Alberta Hansard — 21 March 2007, Afternoon sitting (13:00) (Legislature 26, Session 3)

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Alberta — Debates (Hansard)

March 21, 2007 Alberta Hansard 253 Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 1:00 p.m. Date: 07/03/21 [The Speaker in the chair] head: Prayers The Speaker: Good afternoon and welcome. Let us pray. Guide us so that we may use the privilege given us as elected Members of the Legislative Assembly. Give us the strength to labour diligently, the courage to think and to speak with clarity and conviction and without prejudice or pride. Amen. Please be seated. head: Introduction of Visitors The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Lougheed. Mr. Rodney: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is indeed an honour today to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly Mr. Pál Vastagh, ambassador of Hungary. Also seated in your gallery is the ambassador’s wife, Leeze Vastagh, along with Ferenc Banyai, deputy head of mission, and Béla Balaz, honorary consul general in Calgary. Mr. Speaker, more than 40,000 Albertans tr ace their ancestry to Hungary, including many who came as refugees in the 1956 rebellion. Between 2001 and 2005 Alberta’s exports to Hungary averaged almost $3 million per year, consisting mostly of machin- ery, especially for our oil and gas sector, and also pet food.

Over the past five years Alberta’s imports from Hungary have averaged approximately $19 million per year, including computer parts, telecommunications equipment, and aluminum. On behalf of government and the Minister of International, Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Relations my wife, Jennifer, and I had lunch just a few moments ago and had a great experience. I know he really enjoyed his meeting with you, Mr. Speaker, and I look forward to wonderful things between Alberta and Canada and Hungary. I’d ask our honoured guests now, Mr.

Speaker, to please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of our Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lacombe-Ponoka. Mr. Prins: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s also an honour and a privilege for me to rise today and introduce to you and through you to this Assembly a guest seated in your gallery. Mayor Judy Gordon of Lacombe is no stranger to this Assembly. She served ably as an MLA for the Lacombe-Stettler constituency for three terms, from 1993 to 2004, and we are glad to have her here to join us today. I’m going to ask her to rise and receive the warm welcome of this Assembly.

Thank you. head: Introduction of Guests The Speaker: The hon. Deputy Speaker. Mr. Marz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members will know that you are the chair of the very active Alberta branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, or the CPA. This province shares a common bond across the globe with over one-quarter of the world’s population. I’m therefore pleased to introduce to you and through you to all members Mr. Thembekile Mzantsi, Serjeant-at-Arms, head of safety and security, Eastern Cape Provincial Parliament, South Africa, and Mr.

Hasani Ngobeni, Serjeant-at-Arms, Limpopo Provincial Parliament, South Africa. Both are here today on a two- day attachment to study the operations of our visitor, ceremonial, and security services branch. They are seated in your gallery, Mr. Speaker, and I would ask them to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Environment. Mr. Renner: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m very pleased today to introduce a number of employees from Alberta Environment who are participating in the public service orientation tour.

They are seated in one of the galleries, and if I could, I’d like to quickly read off their names and ask them to stand as I do so: Sheree DeCoteau, Ashton Stewart, Judy Tran, Monique Dietrich, Frauke Meyer, Rachel Dennis, Krista Westover, Laura Partridge, Greg Nelson, Santiago Paz, Jennifer Martin, Carolyn Skoworodko, Keith Denman, Justin Sabourin, Elizabeth Smith, Jason Stianson, Angela McGonigal, Kendall Tupker, and Lorie Wagner.

Again, I’d ask all of the members to give them a warm traditional welcome as they experience from the public service side what the elected representatives deal with on a day-to-day basis. The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Infrastructure and Transporta- tion. Mr. Ouellette: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m very pleased today to introduce to you and through you a group of 23 provincial employees with Infrastructure and Transportation. They work in the ministry’s properties division, which is responsible for the operation and maintenance of government-owned properties.

These dedicated employees are seated in the members’ gallery, and I would ask that they rise as I read their names: Cheryl Alty, Carlo Amodió, Sandye Glass, Tara Fitzpatrick, Koby Godwin, Colette Haakman, Lauralee Harrison, Karen Herd, Rhonda Holland, David Jesse, Tanya Jerasi, Karen Johnson, Trudy Lewis, Sherry Liptak, Deborah Marriott, Mike MaGathan, Jason Ness, Peter Nieteresta, Elena Nyhus, Judy Tumm, Jerry Wasylkiw, and Siân Wright. Please join me in wishing them a traditional welcome. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Castle Downs. Mr. Lukaszuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It’s indeed my pleasure and honour to introduce to you a group of 37 young and enthusiastic people from Edmonton-Castle Downs, which in itself – I know you will agree, Mr. Speaker – makes them superstars. They are students of Bishop Savaryn elementary school, and they’re currently studying governance in Canada. They are accompanied by a couple of teachers: Mrs. Evelyn Sopkow and Mr. Mark Harvanka. With them is a volunteer parent who I know spends a great deal of time volunteering in that school and whom I consider to be a friend as well, Mrs. Anita Armet.

I would ask them all to rise and receive the traditional welcome of our Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Red Deer-North. Mrs. Jablonski: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a real honour and a pleasure for me today to introduce to you and through you to members of this Assembly some very important members of our community in Red Deer. They are from Catholic Social Services, and they are here to watch us represent them and to see how government works. They’re accompanied by their group leaders

Alberta Hansard March 21, 2007254 Mrs. Sherry Albrecht, Mrs. Shirley Butler, and Mrs. Suja Varghese. These people are very special people themselves because of their caring and compassion, that helps to make the lives of the people in their care better and happier. They are in the members’ gallery, and I would ask them all to rise and receive the warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Glenora. Dr. B. Miller: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to introduce to you and through you to all the members of the Assembly 12 very special people from the High Park community in my riding of Edmonton-Glenora. They are here in support of their school, High Park school, which is being considered for closure. I would ask them to please stand as I call their names: Clare Peters, Kristine Peters, Arlen Peters, Jackson Peters, Kim Kotyk, Jorge Kotyk, Gary Kotyk, Kim Patten, Geniene Elder, Reilley Elder-Cherry, Tess Crowthers, and Joan Deverill. I ask the House to please give them a warm welcome. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Currie. Mr.

Taylor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Council of Alberta University Students has been at the Legislature meeting with elected officials all week to make known their concerns and the concerns of students in Alberta’s postsecondary institutions. On Monday they were introduced by the hon. Minister of Education, yesterday they were introduced by the third part y, and today it is our turn to introduce this group as a way of showing that they have the ear of all sides of the government. Here with us today – and I introduce them to you, Mr.

Speaker, and through you to all members of the House – are David Cournoyer and Duncan Wojtaszek. If they would rise, please, and if you would all give these guests the warm welcome of the Assembly. Thank you. 1:10 The Speaker: The hon. leader of the third party. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have two introductions today. I’m delighted to introduce to you and through you to this Assembly two guests who are part of the Save Our Schools group from Newton school. They are Gerry Hofs and Brenda Hovan.

These dedicated members of my constituency have been working hard with other parents and community members on a proposal to save Newton elementary school from closure by the Edmonton public school board. They have an i nnovative plan to convince the board that Newton school is sustainable and should be saved for the good of the students, the parents, and the community. Gerry and Brenda have shown incredible commitment to the idea of community schools, and I would like to commend them for their efforts. I would also ask them to now rise and receive the warm traditional welcome of the Assembly. Mr.

Speaker, my second introduction. I am pleased to introduce to you and through you to this Assembly Michele Jackson. Michele was raised in Ottawa, Ontario, and moved to Edmonton seven years ago. She has worked on Parliament Hill as well as for the Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation, which was a nonprofit social housing organization. She has also served as an archivist in the national archives of Canada. Here in Edmonton Michele has worked for various francophone nonprofit organizations and for Western Economic Diversification Canada in communications.

