Manitoba Hansard — 11 April 2019 (Sitting 38B, 41st Legislature, 4th Session)

41-4-38b

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Fourth 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. LXXII No. 38B - 1:30 p.m., Thursday, April 11, 2019 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 Man. 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 Ind. 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 LAMONT, Dougald St. Boniface Lib. 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, Hon. 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 Portage la Prairie PC WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC YAKIMOSKI, Blair Transcona PC

1193 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, April 11, 2019 The House met at 1:30 p.m. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Madam Speaker: Good afternoon, everybody. Please be seated. Introduction of bills? Committee reports? TABLING OF REPORTS Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to stand and table the statutory review on The Personal Health Information Act Madam Speaker: Further tablings? Hon.

Cathy Cox (Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table A Review of The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act Report and Statutory Review, April 2019. Madam Speaker: Ministerial statements? MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Canadian Cancer Society Daffodil Campaign Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak on a topic that surely all of the members in this Chamber can relate to. With nearly one in two Canadians expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, we know that everyone is affected in some way.

One of the organizations that is committed to the fight against cancer is the Canadian Cancer Society. The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer. Their vision is to create a world where no Canadian fears cancer. They are the country's largest national charitable funder of research into all types of cancer. They educate people on how to reduce their risk of cancer and how some types of cancer can be found early through screening tests.

Their support services help people with cancer and their loved ones at a time when they are scared and anxious. Since the 1950s, bright yellow daffodils have arrived in communities across Canada to mark the beginning of the Canadian Cancer Society Daffodil Campaign. The daffodil is a resilient–is resilient as it survives our harsh winters and is the first flower to bloom in the spring, a time of renewal and hope. The daffodil is a symbol of strength, courage and life.

Every April during the annual Daffodil Campaign Canadians rally around this symbol and take action to help fund research and support services so no one has to face cancer alone. Many of us have seen first -hand that while cancer can change a person, it doesn't have to define who they are. During the Daffodil Campaign you can show your support for people with cancer by dedicating a digital daffodil today at www.mydaffodil.ca.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in welcoming my guests to the gallery from the Canadian Cancer Society: Sarah Hawkins, Kyra Gawalko, Jana Pringle, Rob Cunningham, Al Shell, Nimmi Ramgotra and her husband, Baldev Singh Ramgotra. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Lac du Bonnet? Mr. Ewasko: Madam Speaker, I ask leave to enter the names of the board members of the Canadian Cancer Society to be submitted into Hansard as well.

Madam Speaker: Is there leave to include those names in Hansard? [Agreed] Canadian Cancer Society Board Members: Bria n Beveridge, chair; Elmer Gomes, past chair; Trish Bergal, Michael Holmes, Janet Mayor, Carmen Nedohin, Al Shell. Post-Secondary Education Mr. Ted Marcelino (Tyndall Park): Manitoba was once one of the few places left in Canada where young people could still afford to live and access quality education. But after an agenda of deep cuts, universities and colleges have had to find savings wherever they can. Manitoba students saw the biggest tuition increase in the country last year after the

1194 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 11, 2019 PC government lifted the tuition cap. Madam Speaker, $13 million has been cut from post - secondary funding since 2017, forcing Red River College to cut two programs, St. Boniface to cut four courses, and an across -the-board reduction in teaching staff. When the cost o f living and education continues to rise and job prospects are harder and harder to find, these barriers can be demoralizing for Manitoba youth. But Manitobans are standing up against the Pallister government's harmful changes.

School trustees are workin g together to oppose school board reductions. Youth Employment Services is offering a mentoring forum on May 15th of this year to help young people gain employable skills. We need a government that works with Manitobans to support students and gives them the tools to succeed. Youth should feel empowered to pursue their dreams. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Lester and Margaret Everett Ms.

Judy Klassen (Kewatinook): In 1991, after years of struggling with the lack of employment opportunities and frustration at the constant fight to feed themselves and their four kids, Lester and Margaret Everett opened their very own store in Berens River First Nation. They named the ir business Oshetoon. The couple started off as a hardware store, selling building materials to the First Nation and to band membership, all housed within a modest building. Being First Nation entrepreneurs in that age was challenging.

Margaret and Lest er had to use a Caucasian friend to help them negotiate a deal to become clients of the Sexton buying group. They began to sell confectionery items, and one day, a customer brought in his pay voucher and asked if he could entrust it to them and that his family would slowly deplete the balance. They soon were stocking groceries in hopes of capturing this market, and they did. The business was growing but the building was not. The couple could not secure the loans needed because finding someone to insure a First Nation business was quite challenging.

After many closed doors, they found a small, willing start -up. The couple was soon approved for a $200,000 bank loan, and then they built a massive addition. The couple worked hard at stocking their store as Berens River was a fly -in-only community at the time and they have many scary stories of boating on Lake Winnipeg with freight. In a short time, the loan was paid off, so again in 1999 they expanded to include an automotive section. This past winter road, I was so proud to see their brand new addition of an enormous gas and diesel fuelling station.

They also now are a chain as they have opened up a new store in Poplar River First Nation, which is 90 kilometres away from Berens. I ask my colleagues to honour the tenacious Lester and Margaret Everett who have not joined us in the gallery because they are busy at work. Megwetch, Madam Speaker. U19 East End Wings Mr. Blair Yakimoski (Transcona): My community of Transcona has, for many years, been a trai ning ground of excellence for ringette. That continues this year with the U19 East End Wings.

The core of this team have been together for four years and this year were a dominant presence on the ice, posting a perfect season of 45 wins and no losses, outscoring their opponents 377 to 145, winning gold medals in tournaments in every month from October through March, and then finishing the season by winning the gold medal at the Western Canadian Ringette Championships in Alberta. Team 'Toba's unblemished record for the year, though, was in serious jeopardy in the round- robin portion of the tourney as Team Alberta took the lead in a game with less than a minute left.

Our buffalo girls dug deep and, with mere seconds left on the clock, tied the game and kept that spotless record by winning in overtime. At a competition at this high level, teams sometimes, as rules allow, have a male hockey goalie in net to shore up their defence, and some of the teams our girls played did have to face young men in the goa l. These ladies here want everyone to know that, just because the opposite sex was in net, they weren't going to take it easy on them; they owned those goalies.

April 11, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1195 This team also gives back to its community, volunteering at east end's Breakfast with Santa an d coaching the game they love at the younger levels where they are proud to help it flourish. At the westerns, they had a large group travel with them for support, and when the Manitobans' megaphones were confiscated, a trip to the local Dollarama got the m the requisite buckets and noisemakers a proper Manitoba contingent needs to make their presence felt in the building.

Special recognition for –to tournament all -stars Janelle Darragh, Natalie Derbowka and Mackenzie Vincent, and to double ice sport champi on Cierra Melnyk, who also won gold as part of Murdoch MacKay's girls hockey team this year. Please join me in congratulating the East End Wings' players and coaches for an exemplary season. * (13:40) Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Transcona? Mr. Yakimoski: Madam Speaker, I ask leave of the House that we may enter the names of the players and coaches of the team into Hansard.

Madam Speaker: Is there leave to include all of those names in Hansard? [Agreed] U19 East End Wings: Alexyss Carman, Berri Cook, Janelle Darragh, Natalie Derbowka, Rachel Haner, Mason Hollebeke, Amy Marques, Cierra Melnyk, Jacqueline Midford, Jenelle Sernowsky, Keely Soloway, Jordyn Spitula, Jordan Takenaka, Mackenzie Vincent, Shelby Mitchell. Coaches: Carly Butland, Katy Butland, Len Grieve, Tom Mark, Shania Neyron. Manager: Candace Sernowsky. Chris Maxemuck Mr.

Bob Lagassé (Dawson Trail): Today, I would like to draw your attention to an outstanding community member, visionary, team player and Dawson Trail hero, Chris Maxemus [phonetic] . Seventeen years ago, Chris and 40 hockey players from Lorette and surrounding area were asked to take

part in an event that would be the beginning of a new recreational facility for the town. The 36 Hour Hockey Marathon was born. Hockey was played for 36 hours straight in hopes of raising awareness of need –of the need for a new facility. The 36 Hour Hockey Marathon was a great success, raising an astounding $80,000. These funds were used in renovating mould -ridden dressing rooms in the current facility. The remaining funds were set aside for the new complex, but Chris' efforts didn't end there. In O ctober 2018 Chris began the last and final

chapter to the 36 Hour Hockey Marathon story. Residents were asked once again to show their support for a new complex. This time it was a little different. For $10 you could choose a puck that had been customized by a local business and organization in the community. The result was the sale of over 1,500 pucks, and with the additional donations they raised $20,000. Chris says: Looking back on the 36 Hour Hockey Marathon activities, it is with great pride. It was awesome to see the positive energy and people working together to build the community one goal at a time.

The 36 Hour Hockey M arathon has raised, in total, $100,000 towards a new community complex. Although the new Lorette Community Complex has not yet come to fruition, the community continues to fundraise for this project. Chris Maxemuck joins us in the gallery today. Please help me in recognizing him for his outstanding work in his community. Introduction of Guests Madam Speaker: Prior to oral quest ions, we have some guests arriving in our gallery right now that I would like to introduce to you.

We have seated in the public gallery, from Garden Valley Collegiate, 56 grade 9 students under the direction of Briar Hildebrand, and this group is located in the constituency of the honourable Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living (Mr. Friesen). On behalf of all members here, we welcome all of you to the Manitoba Legislature. ORAL QUESTIONS Concordia and Seven Oaks Hospitals Request to Retain ER Services Mr.

Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Madam Speaker, it's been just over two years since the Premier first announced his plan to close emergency rooms and an urgent -care centre here in Winnipeg. Now, we know that that was nowher e to be found in the PC 2016 election platform. Nobody in

1196 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 11, 2019 Winnipeg remembers any of these MLAs knocking on doors and campaigning on a promise to close emergency rooms, and nobody understands how this plan is going to make health care better when there's less health care to go around. Already we've seen the impact of the cuts. We've seen more mandatory overtime for nurses. We've seen longer waits for ERs, longer waits for surgeries and increased cancellations of cardiac surgeries here in the city of Winnipeg. Now that it's been two years, the Premier has had ample time to reconsider.

