators for the good of students enrolled in French language programs in Manitoba. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the provincial government to quickly restore the assistant deputy minister's position responsible for the Bureau de l'éducation française.

(2) To urge the provincial government to strengthen the integrity of the BEF, ensuring the preservation of the staff and resources necessary for its sound operation. This petition was signed by Liliana Ardiles, Bading Bessi Kama, Cindy Westra and many other Manitobans. Madam Speaker: In accordance with our rule 133(6), when petitions are read they are deemed to be received by the House. Mr. Matt Wiebe (Concordia): Je désire présenter la pétition suivante à Legislative–l'Assemblée légis - lative. Voici la raison de la présente pétition :

2568 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 24, 2018

(1) Le Manitoba fait la promotion d'un système éducatif dynamique en français et en anglais depuis plusieurs décennies. Au niveau national, les Canadiens ont depuis longtemps démontré leur engagement envers un système éducatif dans les deux langues officielles et le Manitoba a depuis longtemps 'exercisé' un leadership de premier plan de matière d'éducation de la langue française.

(2) Le Bureau de l'éducation français développe, évalue et administre les politiques et les programmes relatifs à l'éducation en français. II offre une gamme de services et appuis pédagogiques aux écoles et aux enseignements–enseignants du Manitoba et gère tous les programmes provenant le –de l'Entente Canada-Manitoba relative à l'enseignement dans langue de la minorité et l'enseignement de la langue seconde. II offre également du perfectionnement professionnel aux enseignements et aux directions d'écoles.

(3) Le sous -ministre adjoint du BEF apportait et défendait les questions importantes touchant à l'éducation en français au Manitoba à la table de négociation du gouvernement. Sans cet accès direct, les parents et les parties prenantes ont perdu leur voix à la table de négociation.

(4) L'éducation en français ne peut pas être un calque de l'éducation en anglais, car elle doit refléter les particularités culturelles dans toute sa programmation afin d'être pertinente et efficace. Un BEF qui fonctionne à ple in régime est essentiel pour une programmation de qualité dispensée par les éducateurs et éducatrices du Manitoba pour le bien des élèves inscrits dans les programmes de langue française au Manitoba.

Nous demandons le–à l'Assemblée législative du Manitoba que–qui suit : (1) d'exhorter le gouvernement provincial à effectuer une restauration rapide du poste du sous-ministre adjoint responsable du Bureau de l'éducation française; (2) d'exhorter le gouvernement provincial à renforcer l'intégrité du BEF, en a ssurant le maintien de son personnel et des ressources nécessaires à son bon fonctionnement. Translation I wish to present this petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. These are the reasons for this petition:

(1) Manitoba has fostered a vibrant education system in both French and English for decades. Canadians have shown a long- standing commitment to education in both official languages, and Manitoba has for many years demonstrated strong leadership with respect to French language education.

(2) The Bureau de l'éducation française, BEF, develops, assesses and administers policies and programs respecting French language education. It provides a range of services and instructional supports to Manitoba schools and teachers and oversees all programs under the Canada- Manitoba Agreement for Minority Language Education and Second-Language Instruction. It also provides professional development to educators.

(3) The BEF's assistant deputy minister used to bring to the negotiating table and defend important matters related to French language education in Manitoba. Without that direct access, parents and other stakeholders have lost their voice at the negotiating table.

(4) French language education cannot simply be a duplicate of English education as its programming must be culturally relevant in order to be effective. A fully functioning BEF is essential to the quality programming provided by Manitoba educators for the good of students enrolled in French language programs in Manitoba. We petition the Legi slative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the provincial government to quickly restore the assistant deputy minister's position responsible for the Bureau de l'éducation française.

(2) To urge the provincial government to strengthen the integrity of the BEF, ensuring the preservation of the staff and resources necessary for its sound operation. English And this petition is signed by many Manitobans. Vimy Arena Hon. Steven Fletcher (Assiniboia): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) The residents of St. James and other areas of Manitoba are concerned with the intention expressed

May 24, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2569 by the provincial government to use Vimy Arena site as a Manitoba Housing project. * (15:00)

(2) The Vimy Arena site is in the middle of a residential area near many schools, churches, community clubs and senior homes, and neither the provincial government nor the City of Winnipeg considered better suited locations in rural, semi -rural or industrial locations such as the St. Boniface industrial park , the 20,000 acres at CentrePort or existing properties such as the Shriners Hospital or the old Children's Hospital on Wellington Crescent.