We were delighted to have Michele join our NDP caucus team as my executive assistant last fall, and we’re indeed fortunate to have someone with her skills and experience in our office. I would now ask that Michele rise and receive the warm traditional welcome of this Assembly. head: Ministerial Statements The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Health and Wellness. St. Joseph’s General Hospital Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Albertans are aware, a situation has arisen in the East Central health region. My ministry took immediate action upon learning about this situation, and that work is continuing.

It is unacceptable to me, as I’m sure it is to most Albertans, that this situation could arise in our health care system. I am very concerned, and I’m determined to find out how it could have happened. Yesterday our focus and priority was on the health of Albertans who may be at risk and ensuring that those Albertans are properly informed and properly taken care of. While this remains a priority, we are moving forward, continuing to investigate, and looking at next steps.

I want to be absolutely certain that East Central health has the management capacity it needs to ensure the quality of patient safety and care, so today I will be announcing that I have asked my ministry to contract with appropriate management and other experts to comanage and support East Central staff as we move forward. The chair of the health region has also requested that pursuant to the Hospitals Act I have the ministry develop a plan and appoint a board of management to oversee the management of St. Joseph’s hospital while we address these issues. As we look deeper into the situation, let me be clear.

I am committed to taking whatever further steps may be necessary. Albertans deserve to receive quality health care and expect nothing less. It is this government’s and this minister’s commitment to deliver just that. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre on behalf of the Official Opposition. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you for the opportunity to rise and respond to the minister’s statement. This situation in Vegreville is a very serious problem. Few things can be more serious than the health and well-being of Albertans.

Albertans are concerned, and they need and deserve assurances that their health system is working. There are two equally important issues here. The first is the local level and problems regarding insp ection control practices at that hospital. The second is the adequacy of provincial oversight with monitoring and enforcement of standards. Alberta Liberals have long been concerned that one of the risks in this government’s approach to health care reform is that its capacity for enforcement and oversight of standards has been steadily diminished throughout the 1990s. It has yet to recover. This situation scares us.

It scares all Albertans. Residents, their families, and members of the communities directly affected have a right to know that they will be okay. More broadly, Albertans want to know that their government has strong prevention practices established so that these things never happen in the first place, but if they do, they want to know that the government has a comprehen- sive emergency response plan in place. The closure of a hospital so critical to this community or an y community is an issue of public confidence and public trust. This situation should not have hap- pened.

I look to the government for leadership. Thank you.

March 21, 2007 Alberta Hansard 255 The Speaker: Hon. members, in Ministerial Statements our rules allow a minister of Executive Council to make a statement, and our rules allow a representative of the Official Opposition to make a statement. For additional members to participate requires unani- mous consent. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview has caught my eye. I know he will want to rise to seek unanimous consent for the leader of the third party to participate. [Unanimous consent granted] The Speaker: The hon. leader of the third party. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I and my caucus colleagues in the New Democrat opposition are deeply concerned for the health and wellness of the residents of Vegreville and surround- ing areas. I sincerely hope that further cases of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, are not found. I note that the East Central health region has halted new admis- sions to the hospital and closed the central sterilization room due to MRSA and sterilization concerns. However, there are some very serious questions which must be answered with respect to this MRSA outbreak and the hospital sterilization techniques.

During an audit the East Central region found that the sterilization of hospital equipment was not happening according to proper procedures. This audit was provided on February 13, 2007. East Central ordered the cancellation of sterilization and a cessation of surgeries in the hospital; however, St. Joseph’s hospital sterilization room continued to operate. Over a month passed between the health region’s order and the closure of the sterilization room.

If individu- als were exposed to or infected by any blood-borne or communica- ble diseases between the time of the order to close the sterilization room and the government taking action, then a full public inquiry must be struck in order to protect the public from further occurrences of this sort. Mr. Speaker, it’s a matter of great concern that the appropriate safeguards in our health system have eroded during the cuts of the 1990s and have not yet been corrected.

The minister has promised immediate action and will put in place a board of management for the hospital, but that does not close the matter as far as the New Democratic Party opposition is concerned. We need to have an inquiry into the events that led up to the causes of this occurrence and make sure that it cannot happen again. Certainly, the delay in implementing the health region’s order is unacceptable and must be explained as well as any government knowledge or responsibility thereof. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. head: Members’ Statements International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Mr.

Shariff: Mr. Speaker, Albertans are joining communities around the world today to recognize the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This day represents a rallying point for the world to eliminate racism and intolerance. This year’s international theme is Fighting Everyday Racism. On this day 41 years ago the United Nations declared March 21 the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This special day was created to commemorate the 69 individuals who lost their lives during a peaceful antiapartheid protest on March 21, 1960, in Sharpeville, South Africa.

In Alberta a number of events are taking place all month in recognition of this day: a multicultural book reading and short story contest in Calgary, a film showcase in Edmonton examining racial stereotypes found in Canada, a discussion in Red Deer on the harmful effects of racism on children, an event with food and cultural displays from various ethnic groups in Brooks. Students and schools throughout the province are also hosting a variety of events to commemorate the day. Alberta’s municipalities have joined an international coalition of cities against racism.

This project aims to have municipalities follow key principles in order to help build communities that are respectful, safe, and welcoming. The Human Rights and Citizenship Commission and the Alberta Urban Municipalities are actively involved in supporting this initiative. Mr. Speaker, on this International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination I ask the members of this House to join me and communities throughout the province in taking action against all forms of racial discrimination and encouraging fairness for all citizens. Mr. Speaker, let’s all fight racism every day. Thank you.

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Bow. 1:20 Arts Vibrancy in Rural Alberta Ms DeLong: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m very pleased to rise today to acknowledge the artistic vi brancy that exists in rural Alberta. I recently enjoyed a performance of On Golden Pond at the Rosebud Theatre. The hamlet of Rosebud was once a coal mining, railway, and farming community on the brink of extinction in the 1960s. The population had dwindled to 12 people. To help revive the community, a school of arts was founded, and the Rosebud Theatre followed in 1983.

What was once a struggling community has now become the home to western Canada’s largest rural professional theatre. Thirty- five thousand people a year from all across Alberta and beyond visit this theatre in a community still family oriented and still based upon a strong attachment to the land. The success of the Rosebud Theatre has allowed the community to preserve many original buildings in the area. The local hotel is now the administration office for the theatre. The former United Church is now an art gallery, and even the theatre itself was once used for grain storage years ago.

The theatre has not only saved the community, but it brought the spirit back to Rosebud. Building on the success of the theatre, the hamlet has seen even more develop- ment with bed and breakfasts, a gift shop, and galleries. Other rural Alberta communities are revitalizing their hometowns by embracing arts and culture as well. Fifteen years ago the tiny hamlet of Kelsey, near Camrose, launched a dinner theatre event. It started as a fundraiser to help restore the local community hall, but today the Kelsey Drama Club and local volunteers continue to welcome guests from as far away as British Columbia.

Stony Plain has embraced the arts in another way, with out door murals and sculptures depicting the town’s history. This attraction is always open for everyone to enjoy, and guided tours are available. The Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Glenora. High Park Elementary School Dr. B. Miller: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The neighbourhood elementary school is an integral part of every vital and dynamic community. In many communities the local sc hool is the hub of social life.

Given the bonds that tie families, children, parents, and grandparents to a school, it is a tremendous shock to the whole

Alberta Hansard March 21, 2007256 community to learn that their beloved school is being considered for closure. A parent wrote in a letter: when you take away a commu- nity school, you take away the heart of the community. But the shock gives way to anxiety and anger, and then one by one individu- als and families begin talking and gathering and planning for the future. This is what happened in the High Park community here in Edmonton, and I want to use this moment to pay tribute to the residents of High Park for their courage, resourcefulness, and their grit.