Will he confirm for the House today that he does not intend to close the emergency rooms at Seven Oaks and Concordia? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Well, quite the contrary, Madam Speaker. We actually ran on a commitment to Manitobans we would repair the services of our province, and we're acting on the advice the NDP had. They were given the advice, actually. The Peachey report was part of that advice, and it said that we were last in terms of wait times in Canada.

But, apparently, the NDP wasn't willing to take up the challenges of improving the system, Madam Speaker, and that's too bad because Manitobans had to wait a long, long time to get services, and now we're the only province that's making headway on reducing wait times; and good for this government for doing that, good for Manitobans and bad on the previous government for not having the courage to make those improvements to the system. Madam Speaker: The ho nourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Concordia Hospital Lab Services Mr.

Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Wait times at emergency rooms in Winnipeg have gone up since the Premier started closing ERs and an urgent -care centre here in Winnipeg. The most recent numbers show that emergency room wait times have gone up both month over month and year over year. Now, we know that the Premier understands that his plan isn't working and he also understands that Manitobans aren't buying this plan to cut health care. That's why, about a year after he made the announcement of the closure, he went out and said that northeast Winnipeg would not be losing health services.

One of the commitments that he made on June 1st of 2018 was to reassure thousands of northeast Winnipeggers that they would not be losing access to a lab at Concordia Hospital. However, we've learned that lab services actually will be lost at Concordia Hospital as of June 1st; that's one less health- care service for families in northeast Winnipeg. Why is the Premier shutting down lab services at Concordia Hospital? Hon.

Brian Pallister (Premier): Here's what the member's party was told, Madam Speaker, when they were in government: if you want to make improvements to–health-care system, you're going to have to concentrate your resources in fewer emergency rooms. That's what they were told. That's what Calgary did and they got lower wait times. That's what Vancouver did and they got lower wait times. That's what Ottawa did and they got lower wait times. They had governments that had the courage to act, and Manitobans didn't have a government that had the courage to act until they got this government and we have the courage to act.

Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Concordia and Seven Oaks Hospitals Request to Retain ER Services Mr. Wab Kin ew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Since this Premier started cutting health care and closing emergency rooms, wait times have gone up in the city of Winnipeg. Most recent month shows that ER wait times went up month over month and also compared ye ar over year. And now those people in northeast Winnipeg, who were reassured by not just the Premier, but also the members for Transcona (Mr. Yakimoski), for Radisson (Mr.

Teitsma), for Rossmere (Mr. Micklefield) and for River East (Mrs. Cox) that they would, in fact, still have lab services at Concordia, are finding out that that just isn't the case. In fact, lab services at Concordia Hospital will be closing on June 1st, right about the same time that this Premier and his MLAs from northeast Wi nnipeg are going to close the emergency room at Concordia.

April 11, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1197 Of course, those are just plans at this point; there's still time. Will the Premier change course and keep the emergency rooms at Concordia and Seven Oaks hospitals open? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Well, the member has a little bit of confusion, perhaps purposed confusion, Madam Speaker, about the facts. We are actually investing over $400 million more in health care this year than the NDP ever did.

In fact, Madam Speaker, the most important thing is we're getting better results as a consequence, and so the Canadian institute of health information report just a few weeks ago said that nine provinces' wait times were getting longer at emergency rooms, but they said one province's was not, and that was Manitoba. In fact, the two –last two years the NDP were in charge versus the first two we were in charge, the comparative data is out now. We saved Manitobans almost 50 years of waiting in waiting rooms in pain and in fear. So, Madam Speaker, the results are coming. It's not easy.

The member wants it to be easy; change isn't easy. The NDP didn't have the courage to tackle the change challenge, but for the good of Manitoba health care and for the good of Manitobans, this government does. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question. Manitoba Hydro Profits Rate Increases Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Just like to correct the Premier: the most recent CIHI data showed that wait times were going up in Manitoba. Now, on this side of the House we say that hydro bills should stay affordable.

We should say that the monthly bill payments that people have to say –have to pay should stay affordable, and that it's very important to manage our most important Crown corporation very well. Now, here are the facts when it comes to hydro. Again, with zero–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –increase to people's hydro bills in Manitoba this year, Manitoba Hydro would still turn a profit of $64 million. That's more than double what Hydro said would be a comfortable amount of profit for them just a few short months ago.

So, with this in mind, with the fa ct that no rate increase is required, will the Premier agree that Manitoba Hydro should not increase people's bills this year? * (13:50) Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Well, the member talks about wait times going up in one month. Madam Speaker, the most important thing is they're a heck of a lot lower right now than they were when the NDP were in charge, and that's great–great. You know, it's a struggle , and it's a s truggle to deal with Crown corporation management in respect of Hydro because the NDP debt on Hydro is enormous, and it's going up.

In fact, just in the last five years it went up by almost $10 billion, and in the next five years it's projected to go up by $5 million. That's about fifteen –billion, I'm sorry , billion, Madam Speaker. That's enormous. It's an enormous amount of debt and it will soon exceed the provincial debt in its entirety because we're getting the core government under control, getting cl oser to balance, and that's what Manitobans deserve and want. But the member talks about a short -term gain at Hydro. He's not letting himself be aware of the long-term pain.

The long-term pain is a $675-million debt-service cost this year alone. So Manitoba Hydro has its challenges. The NDP created them. We're addressing them. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr. Kinew: Madam Speaker, the Premier's answers just don't make sense. Even after fu lfilling its obligations, Manitoba Hydro, without increasing bills one cent, would still turn a $64- million profit. Those are the numbers in black and white, and they just underline the fact that the only crises that Manitoba Hydro has faced in recent years have been under his watch.

They were when his first hand-picked board decided to balloon debt repayments by paying it back twice as fast, and then it was when that same board decided to storm out on the Premier because he simply could not work with that board.

1198 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 11, 2019 Keeping in mind that hydro bills should stay affordable in the province and that Manitoba Hydro is in a strong position to remain profitable, both this year and for the foreseeable future , will the Premier simply agree that Manitoba Hydro bill s should not increase this year? Mr. Pallister: I got a little bit of news for the member opposite, Madam Speaker. He might like to concern himself a little more with the long term and sustainability as opposed to the short term.

In the long term our Hydro debt is going up so fast that moneylenders are congratulating us for facing the challenge, but at the same time they're saying that the NDP legacy of Hydro debt may imperil our credit rating as a province in the future. Madam Speaker, the member refuses to take the issue seriously. We take it very seriously. The fact is we're talking about 5 billion additional dollars the NDP committed us to spending just in the next five years: $5 billion.

The member is so caught in the short term; he says, look at that money, let's spend it right away, like he said about David Chartrand: let's cut a cheque for $70 million to David Chartrand and make him happy. Madam Speaker, take a look at what's right. I ask the member to take a look at wha t's right for the people of Manitoba, not just what buys him short-term popularity. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Mr. Kinew: The Premier can stand up for moneylenders.

We will stand up for the people of Manitoba who have to pay hydro bills, Madam Speaker, and, again, we know–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –that the Premier passed a law, a Crown corporations governance act law, here in Manitoba that gave himself the ability to issue a directive to a Crown corporation regarding any, and I'm quoting here, matters of policy for the corporation. End quote. So we know that the Premier has already done it once for Hydro. He's already saw fit once to direct both that Crown corporati on and others on a matter of policy.

The issue that we're bringing up today is a very important issue of keeping rates affordable for Manitobans, Madam Speaker. So will the Premier commit today that he will use the powers that he has given himself to stand up for the people of Manitoba and ensure that their hydro bills don't go up this year? Mr. Pallister: Gosh, I love it when the NDP raise a Hydro question in this House, Madam Speaker. Ed Schreyer said the NDP couldn't be trusted to run a lemonade stand i n reference to Hydro, and he was absolutely right. The member gets up and he talks about protecting the people of Manitoba.

They told–the NDP told the people of Manitoba –they went right across the province, they had mailers in as many households as they could, they said the bipole line won't cost you a penny, they said–and maybe they were anticipating the penny would be thrown out of production, I don't know. But the fact is $5 billion later we're still paying for NDP mistakes, amazing boondoggles, and the member stands in his place and talks about caring about Manitobans. They could care less about Manitoba ratepayers; they don't care about Manitoba taxpayers.

We do, and we're going to clean up the mess the best we can, but it's a big mess. Finance Minister's Comments Fixed Election Date Law Mr. Andrew Swan (Minto): Well, here's a mess: two days ago the Minister of Finance (Mr. Fielding) told Manitobans the tax measures announced in the budget could not come into effect unless the budget implementation bill was passed. Yesterday, I asked the government to provide any advice to back up that claim and, instead, the acting Finance Minister got up, directly contradicted the Minister of Finance, and said the tax changes will happen as were announced on budget day.

Will the Premier apologize for sending out the Minister of Finance to mislead Manitobans in an attempt to justify the government breaking Manitoba's election law? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): They're caught between a rock and a hard place, Madam Speaker. They're now advocating for the PST to go down on July 1st. Thank you very much for supporting us in that effort. Madam Speaker, I thank the NDP for that. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

April 11, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1199 Madam Speaker, why are they advocating for the PST to go down on July 1st? Why? They'll have to answer that question. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Minto, on a supplementary question. Mr. Swan: Well, it's always inconvenient for the Premier there's this thing called Hansard. So I'll table for him the acting Minister of Finance's words from yesterday: I can remind the member it's going to happen on July 1st. And, indeed, that confirms what the Premier said in March.

That would accord with the advice from the courts, from the practice in Manitoba and other Canadian jurisdictions. But we just need to know –[interjection] Well, you know, maybe members could listen. I'd like to know why the Premier sent out the Minister of Finance (Mr. Fielding) to contradict his own words other than as a pretext to break Manitoba's election law. Mr. Pallister: Let's think about the NDP position for a minute. It fairly makes the head spin. First of all they promised they wouldn't raise the PST. They called it nonsense and ridiculous. Then they raised the PST.