(3) The provincial government is exempt from any zoning requirements that would have existed if the land was owned by the C ity. This exemption bypasses community input and due diligence and ignores the uses for the land which would be consistent with a residential area.

(4) There are no standards that one would expect for a treatment centre. The Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living has stated that the Department of Health had no role to play in the land acquisition for th e Manitoba Housing project to be used as a drug addiction facility.

(5) The Manitoba Housing project initiated by the Province of Manitoba changes the fundamental nature of the community , i ncluding the park and recreational uses. Including concerns of the residents of St. James an d others around public safety, property values and their way of life are all not being addressed.

(6) The concerns of the residents of St. James are being ignored while obvious other locations in wealthier neighbourhoods, such as Tuxedo and River Heights, have not been considered for this Manitoba Housing project, even though there are hundreds of acres of land for development at Kapyong Barracks or parks like Heubach Park that shares the same zoning as the Vimy Arena site.

(7) The Manitoba Housing proj ect and the operation of a drug treatment centre fall outside the statutory mandate of Manitoba Housing renewal corporation.

(8) The provincial government does not have a co-ordinated plan for addiction treatment in Manitoba as it currently underfunds t reatment centres which are running far under capacity and potential.

(9) The community has been misled regarding the intention of the Manitoba Housing as land is being transferred for a 50 -bed facility even though the project clearly falls outside of the Manitoba Housing responsibilities. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the provincial government to take necessary steps to ensure that the Vimy Arena site is not used for an addiction facility.

(2) To urge the prov incial government to take the necessary steps to ensure the preservation of public land along Sturgeon Creek for the purposes of park land and recreational activities for public use, including being an important part of the Sturgeon Creek Greenway Trail and the Sturgeon Creek ecosystem under the current designation PR2 for the 255 Hamilton Ave. location at the Vimy Arena site and to maintain the land to continue to be designated for parks and 'recuration,' active neighbourhoods and communities. This has been signed by many Manitobans. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Tina Fontaine–Public Inquiry Mrs. Bernadette Smith (Point Douglas): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly: These are the reasons for this petition:

(1) Tina Fontaine was murdered at the age of 15 years, and her body was found in the Red River on August 17, 2014.

(2) Tina Fontaine was robbed of her loving family and the Anishinabe community of Sagkeeng First Nation.

(3) Tina Fontaine was failed by multiple systems which did not protect her as they intervened in her life.

(4) Tina Fontaine was further failed by systems meant to seek and pursue justice for her murder.

(5) Tina Fontaine's murder galvanized Canada on the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, MMIWG , as she quickly became our collective daughter and the symbol of MMIWG across Canada.

(6) Manitoba has failed to implement –to fully implement the recommendations of numerous reports

2570 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 24, 2018 and recommendations meant to improve and protec t the lives of indigenous people and children, including the Manitoba Aboriginal Justice Inquiry, Royal Commission on Aboriginal People and the Phoenix Sinclair inquiry. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the Premie r of Manitoba and the Minister of Justice to immediately call a public inquiry into the systems that had a role in the life and death of Tina Fontaine, as well as the function of the administration of justice after her death.

(2) To urge that the terms of reference of a public inquiry be developed jointly with the caregivers of Tina Fontaine and/or the agents appointed by them. Signed by Destiny Van Ryckeghem, Jeremy Mason and Cameron Duchmann and many, many other Manitobans. Medical Laboratory Services Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislature: The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) The provision of laboratory services to medical clinics and physicians' offices has been historically and continues to be a private sector service.

(2) It is vitally important that there be competition in laboratory services to allow medical clinics to seek solutions from more than one provider to control costs and to improve service for health professionals and patients.

(3) Under the present provincial government, Dynacare, an Ontario -based subsidiary of a U.S. company, has acquired Unicity labs, resulting in a monopoly situation for the provision of laboratory services in medical clinics and physicians' offices.

(4) With the creation of this monopoly there has been the closure of many laboratories by Dynacare in and around the city of Winnipeg. Since the acquisition of Unicity labs, Dynacare has made it more difficult for some medical offices by chan ging the collection schedules of patients' specimens and changing some medical offices for collection services.