They proved what the community organizers say, that when it comes to community assets, the glass is always half full, not half empty. In the face of many barriers, including cruel, all-too-brief timelines, they never gave up, and they are here today to proclaim that High Park is their school, and it is their community. Governments and school boards s hould be in the business of building up and strengthening community, not destroying it.

Our legislation should make it possible for all sectors of the community – residents, parents, politicians – to all come together and work together to preserve the viability of the community. It is obvious that closing a school has tremendous costs. It means a migration of young families out of the neighbourhood. It means the decline of social cohesion in the community. It means the breaking of the bonds of community for many generations identify- ing with the school. It means a spiral of decline which is very hard to turn around.

I am proud of the efforts of the High Park community, and I hope against hope that the outcome of their efforts is successful. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Growth Pressures in Central Alberta Mr. Doerksen: Mr. Speaker, much noise is made in this Assembly over the growth pressures in the Wood Buffalo region, the city of Calgary, and the city of Grande Prairie. Specific responses have been made to accommodate the growth in these regions, and rightly so, but I want to remind this Assembly not to lose sight of the fact that there are other growth pre ssures in this province which face their own considerable challenges.

Stats Canada released the 2006 census results last week, showing the growth from 2001 to 2006. The province of Alberta grew by 10 per cent while the rest of Canada grew only by 5 per cent. Calgary grew by 12 per cent, Edmonton by 10 per cent, the Wood Buffalo region by 24 per cent, and Grande Prairie by 27 per cent. But little heralded is the fact that Red Deer grew by 22 per cent and Sylvan Lake by 36 per cent. This puts central Alberta into the same stratospheric category as the aforementioned communities.

It is no w onder central Alberta communities are anxious to protect their freshwater resources to accommodate their population and economic growth potential for the future. This is an important reminder that government programs must be balanced in their approach to address the needs of all communities, not only the ones that are media favourites and flavour of the month. The census results also demonstrate the impact of small and mid cities on the growth patterns of Alberta, communities like Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Sylvan Lake, Spruce Grove, Strathmore, and Airdrie.

While justified, I am loathe to begin a small cities caucus because I believe we govern for the province as a whole, but let it be understood that these cities have unique challenges which are not the same as large cities or the rural communities. Whether as regional centres for health care delivery or postsecondary education or centres for water and sewage treatment, they have enormous positive impact in Alberta that should not be underestimated. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Ellerslie. Racial Discrimination Mr. Agnihotri: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Today is a day to acknowledge that racism is still present in our society. Racism is an outdated idea and still present and accepted. Discriminatory laws and practices are very much in vigour in some places. In other places people accept silently more subtle forms of discrimination. Racism and racial discrimination make a mockery out of human dignity. No rhetoric about equality or fairness is credible if we accept racism and racial discrimination. We must look forward and agree on the best strategy to rid mankind of the corruption and pollution that creates racism and discrimination.

We must raise awareness and involve all Canadians in the movement against racism and advocate against all forms of discrimination. Through education and information we fight the ignorance and intolerance that breeds racism and discrimination. As Canadians we should make some effort to support acceptance and diversity. First of all, speak out against racism. In this case silence is not golden. In fact, silence, too, can lead to greater discrimination, so you have the right as well as the duty to speak out. When you have a chance, stand up and protect our society’s great diversity and respect our differences.

We must work together to break down these barriers brick by brick. Racism can be stopped. Together we can accomplish this goal. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Red Deer-North. Role of Private Members Mrs. Jablonski: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The people of Alberta have placed their trust in their representatives. We are elected to represent the people of Alberta to uphold their values and their vision. We work very hard in the Legislature, and we need to remember that the work we do does lead to great things. While some criticize, others act.

Barack Obama said: do we participate in the politics of cynicism, or do we participate in the politics of hope? I participate in the politics of hope, and I chose to make good things happen. There are days in this Assembly when the detailed work of line- by-line consideration of legislation makes most of us and the public sleepy, when the noise and chatter of question period embarrasses some of us, when the long afternoons of occupying a seat for the sake of quorum are mind-numbing. On those days some of us wonder how effective our role as a private member is.

However, the good-news story is that PCHAD, the Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act, a hard-fought-for private member’s bill which I had the honour of sponsoring, now boasts some instantly recognizable good work, which warms the hearts of those who have seen the ravages that drug abuse causes among the young. This act has had an impact. It has saved lives and saved families. Of the 232 young people who have been temporarily held for drug abuse assessment, 50 per cent have voluntarily gone into treatment.

Ask me if the faces of the mothers and fathers of these children don’t show real relief and a great big than k you to all in this Legislature who fought to pass this bill against enormous odds and tight deadlines. Voluntarily to treatment, 50 per cent: in that number lives are saved. This is effective work of private members. The govern- ments of Manitoba and Saskatchewan have implemented similar legislation, and I thank all members of this Assembly.

March 21, 2007 Alberta Hansard 257 head: 1:30 Oral Question Period The Speaker: First Official Opposition main question. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. St. Joseph’s General Hospital Ms Blakeman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday’s news of shocking oversights at a hospital in Vegreville has Albertans extremely worried. Not only are residents in the area concerned that they may have been affected by improper sterilization practices, but they’re worried about this government’s failure to alert Albertans in a timely enough fashion to a major health risk. My questions are to the Premier.

How long has the Premier been aware that St. Joseph’s hospital wasn’t meeting standards since they seem to have had a history of problems? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, the minister and I followed the advice of professionals, and that is our public officer of health. They posted, of course, on the doors of the hospital last Friday a public health order, and it’s for those people that were going to gain access into the hospital. Over the weekend the minister of health met with officials to follow up, and we’re doing whatever we can as quickly as possible to restore confidence not only in St.

Joe’s hospital but all hospitals in the province of Alberta. Ms Blakeman: So the Premier knew at the same time as the public. Again to the Premier. There was a failure on the part of this government to monitor and enforce the situation. There is no doubt that this province is going to face lawsuits from patients that may be infected due to this negligence. Has the Premier begun discussions with cabinet and legal counsel on the scale of this government’s liability? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, this is the kind of behaviour that Albertans find upsetting. First of all, let’s assess the situation.

The officer of health said: minimum risk. We are going to ask all those that had any service in terms of the hospital, any kind of health care delivery service, that were in contact with the CSR – we’re going to make sure that we contact them all, make sure that they’re aware of the risk. But to say that we’re already anticipating huge court cases, et cetera, is – you know, folks, let’s first restore the confidence in the hospital. The Speaker: The hon. member. Ms Blakeman: Thank you. I would have called it planning.

Again to the Premier: what deadline has the Premier set for the report by the Health Quality Council of Alberta to be completed, and will the Premier commit to making the report public immediately after receiving it? Mr. Stelmach: The minister will respond to the actual time limit of the Health Quality Council. Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, I have requested the Health Quality Council to look into all aspects surrounding this situation and to report back to me. I have not as yet put a deadline on that process. We need them first to look into what it’s going to take.

We will be in discussions with the Health Quality Council leadership this week to talk about the nature and extent of the inquiry and what needs to be done, and we will set appropriate time frames at that time. I want to make sure that the work is done thoroughly and completely, so I’m not going to put artificial deadlines on it. But on the other hand, we’re going to make sure that they understand that it has to be done as soon as possible. The Speaker: Second Official Opposition main question. The hon. Member for St. Albert. School Closures Mr. Flaherty: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Alberta Liberals have long shown that they value community schools, but this government has proven again and again that it does not. In January the Minister of Education himself stated: I don’t buy into the concept that the closure of a school is going to collapse a community. Well, we dispute that sentiment, and there are a lot of people in the gallery today that would dispute that sentiment. Will the Premier admit today that school closures have a profoundly negative effect on students, parents, and the entire community? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, this province places a treme ndous priority on education.