Now we're lowering the PST and they want us to do it sooner. Madam Speaker, they've got to explain their positioning on this issue; either they want it higher, or they don't. It's that simple. Madam Spe aker: The honourable member for Minto, on a final supplementary. Mr. Swan: I think it's this Premier that's put the Minister of Finance into the witness protection program. You know, it's not just the opposition that have noticed the problems with this government's story – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr.

Swan: Even the Winnipeg Sun says the Pallister government's attempts to break Manitoba's election laws amount to cheating, and the Sun's verdict on the Finance Minister's most recent performance two days ago is, and I quote: Its lameness is eclipsed only by its complete inaccuracy. So with its flimsy excuse in tatters and with the Minister of Finance being thrown under the bus yesterday, I just ask the Premier: Will he apologize to Manitobans a nd confirm his government's commitment to respecting the date set in law of October 6, 2020, for the next general election? Mr.

Pallister: Everyone here already knows that the NDP just is worried about the subsidy. Everybody here knows and soon all Manitobans will know as well, but I appreciate any question from the member about throwing things under a bus, Madam Speaker, because that is the culture of the NDP, was –it was a part of the culture when he was there and he was the major bus-under-thrower. So I get that he's asked the question on which he has some experience and authority, but he has – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr.

Pallister: –no experience at all, nor do any of his colleagues, in lowering the tax burden on Manitoba households. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: If Manitobans want higher taxes, they've got the NDP for that; if they want lower taxes they've got our government for that. Safe Consumption Site Request for Government Support Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St.

Johns): The Premier is not only choosing to draw conclusions from scientific journals and his own departments that feed into his archaic views, but he's also choosing to misconstrue comments from BC Premier –from the BC Premier's comments on the ef fectiveness of safe consumption sites. So I'll clarify for the First Minister. The Premier of BC stated, and I quote: Overdose prevention and supervised consumption sites save lives and are a critical part of BC's response to the overdose crisis.

Together with increased access to mental health and addictions services and supports, they have contributed to saving thousands of lives in our province. End quote. * (14:00) Will the Premier set aside his archaic and partisan views, look at the facts, listen to the experts and commit to opening a safe consumption site today? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): I appreciate any question from the member referencing archaic and partisan, Madam Speaker.

1200 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 11, 2019 The fact remains that –and I'll put the comments on the record again–other premiers where consump - tion sites exist know they were set up, not for meth, but they were set up for opioids, and opioid deaths in BC, for a number of reasons, are rising. They are the highest in Canada, and the Premier has acted as he felt was appropriate for British Columbia.

But he's also committed to me that he understands that an opioid injection site in Winnipeg is not supportable because the demographic reality is different here than it is in Vancouver, where users are concentrated in one area. Madam Speaker, the fact of the matter is that there are unintended consequences. The Premier and I discussed those, and those unintended con- sequences may well be very, very serious for all, including those who, unfortunately, choose to inje ct meth into their bodies. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, on a supplementary question. Ms.

Fontaine: The bottom line, Manitoba –Madam Speaker, is that safe consumption sites work. While the Premier and the Minister of Health continue to rise in this House and put on the record that safe consumption sites do not help people struggling with meth addiction, research articles, reports and real-life examples continue to validate the effectiveness and the demand for these spaces. In contrast, BC's Premier states, and I quote: Our government has nearly doubled the number of overdose prevention and supervised consumption sites in BC.

Between July 2017 and June 2018 alone there were over 1 million visits to these sites with thousands of overdoses reversed and no deaths reported. Will the Premier commit– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Mr. Pallister: The member continues to attempt to mix sites available –made available for people who choose to use opioids, unfortunately, and sit es for meth and tries to make her case using false data and a false situation which she cites, Madam Speaker. That's not how to make a case. We're acting on this issue. We're acting in concert with others who are concerned.

We're opening–we have opened fi ve Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine clinics throughout the province and we have doubled the amount of – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: –women's treatment beds. We are joining with Canada's Emergency Treatment Fund. We are joining forces with federal and municipal governments that want to arrive at real solutions to help people find a road to recovery, Madam Speaker, and not just a treadmill to tragedy. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, on a final supplementary. Ms.

Fontaine: Front-line experts continue to say that a key barrier to a safe consumption site in Winnipeg is the archaic views of this Premier that we see repeatedly, day after day. The Premier of BC understands the response needed to address a public drug crisis. The Premier of BC is not a barrier. The Premier of BC understands that safe consumption sites work as they continue to expand these services. The re are now over 30 overdose prevention sites and supervised consumption sites in BC with no recorded deaths.

Will the Premier take note what –the Premier of BC's commitment is to safe consumption sites and actually commit to getting one started and established here today? Mr. Pallister: Of course, Madam Speaker, the archaic and partisan approach the member chooses to take is one which ignores all the actions we are taking and that others are taking in concert with this Province to address the issue. She c hooses to ignore all of those, and her one-size-fits-all recommendation is that we–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: –set up a site where meth users can get meth more easily.

That's not what British Columbia did. She's citing an example which doesn't work to support her own case. They set up sites to help people quit opioid addictions. Fentanyl was the reason, and that is not working as effectively as the Premier and others would like. In fact, the death rate is going up in British Columbia, not down. Madam Speaker, the reality of the situation is that it is more complex than –the member's simplistic solution would not suffice to address the complexity of the situation.

A warm hand, warm cup of coffee and a chance to get off meth is fa r better than just a cold needle for everybody that wants to inject meth.

April 11, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1201 Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities Caregiver Training and Wages Mr. Dougald Lamont (Leader of the Second Opposition): There are over 6,800 adults with intellectual disabilities in Manitoba who depend on caregivers, and because of their disabilities, these people are very often very vulnerable. Individuals with disabilities will have hundreds of caregivers over their lifetime, which means there's little continuity of care.

And these workers are the front line of the front line, caring for some of the most vulnerable people in our society, people who deserve to be treated with dignity; yet workers are expected to do work that health- care aides and even nurses cannot do for as little as $12.15 an hour with no training. I table a petition with 9,368 signatures calling for this government to increase the pay for people caring with adults–for adults with disabilities. Will the Premier (Mr. Pallister) step up to make sure that vulnerable people are properly cared for and workers properly paid in this province? Hon.

Heather Stefanson (Minister of Families): I thank the member for this question. We take the issues and the challenges surrounding persons with disabilities very seriously, Madam Speaker. That's why we're increasing the funding in the budget by more than $13.6 million for this–for persons with disabilities. And I would suggest that members opposite voted against that, so if they really care about this issue, that –I would suggest that voting against it is not the right way to go. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Second Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr.

Lamont: Madam Speaker, this government ran on a promise to protect the most vulnerable. We are talking about with –people with disabilities who depend on others to care for them. I've been visited more than once by the parents of those vulnerable people. Caregivers in Manitoba require no training. They only have to have a grade 10 education. Yet, with no training they may be expected to dispense powerful medication that even nurses with extensive medical education would not be allowed to do. They are expected to do work that health-care aides cannot do, for a fraction of the cost.

Will this government protect people with disabilities and support caregivers by making sure there is training for caregivers to prevent medical errors? Mrs. Stefanson: I do want to just take this opportunity to thank all those caregivers who work– and the incredible work that they do with persons with intellectual disabilities in our province. The work that they do every day just is incredible for these individuals, Madam Speaker. I've already stated that we're increasing the funding by more than $13.6 million in CLDS budget, Madam Speaker, and what did members opposite do? They voted against it.

Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Second Opposition, on a final supplementary. Funding for Advocacy Agencies Mr. Lamont: Madam Speaker, disabilities advocates have made it quite clear that that extra funding is only going up because there are more people entering the system. It isn't actually adding to any extra pay. This government is once again charging ahead with changes without asking stakeholders and patients how they'll be affected, using a process called Building on Abilities that is a holdover from the NDP.

I table a news report from today that shows the Manitoba league for persons which–with disabilities, which was founded in 1974, has had its funding cut. They said this government made it harder to get funding. Tried to set up–they tried to set up meetings to find out the criteria for applications and how to submit applications, but the talks went nowhere. We've heard that agencies are now facing cuts of 14 to 44 per cent.

The league for disabilities treasurer says, quote, there are so many gaps in disability health care that Manitobans will suffer, end quote, because if the league isn't around there'll be no one to fight for equal treatment. Why is this government undermining agencies who are only advocating for equal and fair treatment for vulnerable people? Mrs. Stefanson: If the member opposite truly cares about persons with intellectual disabilities in our province, Madam Speaker, he should not have voted against our budget.

1202 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 11, 2019 I would suggest that he should listen to Manitobans, listen to those caregivers, listen to those with lived experience in intellectual dis abilities. They will know that within this budget there is more money there for persons with intellectual disabilities. The member opposite should get on board. We're about finding solutions to very challenging issues in our province, Madam Speaker. He needs to get on board and help with this. Personal-Care Homes Projects and Funding Mrs.

Bernadette Smith (Point Douglas): One of the first acts of the Pallister government was to cancel personal-care-home projects across Manitoba, then they cut funding to existing personal -care homes not once, but twice. * (14:10) We FIPPA'd the government, asking how much has been spent of the $160 million that they promised in the election in 2016 to personal -care homes, and I'll table that. The answer was $39,200, Madam Speaker. Why has this government broken the promise to vulnerable seniors in Manitoba and not built personal-care homes? Hon.

Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living): Well, the member must have missed the memo, because on February the 22nd we were pleased to announce, with hundreds of Manitobans present, a new personal -care home for Carman, and two days later, a new personal -care home for Steinbach, Manitoba. But Madam Speaker, the facts are these: that for years and years, the NDP–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Friesen: –did not build personal -care homes, and they left seniors to go to personal -care homes 50 kilometres, 75 kilometres, 100 kilometres away from their home.