(5) These closures have created a situation where a great number of patients are less well served, having to travel significant distances in so me cases, waiting considerable periods of time and sometimes being denied or having to leave without obtaining lab services. This situation is particularly critical for patients requiring fasting blood draws as they may experience complications that cou ld be life-threatening based on their individual health situations.

(6) Furthermore, Dynacare has instructed that all patients requiring immediate results, STAT's patients, such as patients with suspicious internal infections, be directed to its King Edward location. This creates unnecessary obstacles for the patients who are required to travel to that lab, rather than simply completing the test in their doctor's office. This new directive by Dynacare presents a direct risk to patients' health. This has further resulted in patients opting to visit emergency rooms rather than traveling twice, which increases cost to the public health-care system. * (15:10)

(7) Medical clinics and physicians' offices service thousands of patients in their communities and have structured their offices to provide a one-stop service, acting as a health -care front line that takes off some of the load from emergency rooms. The creati on of this monopoly has been problematic to many medical clinics and physicians, hampering their ability to provide high quality and complete service to their patients due to closures of so many laboratories. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the provincial government to request Dynacare to reopen the closed laboratories or allow Diagnostic Services of Manitoba to freely open labs in clinics which formerly housed labs that have been shut down by Dynacare.

(2) To urge the provi ncial government to ensure high-quality lab services for patients and a level playing field and competition in the provision of laboratory services to medical offices.

(3) To urge the provincial government to address this matter immediately in the interest of better patient-focused care and improved support for health professionals. Signed by Heather Doty, Leslie Dzogan, Lynn Whidden and many others.

May 24, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2571 Tina Fontaine–Public Inquiry Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns ): I wish to present the followi ng petition to the Legislative Assembly. These are the reasons for this petition:

(1) Tina Fontaine was murdered at the age of 15 years, and her body was found in the Red River on August 17th, 2014.

(2) Tina Fontaine was robbed of her loving family and the Anishinabe community of Sagkeeng First Nation.

(3) Tina Fontaine was failed by multiple systems which did not protect her as they intervened in her life.

(4) Tina Fontaine was further failed by systems meant to seek and pursue justice for her murder.

(5) Tina Fontaine's murder galvanized Canada on the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, MMIWG , as she quickly became our collective daughter and the symbol of MMIWG across Canada.

(6) Manitoba has failed to fully implement the recommendations of numerous reports and recommendations meant to improve and protect the lives of indigenous peoples and children, including the Manitoba Aboriginal Justice Inquiry, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples a nd the Phoenix Sinclair inquiry. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the Premier of Manitoba and the Minister of Justice to immediately call a public inquiry into the systems that had a role in the life and death of Tina Fontaine, as well as the function of the administration of justice after her death.

(2) To urge that the terms of reference of a public inquiry be developed jointly with the caregivers of Tina Fontaine and/or by the agent appointed by them. Signed by many Manitobans. Mr. James Allum (Fort Garry-Riverview): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. These are the reasons for this petition:

(1) Tina Fontaine was murdered at the age of 15 years, and her body was found in the Red River on August 17th, 2014.

(2) Tina Fontaine was robbed of her loving family and the Anishinabe community of Sagkeeng First Nation.

(3) Tina Fontaine was failed by multiple systems which did not protect her as they intervened in her life.

(4) Tina Fontaine was further failed by systems meant to seek and pursue justice for her murder.

(5) Tina Fontaine's murder galvanized Canada on the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, MMIWG , as she quickly became our collective daughter and the symbol of MMIWG across Canada.

(6) Manitoba has failed to implement the recommendations of numerous reports and recommendations meant to improve and protect the lives of indigenous peoples and children, including the Manitoba Aboriginal Justice Inquiry, Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and the Phoenix Sinclair's inquiry. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the Premier of Manitoba and the Minister of Justi ce to immediately call a public inquiry into the systems that had a role in the life and death of Tina Fontaine, as well as the function of the administration of justice after her death; and

(2) To urge that the terms of reference of a public inquiry be developed jointly with caregivers of Tina Fontaine and/or the agent appointed by them. Madam Speaker, this petition is signed by Sarah Allum, Susan McMurrich, Hilary Allum and many other Manitobans. Madam Speaker: Grievances? ORDERS OF THE DAY (Continued) GOVERNMENT BUSINESS Hon. Cliff Cullen (Government House Leader): Would you call Committee of Supply? Madam Speaker: It has been announced that the House will consider Estimates this afternoon. The House will now resolve itself into Committee of Supply.