In fact, I’m proud to say that in terms of comparisons to other jurisdictions, we lead in so many different areas of achievement. It’s a great tribute, of course, to the teachers and our students. That is the really positive message that we want to get out to all Canadians. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Flaherty: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Community members who are most affected by school closures feel shut out of the process. The timelines for closure are too short, and the views of the community are not taken seriously. The Alberta Liberals would encourage more community involvement in schools, not less.

Will the Premier commit to extending the timeline and level of commu- nity involvement in school closures to ensure that important voices are being heard in the community? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, we’ve always taken pride in the fact that our government listens to Albertans. It does get out to every corner of the province, our ministers and caucus members. On the administrative, in terms of regulations within the School Act, the minister can respond. The Speaker: The hon. Member for St. Albert. Mr. Flaherty: I thought he was responding, Mr. Speaker. Sorry. The Speaker: The hon. Member for St.

Albert has the floor. Mr. Flaherty: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, this government is behind the trend when it comes to community schools. The Alberta Liberals have introduced excellent policy and legislation that would protect valuable community schools from closure and would expand their role in the community. Th e government has been happy to borrow Liberal policy in the past, so why not now? Will the Premier call for a moratorium on school closures until a clear community schools policy is in place? Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, whenever we enter into discussion, of course, with respect to a possible school closure, there are very clear rules that school boards have to follow in terms of working with the community, working with parents, working with the municipality. I partook in a number of situations where the public came together in terms of the discussion of a reduction of a program within an

Alberta Hansard March 21, 2007258 existing school. I think the process we have is good. If it requires some improvement, we’ll certainly listen to any Albertan that would come forward with any advice. The Speaker: Third Official Opposition main question. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. St. Joseph’s General Hospital (continued) Ms Blakeman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. MRSA is one of the superbugs now found in many hospitals. The most successful way to prevent this is handwashing before touching patients. My questions are to the Minister of Health and Wellness.

How much of the MRSA infection has been transmitted from St. Joseph’s hospital in Vegreville to the community? If someone infected with MRSA has gone into the community and, say, served lunch at the local seniors’ centre, then it is cyc ling through the community and back into the hospital. What plans does the minister have to test the local population for this superbug infection? Mr. Hancock: Well, Mr. Speaker, an interesting question. First of all, I would say that of all the admissions to St. Joseph’s hospital, to my understanding nobody came into the hospital with MRSA.

The other thing I would indicate is in terms of my discussions with the provincial public health officer. The MRSA infection, although there are some community instances known about it, is primarily a hospital infection. The question about whether it has been transferred or could have been transferred out into the commu- nity is a very interesting one, and I guess that what we need to make sure is . . . The Speaker: The hon. member. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much. Again to the Minister of Health and Wellness: how do we know that the emergency room patients are safe?

They were exposed to the same contaminated equipment and unsanitary practices. Mr. Hancock: What we need to make sure of, Mr. Speaker, is that people in the community know and understand the symptoms of MRSA, which are rashes and lesions, and, if they have those symptoms, to immediately seek medical attention. With respect to the sterilization of the equipment: there was an immediate order put in place to stop use of equipment. All of the equipment was removed from the hospital and appropriately sterilized.

So on the go-forward basis, appropriate steps have been taken to make sure that no person attending at the emergency at St. Joseph’s hospital would have any concern about the sterilized equipment. That has been taken care of on a go-forward basis. The Speaker: The hon. member. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Again to the Minister of Health and Wellness. A directive by the health region to close the sterilization room on February 13 was violated by the hospital for a month. Can the minister determine what went wrong here? I don’t want to wait months for a Health Quality Council report.

Is it a default in monitoring or in enforcement? 1:40 Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, that’s precisely the reason why we’re moving ahead today to put in place a plan and a board of manage- ment to take control of the management of that institution under the Hospitals Act. That’s the appropriate methodology in this type of institution. If that board of management is not successful in making sure that we can have total assurance of the quality of management and operation of that facility, then a supervisor can be appointed after the board of management is in place.

But that’s precisely why we’ve moved to the board of management: so that we know with certainty that directives of this nature are being followed and that all appropriate protocols are being followed in that particular hospital. The Speaker: The hon. leader of the third party, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Manning. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On February 13, 2007, during an audit of St. Joseph’s hospital the East Central region found that sterilization of hospital equipment was not occurring according to proper procedures.

East Central ordered the cancella- tion of sterilization and a cessation of surgeries in the hospital. However, over a month passed between the health region’s order and the closure of St. Joseph’s sterilization room. My question is to the Premier. Why did this hospital continue to operate its sterilization room for over a month despite being ordered to close it? Mr. Stelmach: The Minister of Health and Wellness is following this file very closely, and he’ll respond. The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That indeed is a question that we need to get to the bottom of.

But when this minister was made aware of the situation on Thursday last, March 15, I immedi- ately briefed the Premier, and I immediately called in the provincial public health officer, immediately got in touch with the local medical health officer, and immediately an order was put in place to close the sterilization room, remove the equipment, and do proper sterilization procedures. The rest we will find out and we will take care of. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

The fact is that the health region ordered the sterilization room closed and surgeries to take place elsewhere. That did not happen, and there was a potential for people to be exposed to or to be infected with blood- borne diseases, including HIV and hepatitis B and C. My question is to the minister. Was the February 13 audit provided to the minister or his department of health before Thursday, and if so, when? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, first, no services were performed of a nature that would involve the equipment in question after February 13. I’m satisfied from an inquiry that that is the case.

So no Albertans were at risk at that stage. That should be made clear because we don’t want to unn ecessarily alarm Albertans. To the best of my knowledge the first awareness that the department had and certainly the first awareness that the minister’s office and that this minister had of this situation was on March 15, and we took immediate action. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, I hope the minister will be able to assure the House that there are procedures in place, that his department is informed of these types of audits in a

March 21, 2007 Alberta Hansard 259 timely fashion in the future. The public might well have been at risk. I would ask the minister: if any individuals were exposed or were potentially exposed to any blood-borne pathogens, will the minister commit to a full public inquiry to look into the systemic failures in our health system that this exposes? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that we do not want to get people unnecessarily alarmed. First of all, the audit that the member is talking about was a joint operational audit between the East Central health authority and St.

Joseph’s hospital, which is contracted to the East Central h ealth authority. So it was their internal process to look at their operations. That was not an audit that we had instituted. We should have been advised of the circum- stances, and they should have taken it more seriously. We’ll get to the bottom of that. With respect to the go-forward, I think the hon. member should be patient. We will have the Health Quality Council have a look at the issue, and we will determine from there what facts needs to be followed up. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Manning, followed by the hon.

Member for Lacombe-Ponoka. Tax Deductions Mr. Backs: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In our booming Alberta, trades, techs, and engineers work long hours at the highest tax rate with few tax breaks. Alberta needs more trades and techs. Why not help them with their tools? We need venture capital to convert our research into commercial reality. We need qualified coaches and choreographers in volunteer roles to help keep kids off the streets. Why not tax breaks? My question is to the Minister of Finance.

With the feds only giving small tax breaks for trades tools, will the minister ensure that Bill 207 from 2001 – that’s on tool tax breaks – is finally proclaimed? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Dr. Oberg: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As the hon. member may or may not know, Bill 207 was passed in this Assem- bly. It was sponsored by, I believe, the MLA for Strathcona. It was a very progressive bill. The federal government saw the wisdom in that bill and actually followed suit a couple of years later.

They brought in a tool tax deduction, and with that the tax deduction was actually carried on into the province as well. So the province is doing a tax deduction also. I would ask the hon. member, as well, that if he sees fit to have more of a tax reduction, he would be welcome to bring back the bill, and we can certainly have it looked at again in this Legislative Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Backs: Thank you.