We have said the right care, in the right place, at the right time; and this includes the good investments we're making on personal -care homes. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. The honourable member for Point Douglas, on a supplementary question. Mrs. Smith: Well, Madam Speaker, Calgary place, Concordia Place, Misicordia [phonetic] place, Sharon house, Altona, Winkler, Oakbank, Ste. Anne, Steinbach, Hartney, The Pas and Flin Flon; those are just some of the personal -care homes that our NDP government built. Now, this Premier (Mr. Pallister)–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs.

Smith: –said he will fast- track construction on personal-care homes. Instead–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs. Smith: –three years later he's spending millions of dollars on horse racing, but less than the cost of one bed on a personal -care home for a vulnerable senior. Why does the minister care more about horses than he does about seniors here in Manitoba? [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Order. Mr.

Friesen: Well, Madam Speaker, I think some of the investments that that member just referred to were actually brought under Ed Schreyer, so I don't think she should be taking credit for anything like that. Some of those things she's mentioned were from 45 years ago. Madam Speaker, the facts are these. For years and years the NDP did not prioritize the appropriate development of personal -care-home beds. We're doing that now in collaboration with Manitobans, looking to communities for partnerships and innovation; doing it better. We've made a commitment to Manitobans. The difference between us and them?

We will keep our promises. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Point Douglas, on a final supplementary. Mrs. Smith: Calgary place, Concordia Place, Misicordia [phonetic] place, and I can go on and on and on. There's dozens of personal -care homes – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs. Smith: –that were built under our government. As for this government's $160- million commitment, again, we asked how much they spent: $39,200. In three years this minister has spent millions on horse racing while leaving seniors without needed homes.

April 11, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1203 Why doesn't this government care about seniors in Manitoba? Mr. Friesen: I note that the chief executive officer for HavenGroup in Steinbach stated that when it came to the Steinbach personal -care home, the approval to proceed with an expanded Rest Haven Nursing Home is a testimony to effective partnerships with the community and the Province of Manitoba. Now, I understand that the NDP doesn't know a lot about partnerships, but our government does. We're building trust.

We're building partner - ships with Manitobans and we are providing personal-care-home beds. We've made a promise to Manitobans. We intend to keep the promise. We know that when it comes to the NDP, they never did keep their promises. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Order. City of Winnipeg Road Funding Mr. James Teitsma (Radisson): My constituents – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order, please. Order, please. I'm going to call the member for Minto (Mr. Swan) to order, please. I have asked repeatedly, I've looked over there a number of times and I would actually–I'd call him to order now. Mr.

Teitsma: My constituents understand the importance of working co- operatively and working productively with the City of Winnipeg, especially when it comes to funding for priority road projects. Recently, there has been some confusion regarding the generous funding that the City of Winnipeg receives from this government. Can the Minister of Municipal Relations please tell the House about the support our government is giving to the City of Winnipeg so that they can deliver on the priorities of Winnipeggers? [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Hon.

Jeff Wharton (Minister of Municipal Relations): I'd like to thank my colleague from Radisson for that great question. Madam Speaker, th e City of Winnipeg received $37.9 million of provincial funding for roads just this month, sufficient to fund all of City of Winnipeg's 2019 regional roadwork and enables the City to defer and repurpose most of its own projected spending on regional roads. With our confirmed '19 -20 capital commitment, Madam Speaker, the City of Winnipeg is receiving up to $148.5 million for road funding from our government.

In addition, I'm pleased to see the City has received more than $40 million in unconditional federal gas tax revenue that can be spent on roads this year as well, and, again, it's unconditional. I look– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Emergency Room Services Consistency of Care Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, Julie Eyers, daughter of Verna Eyers, has a complex seizure disorder. She was able to receive excellent emergency care from the Victoria hospital at the emergency room until it was closed by this government.

In the months since its closure, even with an affiliation letter from the Health Sciences Centre, emergency care has involved what Verna calls hospital tours: setting out for one emergency room, then being redirected to another, and sometimes being redirected to a third before being seen. Is the government planning to continue with such hospital tours to get emergency care, or will the government make sure a person like Julie can get consistent emergency care at one site? Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living): I thank the member for River Heights for the question.

This is actually one of the things that we are addressing in our health transformation. We know that the evidence suggested in Manitoba there were far too many interfacility transfers, transfers between hospitals, transfers between emergency rooms. This is inefficient. It creates patient outcome challenges. It is costly and it takes time. It's one of the reasons that we have embarked on this transformation of our health-care system, to make sure that in time these numbers will continue to fall, getting people the right care at one facility and not multiple facilities.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for River Heights, on a supplementary question. Mr. Gerrard: Madam Speaker, there's no need to cause chaos when making changes.

1204 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 11, 2019 Julie is a frequent user of the Winnipeg emergency-care system, and her mother Verna has come to know it well. Compared to the certainty and excellence of Julie's care before the closure of Victoria hospital, the current system is flawed . Patients like Julie are routinely redirected from one hospital to another before getting care. Even when she's having a seizure and needs urgent attention, she's 'routwinly' turned away from the Health Sciences Centre and St. Boniface Hospital emergency rooms because they're full. When will the minister correct this problem?

When he –when will he correct this treadmill to tragedy? Mr. Friesen: Well, the member knows, as in all cases, if there is a case that he would like me to have more details on, our office would be happy to receive the particulars in this case and we would look into this woman's experience because, of course, we care. But that member also knows that he seems to be demonstrating a desire to go back.

We know that the Canadian Institu te for Health Information said that for years and years in Manitoba, despite spending some of the highest amounts in health care, they got the worst results. * (14:20) We will not go back to the past. The back pointed to failure and wait times. We're cleaning up those wait times and getting better health care sooner for Manitobans. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for River Heights, on a final supplementary. Mr. Gerrard: Madam Speaker, on one occasion Julie was directed to the Health Sciences Centre, then redirected to St.

Boniface, and then it was full and so she was redirected back to the Health Sciences Centre. On another occasion she went to the Health Sciences Centre, was redirected to St. Boniface, and it was full and she ended up at Seven Oaks. Verna Eyers calls these hospital tours bumping around until one finds a place to land. This is neither adequate nor appropriate care for a person with a seizure who needs prompt attention, as this letter to the minister, which I table, shows he's alre ady aware of this problem. Will the government address the major problems it has created in making the current system? Mr.

Friesen: The member knows I'm –be happy to receive more information if he has it –look into this particular case. But he also knows that we inherited a mess. We inherited exactly the system that he described: for years and years in Manitoba, patient transfers, the worst wait time results, the highest ER– in fact, in one year CIHI reported that Grace Hospital had the highest emergency wa it times in the entire country, and the next year they said now it was Concordia. We are fixing these problems, Madam Speaker, relying on evidence, relying on expertise of Manitobans and getting better results for all Manitobans.

We are on a road to recovery. Early Childhood Education Grant Funding Concerns Mr. Matt Wiebe (Concordia): We on this side of the House have been spending some time reminding the government of some of its broken promises that it made from the last election. So I wanted to remi nd them and add to that list. This PC government campaigned on a promise they would, and I quote, increase incentives to become an early childhood educator and promote ease of access to ECE training by expanding the training program. But what have they done, Madam Speaker?

Instead they've– on top of freezing the operating funding for three years and cutting nearly $1.4 million in grants to child -care centres, they've also cut training grants, recruitment grants, tuition support and wage-enhancement grants for ECEs. All of this is setting up our daycares to fail. Why is this government cutting our early childhood educating? Hon. Heather Stefanson (Minister of Families): The member opposite is just wrong, Madam Speaker. In fact, I look forward to visiti ng various communities across Manitoba where we have invested more money in daycares.

And, Madam Speaker, Manitobans elected us to repair the services of this province. This is one area where the members opposite made a complete mess, and we're committed to cleaning it up. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Concordia. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Wiebe: Well, thank you very much–

April 11, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1205 Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Wiebe: Twenty-six thousand Manitobans, including parents, families, early childhood edu- cators, they have spoken up and they're calling on this government to recognize the importance of quality early childhood education in this province. We understand the stress that parents are under. That's why we're proud to bring forward petitions every single day in this House representing their concerns. Pressures are increasing on daycares, and yet this government is only cutting. Will the Premier (Mr.

Pallister) liste n to the 26,000 Manitobans who have written and–petitions and supported those to make child care a priority in this province and commit to funding in this province? Mrs. Stefanson: That's exactly what we're doing. In fact, we've committed to more than 3, 100 new child- care spaces in Manitoba, Madam Speaker, 1,600 of which are in this budget alone. When members opposite had a chance to stand up for child- care spaces, for children, Madam Speaker, what did they do? They sat down; they voted against it. I will take no lessons from members opposite.

Madam Speaker: The time for oral questions has expired. PETITIONS Early Learning and Child-Care Programs Ms. Judy Klassen (Kewatinook): Madam Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to the petition is as follows:

(1) Early–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Klassen: –learning and child- care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.

(2) Lice nsed, not -for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.

(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy. The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.

(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately 'renunerated'.

(6) Accessible, affordable and qualit y early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba. We petition the Legislative Assembly as follows–of Manitoba as follows, sorry: To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, not -for-profit child-care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. This petition is signed by many Manitobans.

Madam Speaker: In accordance with our rule 133(6), when petitions are read they are deemed to be received by the House. Mr. Doyle Piwniuk, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair Flin Flon General Hospital Obstetric Services Mr. Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): Madam Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Access to quality health care is a funda - mental right of all Manitobans, no matter where they live.

(2) The Premier has slashed budgets and can- celled projects for northern communities, making it harder for families to get the primary health care they need.

(3) The budget of the northern regional health authority has been slashed by over $6 million, which has negatively affected doctor retention programs and the northern patient transport program.

(4) With limited services in the North, the Premier is forcing families and seniors to travel further for the health care they need.

1206 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 11, 2019

(5) On November 6, 2018, the northern regional health authority a nnounced that obstetric delivery services at the Flin Flon General Hospital would be suspended, with no discussion regarding when they will be reinstated.

(6) The result of this decision is that mothers in Flin Flon and the surrounding area will have to travel at least an hour and a half to The Pas, creating unnecessary risk for mothers and their babies.