2572 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 24, 2018 Mr. Deputy Speaker, please take the Chair. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY (Concurrent Sections) JUSTICE * (15:20) Mr. Chairperson (Dennis Smook): Will the Committee of Supply please come to order. This

section of the Committee of Supply will now resume consideration of the Estimates for the Department of Justice. As previously agreed, questioning for this department will proceed in a global manner. The floor is now open for questions. Hearing no further questions, we will now proceed to consideration of the resolutions relevant to this department. I will now call Resolution 4.2: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $59,913,000 for Justice, Crown Law, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2019. Resolution agreed to.

Resolution 4.3: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $3,006,000 for Justice, Legislative Counsel, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2019. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 4.1– [interjection]–oh, sorry –4.4: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $474,527,000 for Justice, Community Safety, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2019. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 4.5: RESOLVED that there be granted Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $62,953,000 for Justice, Courts, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2019. Resolution agreed to.

Resolution 4.6: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $13,530,000 for Justice, Consumer Protection, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2019. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 4.7: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $2,850,000 for Justice, Costs Related to Capital Assets, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2019. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 4.8: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $3,090,000 for Justice, Capital Assets, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2019. Resolution agreed to.

The last item to be considered for Estimates of this department is item 4.1.(a), the minister's salary, 'condained' in–contained in resolution 4.1. At this –okay. The f loor is now open for questions. Resolution 4.1: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $38,798,000 for Justice, Administration and Finance, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2019. Resolution agreed to. This completes the Estimates for Justice. AGRICULTURE Mr. Chairperson (Dennis Smook): The next set of Estimates to be considered by this

section of Committee of Supply is for the Department of Agriculture. Does the honourable minister have an opening statement? Does the official opposition critic have an opening statement? Under Manitoba practice, debate of the –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 'lite'–line item 3.1.(a), contained in resolution 3.1. Does the committee wish to proceed through the Estimates of this department chronologically or have a global discussion? Hon.

Blaine Pedersen (Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade): Global. Mr. Chairperson: It has been suggested that we have a global discussion. Is that agreed? [Agreed] The floor is now open for questions. Hearing no further questions, we will now proceed to consideration of the resolutions relevant to this department. * (15:30)

May 24, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2573 I will now call resolution 3.2: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $12,160,000 for Agriculture, Policy and Transformation, for the 'fisical' year ending March 31st, 2019. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 3.3: RESOLVED that t here be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $135,717,000 for Agriculture, Risk Management, Credit and Income Support Programs, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2019. Resolution agreed to.

Resolution 3.4: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $17,366,000 for Agriculture, Stewardship and Assurance, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2019. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 3.5: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $17,953,000 for Agriculture, Production and Economic Development, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2019. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 3.6: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $342,000 for Agriculture, Costs Related to Capital Assets, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2019.

Resolution agreed to. Resolution 3.7: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $685,000 for Agriculture, Capital Assets, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2019. Resolution agreed to. The last item to be considered for Estimates of this department is item 3.1.(a), the minister's salary, contained in resolution 3.1. The floor is open for questions. The member for Tyndall Park has a question? Mr. Ted Marcelino (Tyndall Park): No question. Mr.

Chairperson: Resolution 3.1: RESOLVED that there be granted Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $3,511,000 for Agriculture, Administration and Finance, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2019. Resolution agreed to. This completes the Estimates for Agriculture. SPORT, CULTURE AND HERITAGE Mr. Chairperson: The next set of Estimates to be considered by this

section of Committee of Supply is for the Department of Sport, Culture and Heritage. Does the honourable minister have an opening statement? Hon. Cathy Cox (Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage): Brief statement. Mr. Chairperson: Okay. Mrs. Cox : I would like to take this opportunity to put a few words on record and indicate that it is an honour and a privilege to serve, you know, in this capacity and in the Department of Sport, Culture and Heritage, where we recognize the importance of heritage and our background.