A supplementary to the same minister: with most provinces and the feds providing tax breaks for contributions to labour-sponsored venture capital funds, when will Alberta put this tax break into effect? Dr. Oberg: Well, Mr. Speaker, across Canada the federal govern- ment does indeed give a tax credit to the labour-sponsored venture capital funds, and some provinces have paralleled this. Interestingly enough, in Ontario, which is where probably the biggest fund has been, they’ve actually started to phase it out, and it will be phased out in the year 2010.

Their reasons and rationale for phasing it out are quite simply that it wasn’t effective. So I think there are better ways to encourage venture capital. It’s certainly something that we want to do, and the hon. member’s question is very well r eceived. It is something that we have to do in Alberta, and we’re looking at other ways to encourage venture capital, to encourage the higher risk investments within Alberta. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Backs: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

With the coaching shortage in sports and culture and too many kids on the streets will the minister consider a tax credit for qualified volunteer coaching for kids? Dr. Oberg: Again I thank the hon. member for this question. I will say honestly that it wasn’t an angle that I had actually looked at. What happens typically is that the deductions for health and fitness, especially, have come on the side of the student, have come on the side of the kids participating in the sport. But I think the hon. member has an excellent idea.

I think that it would fit very well under the minister of tourism, parks, and recreation and his commu- nity spirit committee, and I have asked the minister to take a look at that. I think it would work out very, very well there. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lacombe-Ponoka, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Glenora. Employment of Children Mr. Prins: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My first question is to the Minister of Employment, Immigration and Industry. There have been a number of comments and questions in the last few days about children as young as 12 working in different places in the province.

A simple question: what are the rules about this? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Ms Evans: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Across Canada children at the age of 12 have been allowed to work. There are very strict rules about work. For adolescents, for example, on school days they cannot work during the time that school is in session. They can only work two hours per day, and they cannot work between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. So there are some time constraints, and there are also some parameters around it. We always – always – require that parents give written consent before adolescents are allowed to work.

Across Canada in many places, in many family businesses, in grocery stores, and delivering newspapers . . . The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Prins: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My second question to the same minister: has there been a change to these rules so that restaurants could hire younger workers for the purpose of addressing the labour shortage that we’re experiencing? Ms Evans: No, Mr. Speaker. There has been no change. This has not changed. All we did was stop issuing permits, and then we added a new requirement.

Restaurants have to send in safety checklists, very detailed ones, for every adolescent they have working. We’ve had rules for adolescent employment since 1974, when restrictions were brought in to prevent children under 12

Alberta Hansard March 21, 2007260 working and restrictions were put on the type of work that adoles- cents and children age 12 can actually do. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Prins: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My last question to the same minister: how do you know if employers are actually complying with these requirements and regulations? Ms Evans: Mr. Speaker, we have employment standards officers. We are adding an additional number, a significant number, in the budget that will be presented later this spring. I’ll be happy to talk about that at budget time.

We do checks to see if they’re adhering to those compliance requirements. If an employer is found to have hired an adolescent inappropriately, we will put in place a cease-and- desist order. We will close the business. We also conduct regularly other public health inspections. Public awareness around adolescent employment has increased, and employers and employees alike are aware of the laws that we have in place for 12-year-olds. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Glenora, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Bow. 1:50 School Closures (continued) Dr. B. Miller: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Many people in my riding were alarmed at the Minister of Education’s comments: I don’t buy into the concept that the closure of a school is going to collapse the community. For the past five months I’ve been working with members of my constituency in Edmonton-Glenora to prevent three school closures, and it is clear to my constituents and to me that there’s nothing more important to a community than a school. Can the Minister of Education tell us today whether or not he believes that schools are a crucial part of communities? Mr. Liepert: Mr.

Speaker, decisions by school boards to close schools, whether they are in urban centres or in rural Alberta, are always trying times for parents. But the reality is that a flat enrolment across the province and the requirement to build schools in new neighbourhoods where kids live mean that school boards are faced with decisions on school facilities that have declining and low enrolments. Dr. B. Miller: Well, the closure process, Mr. Speaker, is brutal for a community. My constituents feel like their voices have not been heard by the school board or the government in this process.

Will the Minister of Education commit to changing the government’s school closure policy to allow for at least 18 months of timelines and more community involvement in closures, a step that has already been taken by other provinces, such as Ontario? Mr. Liepert: Mr. Speaker, I think the process that’s in place is fair. It’s clearly laid out, and school boards need to comply with what’s laid out in the School Act. It’s a reality, as I said in my first answer, that you’re going to have schools that have very low enrolments, and school boards are elected to make those decisions and are making them. Dr. B.

Miller: Mr. Speaker, the government has proved year after year that it’s far easier to close a school than it is to open a new one. The importance of community schools to neighbourhoods is profound, and many people in the High Park community are worried about the long-term sustainability of their own community. So could I ask the minister: will he tell us what plans the government has to ensure that the community is protected and can continue to be a vital community if the school is closed? Mr. Liepert: Mr.

Speaker, the fact of the matter is that in a lot of mature neighbourhoods – and I certainly know this as an MLA for my constituency – there are a number of schools that 20, 30 years ago were constructed as neighbourhood schools. We are now at the point where, simply, the fact that a particular school is closed does not mean that there isn’t a school in the community. So it’s a decision that school boards have to face. It’s not an easy one, but that’s the fact. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Bow, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Currie.

Support for Music Festivals Ms DeLong: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Since its early roots in our province in 1908 the Alberta Music Festival Association has been promoting and developing music and speech arts in Alberta through performance and workshop-style adjudication. The association is made up of 35 local festivals, mostly organized by volunteers. Regardless of the size of the community and whether it’s the Kiwanis music festival in Calgary or local festivals in Crowsnest, Athabasca, or Red Deer, children around the province have benefited from being involved in the arts and music.

My question is to the Minister of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture. Can the minister please outline what kind of support is provided for music festivals in Alberta? Mr. Goudreau: Mr. Speaker, the arts are very, very important and integral to the quality of life of all Albertans. You know, the government has recognized this, identifying improving Alberta’s quality of life as one of this government’s top five priorities.

Music festivals are an important component of the arts in Alberta, and the Alberta Music Festival Association through its local festivals does an extremely good job of introducing music to students of all ages, helping them develop not only as artists but also as individuals. Funding is provided to the Alberta Music Festival Association on an annual basis. The Speaker: The hon. member. Ms DeLong: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

The musical talent of the youth of Alberta exists across the province regardless of the size of community, and all Alberta youth who choose to pursue the performing arts are equally deserving of encouragement and support. My only supplemental is to the same minister. Can we expect funding to increase for these important community-based programs? Mr. Goudreau: Mr. Speaker, in 2006-07 the budget for the Alberta Foundation for the Arts was nearly $23 m illion. That was an increase of 16 per cent over the previous year.

Every year funding from the foundation supports the arts in Alberta in a number of other ways, including funding to 55 festivals across the province, includ- ing music festivals. We also support arts organizations, from the Calgary Opera to the Okotoks Arts Council. We also support 260 schools in bringing artists into their classrooms. As well, we provide grants to 1,200 musicians, visual artists, and dancers.

March 21, 2007 Alberta Hansard 261 The Speaker: Hon. member, did you have a supplementary? The hon. Member for Calgary-Currie, followed by the hon. Member for Red Deer-North. Holy Cross Care Centre Mr. Taylor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My first concern is to get affordable housing built in a timely fashion. My second concern is this: when provincially funded affordable housing isn’t built on time, as in the case of the Holy Cross centre, we get all our money back and give it to someone who can get the affordable housing built.