(7) The people of Flin Flon are concerned for the health and safety of mothers -to-be and their babies, including the extra physical and financial stres s that will be placed upon them by this decision of the provincial government.

(8) There has been no commitment from this provincial government that mothers and their escorts who have to travel to The Pas will be covered by the northern patient transport program.

(9) Flin Flon General Hospital is a regional hub that serves several communities on both sides of the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border.

(10) Because this provincial government has refused to invest in much- needed health -care services in The Pas, the hospital in The Pas may not be able to handle the extra workload created by this decision. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to reinstate obstetric delivery services at Flin Flon General Hospital and work with the government of Saskatchewan and the federal government to ensure obstetric services continue to be available on a regional basis. * (14:30) This petition, Mr.

Deputy Speaker, has been signed by Paige Baschuk, Moreen Reagan, Stephanie Geddes, and many other Manitobans. Early Learning and Child-Care Programs Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Early learning and child- care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.

(2) Licensed, not -for-profit early learni ng and childhood–child-care programs have received no new funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.

(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.

(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.

(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.

(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, not -for-profit child -care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. Signed by many, many Manitobans. Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.

The background to this petition is as follows: Early learning and child -care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy. Licensed, not -for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually. High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba famili es and con - tributes to a strong economy.

The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.

April 11, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1207 The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated. Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba.

We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, not -for-profit child -care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. Signed by Rebecca Ryall, Chantelle Reid, Courtney Dewar and many, many others. Ms. Flor Marcelino (Logan): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative As sembly of Manitoba. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Early learning and child- care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.

(2) Licensed, not -for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.

(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.

(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.

(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.

(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to in - crease funding for licensed, not -for-profit child-care programs in recognition of the impor tance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. Signed Diane Martin, Marilyn Plaitin, Florimund Plaitin, and many, many more Manitobans. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Ms.

Cindy Lamoureux (Burrows): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba: The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Early learning and child- care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.

(2) Licensed, not -for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over thr ee years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.

(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.

(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.

(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has conti nued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.

(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba. We peti tion the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, not -for-profit child -care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Mr. James Allum (Fort Garry-Riverview): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.

1208 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 11, 2019 The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Early learni ng and child- care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.

(2) Licensed, not -for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.

(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.

(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.

(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase ; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.

(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba. We petition the Legisla tive Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to in - crease funding for licensed, not -for-profit child-care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. This petition is signed by many Manitobans. * (14:40) Mr. Rob Altemeyer (Wolseley): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to the petition is as follows:

(1) Early learnin g and child- care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.

(2) Licensed, not -for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while t he cost of living has continued to increase annually.

(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.

(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.

(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated; and

(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba. We petition the Leg islative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to in - crease funding for licensed, not -for-profit child-care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. This petition is signed by Michelle Lange, Brayden Jackson, Susan Pridham, quite a few others . Mr.

Ted Marcelino (Tyndall Park): I want to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. And the background to the petition is as follows–I'll say that again. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Early learning and child- care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.

(2) Lice nsed, not -for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.

(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.

(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.

(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.

April 11, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1209

(6) Accessible, affordable and quali ty early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to in - crease funding for licensed, not -for-profit child-care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. Signed by many, many Manitobans. Thank you. Addictions Services– Brandon and Western Manitoba Mrs. Bernadette Smith (Point Douglas): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Addictions are health and social problems that require co -ordinated responses from the healt h- care, social services, education and justice systems.

(2) It is known–it is well known that the number of people addicted to alcohol, drugs and other substances is on the rise in Manitoba, with a notable increase in use of methamphetamine and opioids, two highly addictive and very destructive drugs.

(3) Between April 2015 and April 2018, drug abuse and alcohol abuse were two of the top three risk factors identified by the community mobilization Westman HUB when dealing with people with acutely elevated risk.

(4) Recent Brandon Police Service annual reports show a steady increase in calls for service for crimes against property and person.

(5) In Brandon and western Manitoba, individuals seeking addictions treatment and the families trying to help them do not have local access to the services or supports that they need.

(6) There is no publicly available, centralized list of addiction facilities in Manitoba. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To request that the pr ovincial government consider establishing a cross -departmental team to provide leadership on a culturally appropriate, co-ordinated response to the growing addiction crisis in our province that includes an aggressive, widespread education campaign on the dangers of using methamphetamine and opioids, along with addictions education for front -line medical staff in health-care facilities.

(2) To request that the provincial government consider providing additional addictions supports–or, services in Brandon an d western Manitoba, across the continuum of care, including acute response, detoxification, long- term rehabilitation, transitional housing and support for managing co- occurring disorders.

(3) To request that the Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Liv ing consider establishing a publicly available inventory of all addiction facilities in Manitoba. Three–or

(4) To request that the Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living consider providing supports for the families of people struggling with addict ions, including counselling, patient navigation and advocacy and direct access to free 'lenoxalone'–can't speak today. Signed by Barbara Dornanen [phonetic] , Adele Legault, Shirley Metcalfe and many, many other Manitobans. Early Learning and Child-Care Programs Mr. Andrew Swan (Minto): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to the petition is as follows:

(1) Early learning and child- care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.

(2) Licensed, not -for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over thr ee years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.

(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.

(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.

(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has cont inued to increase;

1210 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 11, 2019 quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.

(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba. We pet ition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to in - crease funding for licensed, not -for-profit child-care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. This petition is signed by Karen Baron, Anja Balharry, Quincy McIntyre -Brandt and many other Manitobans. Mr.

Matt Wiebe (Concordia): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. The background to the petition is as follows:

(1) Early learning and child- care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy. * (14:50)

(2) Licensed, not -for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.

(3) High -quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental n eed for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.

(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.

(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.

(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, not -for-profit child -care programs in recognition of the import ance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. And this petition is signed by Anna Liza Cruz, Tristyn Cryderman and Matthew Joynt, and many other Manitobans. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Any further petitions? Grievances?

ORDERS OF THE DAY (Continued) Speaker's Statement Mr. Deputy Speaker: I have a Speaker's statement. I am advising the House that I have received a letter from the Government House Leader (Mr. Goertzen) and the member for The Maples (Mr. Saran) regarding the member's selected bill for this session. As a reminder to the House, rule 24 permits each independent member to select one private member's bill per session to proceed to a second reading vote. Rule 24 also requires written notice to be provided by the Speaker regarding the date and time of the debate and the vote.

According to Bill 229, The Sikh Heritage (Creation of the Khalsa) Month Act will be debated on Tuesday, April 16th, 2019, starting a t 10 a.m. with questions to be put at 10:55 that morning. For the information of the House, any requests for a recorded vote on Tuesday w ill be deferred to accordance to rule 223-7 until 11:55 a.m. on Thursday, April 18th, 2019. The honourable Governm ent House Leader – [interjection]–Oh, okay. GOVERNMENT BUSINESS Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Government House Leader): Mr. Deputy Speaker.

Could you please call for second reading Bill 16, The Budget Implementation and Tax Statutes Amendment Act, 2019. DEBATE ON SECOND READINGS Bill 16–The Budget Implementation and Tax Statutes Amendment Act, 2019 Mr. Deputy Speaker: It has been announced that the House will be resuming debate on second reading of Bill 16, and the honourable member from T he Maples has 17 remaining minutes.

April 11, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1211 Mr. Mohinder Saran (The Maples): Mr. Deputy Speaker, before I reconnect to my topic I was discussing yesterday, I also want to talk about the rumour that election will be pretty soon called, and I understand we have a fixed date, and when we last time were passing that legislation, that a fixed date–there should be a fixed date and a deadline discussion between NDP and PC. NDP, at that time, wanted the election fixed date in spring and PC wanted that fixed date in October.

The reason why that because farmers are busy during the spring time, therefore election –the fixed date should not be in September. So we agreed that it will be in October. So now I wonder whether farmers are –will be busy now or not? So why the contradiction? S o I think there is something to think about. And before we rush this budget and an election is called, I was talking about second languages, compulsory, other than French and English. That should be part of the budget. Also, I was talking about the histories of other countries: that subject should be optional.

So considering –I hope there should be some money allocated in this budget, or could be made available, money for the budget to help–but also, the other thing I was wondering: the MLAs who have English second language, and they're supported by the, also, communities who does not have command of the English. What about if some funds are allocated in the budget? We have interpreters, and the MLAs can speak in their first language so that community w ill understand that language, and also interpreted, and the community in general will understand those issues. I don’t think intelligence just comes with English only.

It comes with all languages, so perhaps we should have that kind provision. Also, I se e there is sometimes problems to understand the accent. Perhaps we need a budget where we can have some people in the Hansard who can understand that accent so they don't have to leave the blanks, and so that could be recorded properly. And now I underst and there is cutting in the funds for the parties. To me, this is a erosion on the democracy, because with these funds parties and–can afford, and ordinary people can run in the election.

But with these–removing–elimination of these funds, only rich people or who have rich friends, they will be able to run in the election, and ordinary people won't be able to run. So this won't be real democracy. And to bring back real democracy, I think we should go back to the previous arrangements. And I was listening, the member for Logan (Ms. Marcelino), in the Philippines, their three Gs are working, because there're not such things, these kind of fund for the parties. So how the elections are fought, they're fought with the goons, with the guns, with the gold.

But I will add the fourth G: in India, it's also – election is fought with the gods. Religion is–real issues are not discussed. Actually, religion is used– let me, Mr. Speaker, give the example. * (15:00) There was a Muslim poor guy, and he had meat at home wh ich was not necessarily cow's meat, but because the party is who wants to promote Hinduism, supporting the goons and these mobs –this mob went to his house and assassinated that poor guy, and, in these situations, the world's biggest democracy and –where god s are being used and minorities are under attack.