And, really, Manitoba is such a diverse and, you know, very diverse province where we really, really do cher ish individuals' ability to proudly display their heritage and their background. And I am very proud to be able to promote that within the province of Manitoba.

As well, with regard to the sports area that I represent in that department, you know, we sa w the Canada Summer Games, which were the very hottest summer games ever that we've seen hosted in our wonderful country, hottest summer games –we saw over 5,000 individuals volunteering their services to ensure that all of the athletes were well prepared f or the competition, to ensure that all of the athletes as well were provided with support services that they needed and to ensure that all of the guests and the visitors who were here in Manitoba were welcomed with open arms.

We are really the most generou s province in Canada, and we know that we are also, as well, the most open province and welcoming province when it comes to welcoming newcomers and immigrants here to Manitoba. So we're so proud of our ability to welcome all individuals to our province. And also, when it comes to culture, we know that, you know, we have such a vibrant cultural sector here in Manitoba. We're proud to support the Winnipeg Art Gallery –just recently announced a $10-million contribution to the Inuit Art Centre, which is the lar gest Inuit art display in the entire world.

Looking at a $10- million contribution as well that we made to the Royal Aviation Museum, which

2574 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 24, 2018 is very significant and will, you know, ensure that we can have the story told, the story of flight and our background and where we originated from with regard to our very, very diverse and important aviation industry. So that's very important as well. And then another important area in my department was the $5 -million contribution that we just made to the heri tage trust, and that is $5 million that is going to be provided to community museums and archives so that they will have the ability to invest in their own community museums.

We know that museums really are able to tell a community's story, and we know the importance of that. I've had the opportunity to take my granddaughters to many of the museums here in Manitoba, and it really does provide them with that opportunity to learn about our background, learn about our rich history. Even when I was up in Thompson–and I met with Mayor Fenske when I was up there, actually, had the opportunity to talk to him about our rich history and talk about the museum and all of the very, very important things that they do out there with regard to promoting their history and their culture.

So it really was a wonderful experience when I was there. Also, taking the two little granddaughters to the aviation museum, as I said, a fantastic opportunity for them. And it, you know, it really is a hands -on experience for them, so it's wonderful for them to be able to experience that. And, of course, the Manitoba Museum, when we were there recently, and they love the diorama of the buffalo there. They love the –to see the Nonsuch, which is really, really something to see, especially when we were able to go into the bowels of the ship, actually, where they had the cargo.

They kept it open for a little extended period of time, so we had the ability to actually go down there and see it. And they were so impressed by the ability to see how t hose individuals travelled across that very, very vast ocean and came here with all of their treasures. So, you know, it really was a really very humbling experience them to–experience for them to be able to see that, to participate in that experience. And I am so looking forward, actually, to seeing the changes and the renovations that are going to take place when they open the Nonsuch again very soon.

So, you know, our government really does invest, and we know the importance of our culture and heritage sector. We're investing, making investments just this week.

We invested another $5 million in the alarm system at the Centennial Concert Hall because we know that safety is important for all Manitobans. * (15:40) So we're not neglecting the sports and cul ture sector, you know, as it has been neglected in the past, and we are ensuring that we put the resources in there so that the capital will continue to be available for other individuals to see, to welcome visitors from all across the country, all across the world, to our world-class facilities and our world -class heritage museum archives that we have here in Manitoba. Mr.

Chairperson: We thank the minister for her opening statement. Does official opposition critic have an opening statement? An Honourable Member: I can make one, if you like. Mr. Chairperson: The member for Fort Garry-Riverview. Mr. James Allum (Fort Garry -Riverview): We'll want to thank the minister for that opening statement. We're mindful of the austerity agenda that's been followed by the Pallister government since April 2016, and it shows up in any number of departments, whether it's Education or Health or in Families, certainly in relation to housing and child care. The list goes on and on.

But it is also true in Sport, Culture and Heritage as well. The minister bragged, frankly, about commit - ments made to the museum and to the Inuit Art Centre, but we recognize that those are, in fact, cuts from what was actually committed by the former government, quite significant and substa ntial cuts that have only put the burden back on those fine institutions to raise additional dollars at the expense of doing what government ought to do and should do, which is to fully be a full partner in the construction of these important culture and heritage institutions.