We learned today that the government neglected to put into the contract with the Holy Cross a gu arantee that if the project fails, we get all the money back that we’re entitled to. To the Premier: can he explain why there was no clause in the contract requiring Enterprise Universal Inc. to pay back the m oney with interest if the project fails? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, that’s a very specific question to a specific agreement. We’ll get back to the member with respect to that specific agreement, and we’ll consult with the housing minister. Mr. Taylor: Mr. Speaker, I look forward to that answer.

At 5 per cent compounded, in two years the party in possession of $1.137 million can rack up about $120,000 in interest. That’s a sizable chunk of coin, I would say, in any ordinary Albertan’s books. It could pay for another affordable housing unit. Will the Premier direct all government departments to include a repayment with interest clause in all government contracts? It’s our money, after all. It doesn’t belong to the contractor who fails to deliver. Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, this is one of the priorities, of course, that Albertans talked to me about during the leadership campaign.

Of course, as the new government we moved immediately on this critical issue. We now have in possession a report, a report, quite frankly, that was done by an all-party committee, really a first of its kind. The minister now is reviewing the report. He will be present- ing his recommendations to the cabinet policy committee, to caucus, and to this government, and we will act on it. Mr. Taylor: Mr. Speaker, you don’t need a task force to answer that question.

Interestingly, the amount of interest equals the $120,000 that the company has already spent on demolition and design, which the government says it’s not expecting to be returned. You know, I’m not very good at math; that’s why I’m not the Finance critic. To the Premier: does one cancel out the other, or is the taxpayer now out $240,000? Mr. Stelmach: Well, I guess that’s why he was a radio announcer before he got here. An Hon. Member: Low blow. Low blow. Mr.

Stelmach: You know, I hear from across the way, “Low blow.” They can snip and snipe away, make all kinds of obnoxious comments, and then in jest with a smile on my face – and all of a sudden look at how they’re all getting upset. [interjections] Look at that. Whoa. Man. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Red Deer-North, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Water Management Mrs. Jablonski: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, the impacts of climate change, including drought, are a very real possibility in today’s environment.

Water scarcity as a result of climate change is a primary concern for many Albertans, including my constituents. My first question is to the Minister of Environment. Water storage could become increasingly important to communities facing the threat of water shortage. What is this government doing to ensure that reliable water supplies are availabl e well into the future for all Alberta communities? 2:00 The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Renner: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Alberta’s Water for Life strategy has been in place now since 2003, and it is acknowledged by such authorities as the Rosenberg water institute to be among North America’s leading comprehensive plans to deal with water. That plan acknowledges that we have to have a long-term plan on both the conservation side as well as the management side of our water. Mrs. Jablonski: Mr. Speaker, during the government’s public consultation process for the Water for Life strategy Albertans asked that the costs and implications of potential reservoir and diversion projects be known.

To the same minister: in a government promot- ing its openness and transparency, what action has the government taken on this initiative under Water for Life? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Renner: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Alberta Environment is in the process of working itself through the Water for Life strategy. Two of the priorities that were identified under the strategy were to first prepare an inventory of potential water storage sites. That phase has been completed to this stage.

The current phase of the study is to assess the potential for those sites and put them into some kind of a priority situation. The final report will provide Albertans with ample opportunity for valuable input and comment. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mrs. Jablonski: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again to the same minister: if water storage is determined to be the best option for securing reliable water supplies for Albertans in the future, how will Albertans be involved? Mr. Renner: Well, Mr.

Speaker, the development of any kind of a water storage project has a process that is very dependent upon public input, community input of all kinds. I can assure the hon. member that should any of these projects that have been evaluated as having potential proceed, there will be ample opportunity for input from the public. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Decore. Postsecondary Education Funding Dr. Pannu: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today Public Interest Alberta released its comprehensive report on postsecondary education.

The central message of the report is that our advanced education system has still not fully recovered from the deep and short-sighted cuts of

Alberta Hansard March 21, 2007262 the ’90s. Years of neglect have strained our education system beyond limit and leave the government rhetoric about building a learning Alberta ringing hollow. Alberta needs a concrete and comprehensive plan put in place immediately. Will the Minister of Advanced Education and Technology today commit to ensuring that all qualified Albertans have access to affordable advanced education by aggressively reducing tuition levels until they are the lowest in the country and set timelines for achieving that goal? Mr. Horner: Mr. Speaker, it’s a good question.

I’m glad it was asked because we’re doing a very similar plan like that right now with postsecondary institutions. I’ve mentioned several times in this House that we had a round-table discussion with all of the post- secondary institutions in the province, both public and private, on the 26th of February, and that was to develop the road map, to develop the Campus Alberta approach of roles, responsibilities, and mandates. The issue is capacity, Mr. Speaker.

Tuition is one piece of the affordability puzzle, but we need to create the sp aces for those students, and that’s what we’re going to do in collaboration, co- operation, and by communicating with the postsecondary institu- tions. Dr. Pannu: Mr. Speaker, I haven’t heard the minister talk about timelines that are needed here. My second question. The government’s current commitment to create 60,000 postsecondary spaces by the year 2020 will create new spaces at a rate no different from the rate by which this system has been expanding anyway.

When will Albertans get a firm commit- ment and clear timelines for significantly increasing the number of postsecondary spaces in Alberta, and will the minister commit to fully funding those spaces through operating and capital grants? Mr. Horner: Mr. Speaker, I’m glad the hon. member has recog- nized the amount of rapid growth that we’ve had and the fact that we’ve been maintaining that rapid growth in the spaces. We will continue to do that to make the number of spaces that are necessary for those students that need to have access to our postsec ondaries.

In addition to that, my goal is to have that roles, responsibilities, mandate framework completed by the end of this year so that all of the postsecondary institutions and government and students and all stakeholders can look to the future and the spaces where we need them, when we need them. The Speaker: The hon. member. Dr. Pannu: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Successful learning requires highly skilled, permanent full-time faculty and staff. Alberta does not have a comprehensive plan for attracting and retaining the best.

Will the minister commit to tabling a plan, including a firm timeline for implementation, during this session of the Legislature? Mr. Horner: Well, as the hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona rightly knows from his past experience, each institution does their own faculty planning. Each institution is responsible for hiring those faculty members that are responsible for delivering the courses. Obviously, if we’re going to build infrastructure, we are going to propose to the institutions that we’re going to fund them to deliver the programs within those institutions.

As part of the overall roles, responsibilities, a nd mandate plan, we intend to do exactly that in collaboration with the postsecondaries. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Decore, followed by the hon. Member for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. Mountain Pine Beetle Effect on Timber Harvesting Mr. Bonko: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A slowdown in the U.S. housing market has meant low prices for timber and huge pressure on the logging industry in many rural communities. This morning Alberta Forest Products Association stated that 2006 revenues were down $569 million, and they expect this trend to continue.

Despite this, the government’s plan for dealing with the pine beetle requires that firms cut and process even more timber. My question is to the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. Why are we asking timber firms to clear-cut large swaths of trees when the market cannot deal with the excess timber? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Dr. Morton: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m happy to report to the House and the hon. member that I’ve met several times with the Alberta Forest Products Association and many of the major lumber firms that work in this province.

We’ve discussed our plan on the pine beetle and put it in the context of the softwood lumber process and also the market conditions in the United States. There is a strong consensus on how to move forward. We have something called the forestry competitiveness paper. I received that in January, and we’re discussing that with the industry now. Thank you. Mr.

Bonko: Will the minister direct forest companies to change this practice instead of building up timber which will lay on the ground and be susceptible to the pine beetle, or are they going to change the fact that they’re going to allow them to continue to cut, putting the product, with its low commodity, at risk further? Dr. Morton: Mr. Speaker, I suggest that we take a collection up for the hon. member to send him over to British Columbia and see what the effects of doing nothing are. In British Columbia they said: stand back and wait. There’s hardly any pine forest left over there. I’ll put down the first $20.