When I was telling you yesterday why near–not– the real issues are brought front. Actually, I was real–little bit 'spectical' about other issues they didn't–bringing in the Legislative Assembly. Do we really need that or not? This is something to be–think about. Perhaps I can say –being Sikh, I can say I am Sikh. And Sikh is not a religion; it's a movement and–to talk about the human rights and to talk about the equality of a woman and to talk about the costs to the society. Maybe there is some point perhaps we can discuss this issue.

Now I will–as I promised, I will discuss the issues instead of criticizing government. And I talked a few times about the culturally sensitive personal -care homes, cultur ally sensitive affordable houses. And I wonder if this budget will provide that provision. I was in the gurdwara the other day, and they have about eight -acre land. They are willing to provide whatever we need for culturally sensitive personal-care homes , culturally sensitive personal affordable houses. Well, I wonder if this budget has some provision to help those people.

1212 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 11, 2019 Why do we need these culturally sensitive personal-care homes and culturally sensitive affordable houses for the seniors –I'm talking about for the seniors? Because there's a language barrier, there's a cultural barrier. If they come from the same culture, if they understand the language, for them it will be very easy to socialize with each other and spend their old time and the last fe w days very easily. And I really –I will really emphasize if that's incorporated in this budget. I hope the minister will pay attention and this government will pay attention.

Other topic I would like to discuss: drop- in centres and training for the people who are on social assistance or who are unemployed. What happens when people are just staying at home? They feel depressed, they will drink, they will have a drug like meth, and crime will increase. I would say three levels of the government should join. Three levels of the government should join together and fund the community centres where these people can drop in out of the cold. When they report over there, perhaps they can be given short training, say, in welding, say, as a mechanic, or these kinds of short er train.

So those people will become confident and feel they belong to society. They will get jobs somewhere, and government will save money because they have to pay less rent assistance and other services they provide. So this is very important that provincial, city and federal governments, they create a system where people who are social assistance, they go to these centres and also get socialization–socialize with each other, at the same time can get training, and also there should be some kind of exercise mechanism, too.

So in that way, those people, we can get them out of poverty and they can become valuable members of the society. Other issue I would like to bring in the attention of the government, medical coverage for super visa and visitor visa. And those people, when they come, they are sponsored by somebody who paying tax over here, but they are not covered for medical under the Manitoba health system. And a few days earlier, a person have to rush to the hospital and have to have different tests, and the relatives had to sign on the paper. Now, they don't have that kind of money, about $100,000 bill.

Hospital asking, threatening them they will give this to the collection agency, and they're under stress. They're approaching me and their MLA, and I don't know what to suggest to them. I think as –when somebody comes over here, they should be paying some kind of fees, but should be covered under our health care. And so they should be covered by the Manitoba Health. At least the people will be worry-free over here, and people who come from other countries, they will be providing valuable services, their children, their grandchildren, and taking care of them. So I think they deserve this kind of help.

And I would ask to Health Minister really think about that and make the life easier for the immigrants whose parents or grandparents come under super visa or visa. Also, I would like to point out that warranties, house warranties–why the government even relaxing that act. What had happened even now, if the builder–or, you call the builder, builder will say call the subcontractor. Subcontractor will –don't take responsibility. And, at the end, you have to pay whatever is fixed. I gone through that a few times.

So I was thinking maybe we should made the builder responsible and he have to call the subcontractor and he make sure whatever needed to be fixed should be fixed. But this government going other way around. They're giving a free way to do whatever they want to do. * (15:10) So I think we have to think about those issues. These issues, I did not just speak to for the sake of speaking. I'm thinking the government will be listening, ministers will be listening. Think about these are the practical and these are the needs of the ordinary people.

And those should be taken care of because either instead of personal -care home and senior affordable housing–only people will stay over here if they th ink they will be taken care of in–when they are seniors. So let us we think about that before rushing to the election. Let us first give back that Seniors' School Tax Rebate –$2,300. Seniors will be happy. And let's restart second -language compulsory courses. And there are some more issues–

April 11, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1213 Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member's time is up. Introduction of Guests Mr. Deputy Speaker: Before we continue with the next speaker, I just want to announce that seated in the public gallery from River East Personal Care Home, 14 visitors under the direction of Cindy Goranson. The group is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Rossmere (Mr. Micklefield). Welcome to the Legislature. * * * Mr.

Deputy Speaker: And, before we recognize the next member, I would–just want to advise the House that I received a letter from the honourable Leader of the Official Opposition (Mr. Kinew), designating his unlimited speaking time on the second reading of Bill 16 to the honourable member for St. Johns (Ms. Fontaine). Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Just want to say a special hello and welcome to our guests here today. This is your building, the Manitoba Legislature, and I hope you have an awesome time while you're here. And I hope our debate actually does justice to your faith in democracy.

And democracy is a topic that I want to touch on in my very brief and short remarks here today. Again, you know, I just wanted to begin actually on perhaps a more sombre note and just put on the record a few words in commemoration of my late aunt, Nancy, who recently passed away. So Aunt Nancy Morrison, née Kelly, was actually my late father's oldest sister. And she recently passed away just last week at the age of 90. And what a life she led. Her Anishinabe name that she was given as a baby was Pekaamagiizhigook, which means the approaching dawn.

And, as it was related to her as a young child, the elder told her when she got the name that she would see many dawns in her life – many new beginnings. And, indeed, that prophecy, if you will, was borne out over her life experience. She was born the last generation amongst our people who lived free on the land. She lived with her people, with her parents on Lake of the Woods, on Treaty 3 territory. Of course, she was taken away to residential school, and she experienced a terrible, terrible time there.

But then, when she was a young teenager, she was given the opportunity to return home to be able to take care of her younger siblings. And so she jumped at the opportunity. And so she was given a new lease on life–a new beginning. And she actually raised my dad and his other siblings, my uncles, as sort of their –almost like their stepmom, if you will, even though she was only their older sister. And then, for many years, she struggled with the experience that she had in residential school. And she actually struggled with addictions quite a bit.

However, through the grace of her family and the grace of God and the grace of the community around her, she was able to find sobriety and to lead a life of helping many other people in Kenora and in the surrounding area. And so, again, she had a new dawn and a new beginning in her life. And so that sort of thing really inspires me and fills me w ith hope that, you know, there's people who, even though they experienced challenges, are so full of kindness and gentleness and good humour and generosity that they see fit to help others over the course of their time here on Earth.

Of course, on a personal level, I very much loved my Aunt Nancy –my dear Aunt Nancy –and would just note that she was actually the first person to hold me after I was born. So, even before my mom or my dad had a chance to hold me as a baby, Aunt Nancy was there holding me. And, in fact, her own grandchild was being born on the same day, so I actually have a cousin born in the same hospital, same birthday. So I just wanted to mark her passing and put a few words into Hansard for posterity on behalf of my late aunt.

One of t he other things that I would note with respect to her life is that my Aunt Nancy wasn't allowed to vote into this country until well into her adult life. She would have been 30 or 40 years old before she gained the right to vote in Canada, and it's because of, you know, that history that I don't take democracy lightly. I'm a strong believer in democracy and a great recognizer of the fact that these rights to vote, the rights to freedom of expression, and the rights to be able to cast a ballot for a self -determining

1214 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 11, 2019 government are not rights that came to us freely. Indeed, they are rights that veterans of the world wars and other conflicts around the globe laid down their lives to protect. And, closer to home, there have been many people who have stood up for their own rights, whether it was the suffragettes fighting for the women's franchise some hundred years ago, if there were, you know, First Nations people also who had to fight for their franchise leading up to 1960.

There were also people from other parts of the world who were discriminated against and only gained their right to vote in more recent times as well. So freedom isn't free. That's sort of a line that we hear quite a bit, but I think it's important for us to remember that. And it's a lso important for us to remember that, in the context of the debate on this bill that this House is considering today, The Budget Implementation and Tax Statutes Amendment Act, because there is actually one provision in this bill that is undemocratic and s tands in the way of our democracy.

And so this has been a topic of some concern. I noted, you know, the leader of one of the other parties here expressing his outrage at this provision. There were many people in the media who said that they don't agree with removing public financing from election financing in Manitoba because that would only pave the way for greater influence of big money in our democracy. And I have a lot of time for those arguments.

I think that those arguments are well -considered and, again, that there is something very important for us to consider in terms of us standing up for our democracy from being taken over by the influence of big money. That said, I also noted in some of the public commentary that there were some people wh o also said, well, we don't want to go entirely in that direction. Perhaps the status quo of election financing in Manitoba could be improved to make our system more fair.

And so I have a lot of time for this argument that we can continue to enhance our democracy and make our democracy even stronger so that we can insure that here in Manitoba we have a government for Manitobans and by Manitobans. And so that's why my esteemed colleague sitting next to me, the member for St. Johns (Ms. Fontaine), brought forth a private member's bill to try and sketch out one possible way that we could look at The Election Financing Act and rather than take it in a less democratic direction like this current bill does, we could, rather, take it in a more democratic election.

And I know that there was some debate on this in the House here, but just to recap slightly, what that bill proposed to do was, essentially, just to cap the existing amount of money and redistribute it more fairly. One of the criticisms of the status quo is that it's just the three main parties that would be entitled to public support, and we said, well, why not broaden it out? Why not broaden it out to anybody who can secure 2 per cent of the vote?

That way you could potentially have a Green Party, t heir candidates; you could have other parties out there, even independent candidates, if they are successful enough to tap into some of the support of their communities, that they, too, should be entitled to some amount of public financing.

The principle behind this is very clear: the reason why we do believe that there should be some public financing for elections in Manitoba is because I think everybody, regardless of your partisan affiliation, would be inspired by the idea that somebody without any money behind them should be able to put their name on a ballot and, through their own smarts, through their own hard work, and through their own willingness to engage with the issues of our time, that they could support –that they could secure support at the ballot box and on election day.

And so that was the principle behind the bill that we brought forward here, and while it was defeated on a vote, I do believe that that principle is still important for us to consider with respect to this BITSA bill. * (15:20) Now, I've engaged the Premier (Mr.