Just the other day in question period, and maybe for–over two successive days, my friend from Logan asked a number of questions regarding a new recreation centre in the south of Winnipeg, but we're mindful that there are other parts of Winnipeg and across Manitoba that need those investments. In the last election campaign, our government had, in fact, committed to investing substantially more dollars

May 24, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2575 in investments in local communities, be they local to neighbourhoods such as mine; Fort Garry community club was on the list of those that would be rebuilt and–in order to satisfy a growing population in my community. And we're pleased to be able to have so many. But other communities, south end of Winnipeg, as my friend from Logan indicated, but in the northwest part, northeast parts of Winnipeg also growing substantially. And yet there's been no government action in that regard. In fact, we've been met by significant silence. All that to say, Mr.

Chair, that while the minister wants t o get up and stand and stand tall around investments made by the Pallister government in this regard, the fact is that they failed Sport, Culture and Heritage in the same manner that they've failed so many other elements of Manitobans' huge and colossal ne ed for real investments to ensure that every Manitoban has a place here in our beautiful province. Mr. Chairperson: We thank the member for his comments. Under Manitoba practice, debate on the minister's salary is the last item considered for a department in Committee of Supply.

Accordingly, we shall now defer consideration of line item 14.1.(

a) contained in resolution 14.1. Does the committee wish to proceed through Estimates of this department chronologically or have a global discussion? Mr. Greg Nesbitt (Riding Mountain): Global. Mr. Chairperson: Is it agreed, global? [Agreed] Thank you. It is agreed that questioning for this department will proceed in a global manner with all resolutions to be passed once questioning has concluded. The floor is now open for questions. Mr. Allum: Just one, Mr. Chair, because the minister didn't answer this question in question period.

Will they be–will the government be committing funds to build a new recreational centre in south Winnipeg that is so desperately needed? Mrs. Cox : Well, thank you for that question. Of course, you know, over the last 30 years, my involvement in community centres has been very significant. I've been on the board at Gateway Recreation Centre–which is one of the very best recreation centres in all of the province of Manitoba, I would say–for, you know, approximately 25 years, and of those years, probably 10 years as the vice-president of programming, so very significant involvement.

I was involved in the construction of the soccerplex out there, which had a significant value to our community because it provided individuals the opportunity to actually participate in soccer without having to only be able to participate outdoors, but also to have teams from, you know, different sections of the city, different parts of the province, come and participate. So it was –it's a wonderful, wonderful facility that we have there for soccer. And you know, while I was also the vice-president of programming, I also was responsible for t he convenor for soccer program out there.

So for many years I convened the soccer program and not only at the–I guess initially I started out in the soccer program with the mini and micro soccer program and it –you know, it really is a very, very wonderful opportunity to participate with coaches at all levels and to be able to contribute at such an important level to teaching, you know, young children from the ages of 4 years old to 8, you know, the importance of playing soccer, the importance of sport, the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship. So that was something that really provided me with a great opportunity to learn.

Following that, I was actually the convenor of the older program, so it gave me the opportunity to learn about sports at a differen t level. And I just really enjoyed that opportunity to talk to, you know, younger coaches, to have them mentored as they grew into coaches and moved forward and upward into coaching at different levels. So that was a wonderful experience. And then also, a s well, involved in hockey for quite a long period of time as well.

I was – managed a number of hockey teams out there at Gateway Recreation Centre, and, you know, while we didn't play at the very elite level, we had, you know, so much fun, and just the at hletes enjoyed it so much. It was actually almost a social engagement for parents. You know, we participated at every game and had the opportunity to cheer on our teams. It was –it really was a fantastic time in my life and my husband's life and our three sons' lives to be able to participate in those sports organizations at all levels, to tell you the truth.

2576 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 24, 2018 We had the opportunity to travel out of town a few times and, you know, I would like to just again say a few words of sadness and pay tribute to Humboldt for the significant losses that they saw. I mean, each and every one of us were affected; our lives were affected forever by this very significant loss that we saw. And we know that those poor parents are going to suffer those tragedies forever. So each and every one of us can attest to the sadness that we witnessed as a result of that.

And anyways, getting off of that topic, yes, you know, so I have been involved for a very long time. I really do realize the importance of recreation centres in Manitoba, in the city of Winnipeg, and how they really do build individuals and their personalities and build their self -esteems here in –when they have the ability to play sports.