Thank you. Mr. Bonko: The pine beetle is a threat to our forestry industry. It’s a natural part of our ecosystem and will remain one in the future. We must adapt our practices accordingly. Our forests are particu- larly vulnerable because decades of manmade forest suppression and artificial reforestation have made them that way. What is the minister going to do to change the practices in this province to ensure that our forests are never again vulnerable to the pine beetle, as they are now? Dr. Morton: Mr. Speaker, finally the hon. member has hit a good point here.

Our forests are susceptible to pine beetle, also to disease and to forest fire. Why? Because of the success of our fire preven- tion over the last many years. I’m happy to report that the healthy forest initiative, that this government is in the process of developing now, will precisely through harvesting restore a healthy, age- balanced forest that will be more resistant to disease, to pine beetle, and to forest fire. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung. Surface Rights Compensation Mr. Marz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My first question as well is to the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. Over the past

March 21, 2007 Alberta Hansard 263 year I’ve had numerous calls from landowners very concerned about the amount of compensation they are being offered by the energy industry to access their land for drilling oil and gas wells, the installation of pipelines and power lines, and the like. I understand that the rates have not had a thorough review since the 1980s, when the Surface Rights Act was passed. Could the Minister of Sustain- able Resource Development tell me if there are any plans under way to do a thorough review of surface rights compensation rates in the near future? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr.

Mason: Stand up for property rights, Ted. Dr. Morton: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. An excellent idea from the NDP as well, in response to standing up for property rights, I mean, one of their few good ideas. I have heard the same concerns as the hon. member about the Surface Rights Act and the Surface Rights Board. I recognize that no changes have been made for 25 years, since the last review, and the industry has changed tremendously since then. It’s time to take a good look at it. I’m happy to report that I am prepared to consider reforms and amendments to that to improve both fair compensation and timely access.

Thank you. 2:10 Mr. Marz: I’d like to thank the minister for that answer. My second and last question would be: will the minister commit to having a committee of MLAs, landowner groups, and industry representatives be part of such a review? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Dr. Morton: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you know, one of the first principles of this government is to listen to all Albertans when it comes to issues like this. But it would be premature for me to commit to a full task force at this point in time.

I did receive just this week the surface rights review task force report of the Alberta association of municipalities and districts. It’s an excellent report. I’ve looked at their recommendations. I’m ready to consider many of them. In fact, yesterday I committed to accepting two, indicated that two of their recommendations I’m prepared to accept already. But I want to have further discussions with Albertans before we decide how to proceed on this. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung, followed by the hon. Member for Peace River. Disabled Inmates at Remand Centres Mr. Elsalhy: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Our remand centres are holding facilities designed to house people charged with committing certain crimes until they’re sentenced. There are many problems surrounding our remand centres, overcrowding being the main one, leading sometimes to triple credit for time served while incarcerated in them. Edmonton is finally getting a new facility. The question is: what do we do in the current centre until we get the new one, and what do we plan for this new one that we’re constructing right now? Some inmates are people with disabilities.

There are no supports available to assist them with things like personal cleaning and showering, using the toilet, or doing their laundry. To the Solicitor General: can the minister tell us why there are no provisions in the existing remand centres to provide support and services to disabled inmates before they’re sentenced? The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Public Security and Solicitor General. Mr. Lindsay: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and to the hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung.

All our prisoners that are held and all those that are held in remand centres are treated with dignity and respect, and to the best of my knowledge all those that are there are given the proper care and opportunities to shower, et cetera. Mr. Elsalhy: Mr. Speaker, in the eye of the law remanded individu- als are innocent people until they’re proven guilty. Even those who are eventually convicted still have a right to be treated with dignity, and they should be offered assistance with regard to their physical disability, as stipulated in th e Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act.

Recently in the Edmonton Remand a disabled person in a wheelchair was forced to endure terrible conditions due to inadequate support. Dragging oneself across the floor and climbing onto the toilet, having to do the same to get in and out of a bathtub surely meet the definition of a loss of dignity, contrary to what the hon. minister has just said, a violation of human rights.

To the minister of tourism, parks, and culture: will this minister commit to investigating the conditions at the Edmonton Remand Centre to ensure that disabled inmates are not discriminated against because of their disability and that they get the support they need to live with dignity while they’re incarcerated? Mr. Goudreau: Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to respond. The Member for Edmonton-McClung has a right to be concerned. However, I would need to look at the details and get some of the information. Then I’d be in a better position to respond.

We also have the Human Rights Commission, where the member could lodge a complaint if he feels he needs to go that route. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Elsalhy: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Back to the Solicitor General. As the minister responsible for the new Edmonton Remand Centre and its design, the fate of any disabled individuals who may be housed there is in his hands.

It falls to him to ensure that the new remand centre is designed so that disabled people don’t have to crawl on the floor to go to the bathroom or use the shower, that their laundry is looked after, especially those with ostomies or bowel or bladder problems, and, basically, to design a more disability-friendly site. Will the minister assure us th at this new site is going to have a percentage of units and washrooms that are wheelchair accessible and that there is going to be some provision to assist those with disabilities with their cleaning and housing needs? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr.

Lindsay: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to assure the hon. member that the new facility will be designed to properly look after all of the folks that we’re holding there. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Peace River, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Rutherford. Mountain Pine Beetle Effect on Watershed Mr. Oberle: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday I read reports from British Columbia of a study linking the mountain pine beetle with increased flooding threats in affected watersheds. My question

Alberta Hansard March 21, 2007264 is directed to the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. Is the minister aware of and concerned about the findings of this report? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Dr. Morton: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, indeed, this report is timely and important to Alberta, but the report highlights, if anything, the importance of taking pre-emptive action to harvest these highly susceptible, older pine stands before the pine beetle takes effect in these. So I can tell you briefly about the B.C. study.

It was based on a computer model of an interior B.C. tributary system, and what it found was that in a pine beetle infested area the threat for flooding, the damage to the watershed, and the resulting threat to flooding were greater from trees being killed than from logging. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Oberle: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I concur with the hon. minister. As a professional forester in the province of Alberta I agree with him that that’s really the only strategy that works.

I’m concerned about the report though, and I’m wondering whether the minister concurs with the study’s finding that hydrologi- cal assessments are required in watersheds that are heavily affected by the beetle? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Dr. Morton: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I agree completely with that. Surprise. That’s why in Alberta, unlike British Columbia, we’ve required hydrological assessments as part of forestry manage- ment plans for the last 20 years. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Oberle: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’m wondering if the minister could enlighten us on what other actions the department is taking to ensure that watersheds are protected from beetle impacts in the province of Alberta? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Dr. Morton: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m very happy to report that the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Development has recently hired an additional full-time hydrologist to focus on this very area. We have strengthened our ability to assess the relationship between watersheds and pine beetle to put us at the forefront of all Canadian provinces in this area. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Edmonton-Rutherford, followed by the hon. Member for Little Bow. Capital Cost Allowance Program Mr. R. Miller: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Official Opposition has long demanded a public review of the royalty structure to determine whether or not Albertans are receiving a fair share of their resource. Unfortunately, the Minister of Finance, who is overseeing this review, continues to fire shots over the panel’s bow before it has even begun its work. He continues to make leading statements on matters related directly to this review. My question is for the Minister of Finance.

Does the minister have reports or studies that project what financial losses, part of what he called the one-two-three punch, will be for the oil sands companies in light of the federal government’s decision to phase out the accelerated capital cost allowance? If he does have them, will he table them in this House? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Dr. Oberg: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would be more than happy to table them in the House. We are currently tabulating exactly what potential the accelerated capital cost allowance has of affecting our industry.