Pallister) himself on this subject, and I've shared our views directly with him, and I will be continuing to call on the Premier to allow us to strengthen our democracy and to enhance our democracy in a way that creates a level playing field and in a way that ensures that anybody, regardless of their socio -economic standing, regardless of where they come from in life,

April 11, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1215 regardless of their background, ought to be able to put their name on a ballot and to be successful. And so I think if we are to, you know, in our heart of hearts, try and look at this bill and consider what it would mean for our democracy, I do think that there is one clause that amends The Election Financing Act that I would encourage my colleagues on the government side to vote down when we get to Committee of the Whole. Again, if they vote down that clause at Committee of the Whole, it doesn't mean that we're not going to change anything.

Perhaps we could work together and strike some sort of conse nsus alternative, or we could even, you know, just put that debate aside for a time, until such time that we could bring forward a new bill that would actually stand up for Manitoba's democracy and ensure not only a level playing field, but also an open door for representation of everyone in this great province within this Chamber. So I am somebody who does not take lightly the fact that I have the great privilege of being able to sit in this place.

I know that there are people whose names I have not even heard over the course of my life who laid down their lives to give me the privilege of being able to stand in this Chamber on a day like today and stand up for the principles of a self-determining, independent democracy.

And so it's with the greatest respect for those who've come before me, whether they're indigenous people, whether they're non- indigenous, whether they were born in Canada, whether they made this country their home after moving here in life, that I commit to also standing up for democracy and for enhancing democratic choice and voter choice and the freedom of elections here in Manitoba. So, again, this is one of the concerns that I have with the BITSA bill as currently constituted, but, again, I want the ability to work together across party lines for us to improve this proposal.

Again, if we step back from the current clause and re- open the debate, I think we can really forge some bipartisan – cross-partisan consensus and do something really special here. The principle that should guide us should be that any change to our democracy here in Manitoba is so critical and so important that we should agree across party lines on a consensus before we undertake any changes. It shouldn't be up to one party alone to determine changes to our democratic system.

It should be for everybody to work together, again, based on shared values in our democratic traditions, based on a shared insight into the values of Manitobans who want the best possible representatives for themselves and for their children, that we ought to come together and chart a unified course together. That hasn't happened to date. However, we have outstretched our hand and offered to the Premier (Mr.

Pallister)–and I would, at this time, also make the same offer to the Leader of the Liberal Party–that we ought to work together to set forward a –or to set forth, rather, a path that would enhance our democracy rather than diminish it. So, again, it's with great respect for all of my colleagues that I don 't want to, you know, delay things unnecessarily, and, in fact, will keep my remarks brief.

But, again, I do just want to thank you, the Chair, thank the institution of this Chamber itself and, indeed, the Manitoba Legislative Assembly for the great priv ilege for being able to stand in this place and stand on the side of democracy. Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): Well, it's going to be a long, long, long couple of days. So, if everybody wants to get comfortable, I'm actually going to take my jacket off, because I am actually getting hot. That's–no other reason than I'm actually just getting hot.

I'm really pleas ed today to put on the record some–well, actually, quite a few words on the record in respect of Bill 16. And I think I want to actually just begin, for the many hours that we all have together, just to take a couple of minutes just to acknowledge some of my colleagues and particularly my colleagues who have spoken to Bill 16 and who have put words on the record that I think are important for all Manitobans to hear and, certainly, for everybody in this Chamber to hear.

And I would suggest particularly mem bers opposite, as they sit by and they allow, really, the democracy in Manitoba to be threatened. And I think it's important, Deputy Speaker, as I'm sure you probably are in agreement with me, that it is important to protect democracy in Manitoba. It's important that, in the face of threats and a dismantling–a very methodical and strategic dismantling of democracy, it's important for people to stand up. It's important for people to stand up and

1216 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 11, 2019 make known for all of history that they stood up or they stood for and on the side of democracy. I haven't yet heard that from anybody opposite – from members opposite, who seem to, in the last three years, you know, just sit by while we see really egregious pieces of legislation get passed with no concern from me mbers opposite for –with literally putting nothing on the record that would show Manitobans that they actually understand how this impacts on their lives.

And so here's another opportunity where members, you know, could have gotten up to talk about, you know, some of the things that we see in BITSA, in particular in respect of, again, just further dismantling of democracy in Manitoba. So, to that end, I'm really proud to sit on this side of the House with members who have gotten up, not only for this par ticular Bill 16, but actually have got up day after day after day when we've been sitting in the House to stand against really egregious pieces of legislation and egregious policies that are coming from the Premier (Mr.

Pallister) and who –members of his Cabinet and members of his backbench–just sit by and allow to happen. So I want to just acknowledge, first and foremost, actually, the member from Concordia, who is really just a phenomenal human being. And I really do appreciate, you know, to have the support of a member like, you know, the member from Concordia, who actually, you know, stands by particularly as a man. I think that I want to put it on the record that the member for Concordia (Mr.

Wiebe) is so respectful and so–he just lifts up and suppor ts not only myself, but I know he supports also the member for Point Douglas (Mrs. Smith), who also really appreciates that, and shows just an enormous amount of support for all the women in our caucus. And I actually just want to take a moment to acknowledge him for that. I actually have shared that with the member for Concordia's wife, because, you know, I always tell his wife how much I absolutely love and appreciate the support that he gives me.

It's not very often that you have, you know, members in your life, or men in your life that you work with, that actually go out of their way to support you and to lift you up and to ensure that there's space for you. You know, so often as women, no matter where it is–whether it's in this Chamber or it's withi n, you know, the business setting, or within the health- care field–women have to fight for space to be taken seriously, to be listened to. And so I just really want to acknowledge that the member for Concordia offers and gives up that space so willingly and so respectfully.

Not only does the member for Concordia do that–and, you know, I know that for the most part people would know that, for the most part when I'm in the Chamber, I'm usually just kind of facing this way, and it is a way just to kind of –that I have–a coping strategy that I've developed to be able to kind of be able to be in this space, which I find is a –and which I've said many, many times publicly –is a very toxic space, a very –and so I'm really blessed to be able to always be looking on the member from Concordia who, you know, is always there offering a smile or support. * (15:30) And so–and offering a smile and support in the midst of every day, day after day, getting up in the House and trying to fight against and bring attention to wha t members opposite are allowing to happen and just standing by while their boss does.

So, you know, I think that that's really –well, actually, tiring as well. I think the member of – for Concordia and I were talking this –today, just saying how we're emo tionally tired today, for whatever that means. And it is something for members on this side of the House, for the last three years, to get up, just to go to rallies, to go to protests, to go–and no matter where they occur in Manitoba, particularly when we look at protests and rallies in respect of the dismantling of the health -care system. And our members on this side of the House go wherever. And that's tiring.

It is tiring, but it's an honour and it's a privilege to stand with Manitobans who are –who have that agency to be able to stand against the Premier 's decisions. And that is the very little–the least that we can do as members in this House, is to go and stand with Manitobans fighting this Pallister government's cuts in all of its myriad of forms. So, again, I just want to thank the member for Concordia. I want to thank the member for Concordia's wife, who is just a phenomenal human being and supports her husband to do the important work in–that he does and who–I also love her.

I think she's an amazing human being.

April 11, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1217 So I want to, secondly, take a moment to acknowledge, of course, the member for Point Douglas (Mrs. Smith). I am going to acknowledge all of the members. I think it's important to put on the record for Hansard all of the important work that they do. And, obviously, it's no big secret that the member for Point Douglas and myself are very close. We, as I said several times in the House here, the first time we met was when the member for Point Douglas's sister went missing, and we met –I believe that's the first time we met.

We met at a meeting with –at the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs with the Winnipeg Police Service, the chief of police at the time, constable–or Inspector Bob Chrismas and the member for Point Douglas's family. And so since that time, as the years have gone by, we have done more and more work together, and quite obviously, for the last, you know, eight years, have been pretty close, in respect of the work that we've been doing. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Going to remind the member that relevance is important for this Bill 16. Ms. Fontaine: I absolutely agree with you.

And the relevance of acknowledging the work on this side of the House or the members on this side of the House is the work that they're doing in respect of fighting against things th at have been hidden in BITSA, things that have been attempted to be embedded in BITSA. And, you know, it is fundamentally relevant to talk about the work that members of this House are doing every single day to address the egregious legislation that this Premier (Mr. Pallister) is putting in place. It is wholly proper to acknowledge the work of my colleagues. And so I do want to, again, acknowledge the member for Point Douglas.

You know, the member for Point Douglas and I do a lot of work together, obviously because our constituencies border each other. And we've had the opportunity to go to many, many, many rallies and protests in respect of what this government, this Pallister government has done, not to mention many rallies and protests in respect of the transit funding, the 50- 50 funding, which was embedded in BITSA last time around.

We've had the opportunity to meet with many individuals to discuss what has been the Premier 's legislative agenda, which is kind of culminating– I mean, I suppose ther e's still more that this Premier could do to tilt elections in his favour –but the member for Point Douglas and I have had many discussions with individuals about the Bill 16 and what the Premier is doing, in respect of getting rid of the rebates, tax rebates, for our candidates.

And so I want to acknowledge the member for Point Douglas's commitment to not only members in Point Douglas, which, you know, she is so committed to her constituency, but also to all Manitobans. And, you know, every time I have the opportunity–or, the member for Point Douglas and I are at events, the member for Point Douglas spends an incredible amount of time explaining to individuals what is going on in this House.

And I think it's important for Manitobans to know what's going on in this House because I would suggest that probably most of us in this Chamber would agree that a lot of people don't know what we do. We don't –they don't know what we do in the House. It's a complicated system, you know. And, you know, they certainly aren't going to know what BITSA is if you're not paying attention or if you're not immersed in what is really a bubble in here. And so, you know, the member for Point Douglas has spent a considerable amount of time with her constituents explaining BITSA and explaining what's in Bill 16.