So I would say that, you know, being attached, being connected, being the vic e-president at Gateway Recreation Centre, it really did provide me the opportunity to realize the importance of the sports and the teamwork, the camaraderie, the social skills that the athletes learn as a result of participating in sport organizations and sporting activities. So, you know, going forward, I would say that, you know, recreation centres are an important part of our city of Winnipeg, and we know that they are funded by the City of Winnipeg.

And we provide basket funding to the municipality of Winnipeg, and they have the ability to make those decisions where, in fact, they will spend that money for –whether it be for transit, whether it be for recreation services, whether it be for other services that they provide throughout the city of Winnipeg, and we're very proud to be able to fund the City of Winnipeg and provide them with the money that gives them that ability to determine how they want to spend their dollars. Ms.

Cindy Lamoureux (Burrows): My questions are very condensed, and I'd apprec iate short answers too, if at all possible, just to get through the committee here. My first question is: What is the status of the cultural policy review? * (15:50) Mrs. Cox : Thank you for that question. And, you know, it was nearly 30 years since we've had the last cultural policy review. So, over the many years, the 17 years of the former government in power, we never did have a cultural policy review.

And we realized that it was important to reach out to the community, reach out to the artists, reach out to the performing artists, artists from all different sectors. And, of course, you know, now we also look at the digital sector, which is very important. Things have changed significantly over 30 years. So my former–the predecessor, Minister Squires, did an excellent job, actually, of reaching out. [interjection] Oh, sorry. Mr. Chairperson: Yes, I must interrupt. We cannot use the names, we must us e–refer to the person by title. [interjection] Sorry, I guess I didn't recognize you, and my apologies.

The Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage (Mrs. Cox). Mrs. Cox : Thank you. Now, do I start all over again? Mr. Chairperson: Whatever you want to put on – whatever you'd like to put on record, yes. The honourable Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage. Mrs. Cox: Thank you very much, and we'll just back up a bit and start again. Anyways, it has been 30 years since the last cultural policy review had been undertaken, and that was actually under the former sports –or the Culture minister, which was Bonnie Mitchelson.

And Bonnie Mitchelson actually sat in the same office that I actually am honoured to be able to work from and to be able to sit at that same desk as Bonnie did, because she really was an icon when it came to politics. And she was the longest –or is the longest female MLA in all of Canada, so very proud of that. But, anyways, so Bonnie did undertake a cultural policy review 30 years ago, and so, as a result of that, we realized that, you know, things have changed significantly within culture in the province of Manitoba and within Canada and the entire world, as a matter of fact.

May 24, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2577 So, while the former government had 17 years to conduct a review, you know, they never did undertake that challenge, and we realized that it was necessary to do that. I mean, back when Bonnie Mitchelson undertook that review, there were no cellphones. So things have changed significantly. And then later on, back in the late 1990s, there were cellphones, but they were the size of a shoe, you know, and so, I mean, that's also very humorous, so it's a good way to put things into perspective, how things have really changed so significantly.

Now we carry around these devices, and, you know, it's really a mini-computer. But, anyways, going back to the cultural policy review, yes, the former minister did go out and had significant connection, outreach, with many of the different organizations thr oughout the entire province. And I did have the opportunity to actually read many of the results that came back from individuals who responded over at those meetings. They also had a survey online.

They also had the opportunity to invite people here into t he building and talk to them and listen from, not only stakeholders and artists and things like that, but also the major individuals, people from the Manitoba Museum, people from the archives, people from the Hudson's Bay Company, for example, people from the Business Council, people from –stakeholders from very, very different sectors. And so, as a result of that, we realized that we really did need to make some changes.

So what we're doing right now is we've compiled the information and we've actually tr ied to categorize all of the different areas, developing some pillars, because we know that it's important that we are able to tell–are able to engage with the arts and the culture sector. And, moving forward, we've realized that it's really important to l isten to them, to have a dialogue with them, have a healthy dialogue with them. We do have a committee, and so based on all of these discussions, the dialogue, the results from the surveys, we are compiling a document.

And we want to make sure that it is reflective of Manitoba and the very, very w

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	41-3-53b
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	41st 3rd hansardpdf 53b.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	bb032ee8ec708cf64879dcc32343a30f0b67158a

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