And so I think it's important to lift up the member for Point Douglas and say miigwech for the work that she does on behalf of everyone in Manitoba, not only her Point Douglas constituents, but all Manitobans. And act ually, you know, Deputy Speaker, I would suggest this: That, you know, like the member for Concordia (Mr. Wiebe) and like the member for Point Douglas and like the member for Flin Flon (Mr. Lindsey) and like the member for Tyndall Park (Mr. Marcelino) and like the member for Fort Garry and like the member for Logan (Mrs. Marcelino) and like the member for Wolseley (Mr.

Altemeyer), you know, on this side of the House, we seem to be doing the vast majority of work on behalf of Manitobans. We are, day in and day out, fighting against, again, which is –a legislative dismantling of every - thing that we know to be true and to be proud in

1218 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 11, 2019 Manitoba, and we're actually doing the work of members opposite. Like, we're standing up, not only for our constituents, not for the constituencies of Wolseley and Concordia and Point Douglas and Fort Garry and Fort Garry -Riverview and –but we're actually standing up for the constituents of Radisson. You know, I know that the member for Radisson (Mr. Teitsma) not once has talked a bout, you know, the Concordia ER closure, hasn't brought it up in this House. I don't know what goes on in their caucus.

I mean, from what, you know, the–what we're told and what we understand is that there's not a lot of talking in there because everybody's scared of their boss and whatever their boss wants is what their boss gets. But, you know, I think it's important for Manitobans to know. And that's why I'm so happy that we have hours and hours and hours together, Deputy Speaker. I think it's importa nt for the constituents of Radisson to know that we're standing up for them and we're standing up for their right to be able to access health care no matter where they live.

You know, we're standing up for the constituents of Fort Richmond because, again, I haven't heard the member for Fort Richmond (Mrs. Guillemard) get up in this House and talk about the closure of Victoria hospital. And–not once have we heard that. And yet, they have just sat by while their ERs in their particular geographical consti tuencies have closed down. So, you know, maybe we are a little bit more tired on this side of the House because we're actually working and fighting day after day for their constituents.

So, you know, in respect of relevance, Deputy Speaker, it is relevan t for me to put on the record for history and for Manitobans to know that we're fighting for them. No matter where they live in this province, we are fighting for them. So, again, I want to acknowledge and say miigwech to the member for Point Douglas (Mrs. Smith). I want to acknowledge and put on the record, you know, the work that the member for Fort Gar ry-Riverview (Mr. Allum) does. And most people in the caucus know that I have a special affinity for the member for Fort Gar ry-Riverview.

He is –and I don't know why lately the members opposite, like, kind of just mentioning him and bringing him into question period and bringing them–him into their, you know, their notes that they– when they try to deviate from their notes, but, you know, I j ust want to put on the record that the member for Fort Garr y-Riverview is one of the kindest, most humble individuals you'll ever met – you'll ever meet, and I'm so blessed to be able to call him a brother, and the work that he does and the passion and the dedication he has, not only for his constituents, but for all members. * (15:40) Mr.

Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, I just want to remind you of being relevant to the Bill 16. And it's going off –if you could come back to the bill itself. Okay. Ms. Fontaine: I–again, Deputy Speaker, it is relevant.

It is absolutely relevant to the discussion on Bill 16 because, when we look at Bill 16, BITSA, and we know that the –we know when we're looking at BITSA, when you look at it in its entirety, the member for Fort Garry -Riverview has gotten up time and time again and has joined Manitobans on the forefront of rallies and protests in protesting BITSA and what the government has, year after year, including Bill 16, the 2019, two thousand– or, 2018-2019 BITSA –and so it is relevant; it's important to acknowledge his work.

Again, it's important to knowledge his work because, in the context of being the MLA for Fort Garry-Riverview, he has gotten up many times to voice his concerns and his outrage in respect of what's embedded in BITSA. And he is someone that I've had the opportunity to learn a lot with, Deputy Speaker. As you know, he was the minister of Education. At one point, he was the minister of Justice. And everybody that's had the opport unity to work with him has had the –you know, has nothing but positive things to say about the member for Fort Garry - Riverview.

And so I can share with the House that I know the member for Fort Garry -Riverview wanted to get up and have unlimited time on B ITSA, but I think– yes, I think I wanted to be able to put on the record some of the egregious stuff that the BITSA is doing. So, you know, I'm going to get to–like I said, Deputy Speaker, we have a lot, a lot, a lot of time.

So I'm going to get back to acknowledging some of my other colleagues as we go along because, again, like I said, it's important for Manitobans to know that on this side of the House we are the ones that are actually fighting for their ERs, we're fighting for their transit, we're fighting for their education and

April 11, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1219 ultimately–and why I'm standing up with unlimited time–we are fighting for the democracy of Manitoba. So, Mr. Deputy Speaker, like the member for Fort Rouge (Mr.

Kinew), who spoke about the importance of democracy, certainly, if there's something that gets me riled up–and, of course, there's lots of things that get me riled up–but certainly the discu ssion on democracy really gets me riled up because we are so privileged to live in a country and to live in a province, that it is our basic human right to be able to partake in the democratic process of our country or our city or our province. And what we've seen in the last three years is a Premier (Mr.

Pallister) who has put in place a legislative framework, laws, in Manitoba, that tilt elections in his favour, that tilt elections in the favour of every member opposite. And I think instead of sitting , you know, down and doing nothing, as they do, you know, and feigning some sense of pride in dismantling democracy–I can't understand why not each of them are not getting up and talking to their boss and saying–and yelling at their boss and demanding that their boss put in place back those measures that not only ensure democracy, but strengthen democracy for all Manitobans. And yet, they're doing nothing.

And so what –and I know some –I don't know which member, because I don't really look over there, but I know is, you know, making noises about it–that's what we don't understand on this side of the House is how can you just, like, poof, what your boss, your Premier, is doing. It is –I–and I've said this before, when we presented our Bill 232 is, you know, the fact that they're just standing by and doing nothing, every Manitoban–this is what their history is going to be. This is what their legacy is going to be. So, when you go back in the historic records, you're going to know that the member for Radisson (Mr.

Teitsma), who I can't say the member for Radisson's name, obviously, but the member for Radisson's name is going to be there when everybody–Manitobans and researchers, go back and they're going to want to see, well, who was in the House at the time and allowed these things to go on. The member for Morris (Mr. Martin), the member for Riel (Ms. Squires), the member for St. Vital (Mrs. Mayer), the member for whatever, all of them.

I can't say their names –as you know, Deputy Speaker, we're not allowe d to say their names, but Manitobans are going to be able to go back in the record and see their names and see that they did nothing–nothing–to stand up for democracy because they were too scared of their boss to say anything. And we saw a little bit of it yesterday – [interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Ms. Fontaine: –in question period when the member for Gimli (Mr.

Wharton) said –[interjection]–Gimli– said something in question period, answering one of our questions, and his boss just looked over a nd shook his head at him like he was a little boy getting in trouble from his dad. I can't even imagine how scared he must be– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Ms. Fontaine: –and how must –he probably had a sleepless night last n ight, like, replaying that over and over. It was like on a loop in his head, his Premier (Mr. Pallister) like, just shaking his head.

But, in the midst of all of that, you would think that democracy is something that members opposite could get behind, but apparently not. They're willing to ensure that every election, until the NDP get back in place and reverse everything that they did, every election is going to be tilted in their favour, and they're proud of that. That is disgusting, quite honestly, Deputy Speaker. [interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Order. Ms.

Fontaine: And so, you know, I'm –you know, when you look at what goes on across the world in respect of the right to participate in democratic processes, you can go in different parts of our world and you see that individuals will line up for days to be able to vote. Sometimes it's the first time they've been able to vote. You'll see that individuals –and in the midst of signing up to vote, but under the threat of actually losing your life. We know that there are places across the globe that often people's lives are actually taken from them, and yet they persist.

They walk for miles from different places where they live or villages or cities to be able to go and vote because that is their right; that is the right that we should all have across the world and certainly a right that we've actually had in Manitoba and in Canada.

1220 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 11, 2019 And I do want to put on the record that Manitoba at one point did take the lead across the country of ensuring fair an d equitable elections. And, you know, I'm proud to be part of a government that instituted legislation that banned corporate and union donations to ensure that elections are fair and equitable and that everybody has an opportunity to contribute or be a par t of a political party that best represents their values–and their morals really. And so we see that this government in BITSA, in bill 26–or in 16 is getting rid of the rebate.

And so what we've tried to do, which every member in this House voted against , again, something that they seem to be very proud of, which, again, hopefully, researchers will be going back and naming each and every single one of them for standing up against The Election Financing Amendment Act, which I want to remind everybody in the House, it attempted to do three things. What it attempted to do was, you know, reduce the threshold from 10 per cent to 2 per cent in respect of votes.

That–so that would've been able to open up rebates to more candidates and parties, which would've in cluded, you know, the Green Party, possibly even the Manitoba Party of our colleague in the House here and his freedom caucus. * (15:50) Like, I don't know if they, you know, are not happy about that and don't want him here, but I think that, you know, the member for Assiniboia (Mr. Fletcher) has, you know, contributed to some good conversation and good debate in the House, and has a right to be able to, you know, should they see fit, try to have to have, you know, more diverse candidates, as with the Green.

And we've seen that with the reduction, or the – getting rid of the rebate certainly will have an impact on the individuals that will be able to attempt to seek the nomination or to be a candidate. Be –and I– it's important to note, for the House and for all Manitobans that that very strategically targets, you know, women. It targets individuals who are not represented in this House.

And I think that that is an important note to put on the record that, you know, we still, in 2019, still do not have a black Manitoban elected to this Legislature–not a man, not a black man, not a black woman–we still do not have a black MLA in this Legislature. We still do not have a Muslim brother or sister elected to this Legislature. The rebate–getting rid of the r ebate that's embedded in BITSA here will severely impact on candidates who are traditionally not a part of this Chamber to seek that nomination and to run as a candidate in our provincial elections. And, you know, that's not debatable.

That is a fact. It is very –it is exponentially more difficult for individuals who have not traditionally been a part of this Chamber to get that nomination and

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	41-4-38b
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	41st 4th hansardpdf 38b.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	bb31e6c8190e931237b11cdcc8ab34021b6451f7

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