We have to remember that in Canada the oil and gas industry is an incredibly important component of a very vibrant economy. Our Premier always talks about that if it wasn’t for Alberta, the growth in Canada would almost be flatlined. This is a very important issue. It’s an issue that we have to stand up for on behalf of our industry. My biggest fear is what the hon. member just said, the one-two-three punch: income trust, accelerated capital cost allowance, and potential climate change. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. R. Miller: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Will the minister concede that by telling the panel members to take into acc ount the ACCA phase-out when determining their final recommendations, he has effectively undermined their independence and the mandate of the panel? And this is the panel that, I have mentioned earlier, Alber- tans have so long been calling for. Dr. Oberg: Actually, Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member would have seen the press releases and listened to what I had said when I first announced the panel, I had actually asked them to look at the accelerated capital cost allowance at that time, and that was some two months ago.

That was before we even knew what was in the federal budget. So this is something that we have asked them to look at: how taxes and royalties in general are affecting this industry. Mr. R. Miller: Mr. Speaker, I’ve long suspected that the minister knew what was in the federal budget long before the rest of us did. My last question is also for the Minister of Finance. Does the minister have studies or reports that project the potential savings for oil sands companies who now invest in green technology, and will he table those reports in this Legislature? 2:20 The Speaker: The hon. minister. Dr. Oberg: Mr.

Speaker, on response to the hon. member’s first part of his question, I wish I did know what was in the federal budget, but unfortunately we didn’t. I’d be more than happy to do that. We’re currently tabulating exactly what the accelerated capital cost allowance will do on our green projects. But we do have to remember that when we’re talking, for example, about the CO 2 pipeline, that’s about a b illion and a half dollars versus a hundred and some billion dollars that are currently projected to be invested in the oil sands, so there is a difference in magnitude of scale on that.

We thank them on the green side but not necessarily on the accelerated capital cost allowance for oil sands. The Speaker: Hon. members, before we move to the next order of the Routine, just to let you know, there were 92 questions and

March 21, 2007 Alberta Hansard 265 answers today. Might we revert briefly to Introduction of Guests? [Unanimous consent granted] head: Introduction of Guests (reversion) The Speaker: The hon. Member for Cardston-Taber-Warner. Mr. Hinman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a real privilege to rise and introduce to you and through you to the members of this Assembly a fine group of students and their t eachers and parents from St. Mary’s in Taber. We have with that group teachers Mr. Pat Pyne, Ms Alissa Henriet and parents and helpers Mrs. Kathy Collett, Mr. Mike Cudrak, Mr. Ed Derksen, Mr.

Tony Fiedler, Ms Connie Green, Mrs. Sheila Heal, Mrs. Kathy Knibb, Mrs. Audra Ness, Mr. Joe Smith, Mrs. Judy Strojwas, and Ms Jody Green. It’s a real pleasure to have visitors come this far and see the excitement that they have in wanting to know about the democratic process. Mr Pyne has made many trips to Edmonton from Taber to share this with his students, and I look forward to meeting them after. Would they please rise and receive the warm welcome of this Assembly. head: Presenting Petitions The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Glenora. Dr. B. Miller: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have a petition signed by 1,044 people asking the government to take immediate steps to halt further closures by the Edmonton public school board by amending the closure of schools regulation to provide parents and other community members with a period of not less than 18 months to formulate a revitalization plan, to strike a task force comprised of trustees and qualified members of the public to review and make recommendations regarding the Edmonton public school board’s current school closure process, and encourage ongoing consultation and partnerships between parents, communities, and municipal and provincial agencies.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Manning. Mr. Backs: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve got a petition of a much larger group. These are the citizens from Edmonton-Manning who are supporting the construction of a new Edmonton remand centre but not in northeast Edmonton. There are 218 in this group. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. head: Notices of Motions The Speaker: The hon. Deputy Government House Leader. Mr. Renner: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to give notice that at the appropriate time I will move that written questions and motions for return appearing on today’s Order Paper will stand and retain their places. head: Tabling Returns and Reports The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Agriculture and Food. Mr. Groeneveld: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to file with the Assembly five copies of my letter to the hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar in response to Sessional Paper 89/2007. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Justice and Attorney General. Mr. Stevens: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On behalf of the Minister of Health and Wellness, I wish to file the appropriate number of copies of responses to written questions 33 and 34, which were asked by the hon. leader of the third party. Also, on behalf of the hon. Minister of Employment, Immigration and Industry I wish to table the required number of copies to written question number 27. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Mill Woods. Mrs. Mather: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two tablings today.

The first is a letter from Karen Baxter, the fund development co- ordinator for the Western Guide and Assistance Dog Society, providing information about this organization, which was founded in 1996. The second is a letter from Erick and Katherine Guevara of Calgary regarding the issue of child care in Alberta. “At a time when the population is growing and the high cost of living demands more childcare programs, it is strange that support for all children 0- 12 with appropriate benefits is l acking and is leading to crises in childcare.” The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Glenora. Dr. B.

Miller: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to table eight letters and appropriate copies regarding the possible closure of High Park school, heartfelt letters expressing their desire to have the school stay open from Beth George; Gary Kotyk; Ron Hayter, a councillor of the city of Edmonton; Kathy Paradis; Jesse Sorensen; Judy McInroy; Alexandria Woycenko; and Gloria Krischanowski. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity. Mr. Chase: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I have two tablings, the first recognizing the fantastic accomplishments of the Calgary-Varsity William Aberhart Trojan girls’ senior wrestling team that won the city this past week. They did extremely well. My second, Mr. Speaker, is a copy of four letters with the appropriate number of copies regarding the possible closure of High Park school. These letters of concern come from Kristine Peters, Jerry and Kassie Kissel, Arnold Hickey, and Karen Johnson. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Rutherford. Mr. R. Miller: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have two tablings today, the first being four more letters regarding the potential closure of High Park school, and these letters are from Donna Kelly, Jennifer Reeve, Hans-Juergen Kirstein, and Roberta Paradis. My second tabling this afternoon, Mr. Speaker, is the requisite number of copies of a document entitled Edmonton: Going from Good to Great. It includes the 2006 annual report of the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation. I and several of my col- leagues from the Legislature were fortunate enough to attend their annual luncheon today. Thank you. The Speaker: Anything in there about the Oilers? Mr. R.

Miller: I think the document is silent about the Oilers.

Alberta Hansard March 21, 2007266 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung. Mr. Elsalhy: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two tablings today. The first one is the requisite number of copies of the University of Alberta: Celebration of Teaching & Learning program book, which is a wonderful celebration ceremony which I attended. It took place on Friday, September 8, 2006. The second one is eight more letters from concerned parents who are writing to us and to the Minister of Education with respect to the possible closure of High Park school.

These letters are from Melodie Stewart, Frank and Marion Kapuscinski, Harry and Muriel Grant, Josef Messmer, Alec Kelly, Lisa Henkel, Constable Troy Jacobsen, and Nikki Andrea. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Dr. Pannu: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This morning Public Interest Alberta, a nonpartisan public interest advocacy organization, issued a discussion paper called Where To from Here: A Vision and Plan for Post-secondary Education in Alberta. I’m happy to table five copies of that paper. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Manning. Mr. Backs: Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. I’ve got a couple of groups of tablings, one here is two letters from the Unity Centre calling for more affordable housing in northeast Edmonton. Some more tablings requesting this Assembly to support that the accused killer of Joshua John Hunt be sentenced and tried as an adult due to the nature of the crime, his past criminal history, and that he’s close to the age of 18. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Decore. Mr. Bonko: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to do two different tablings.

The first tab ling is letters and the appropriate number of copies from parents from High Park school regarding the possible closure. The letters today are from Brayden Kelly, Genène Elder, Cheryl Highfield, and Sylvia Yurko. A second group are from the same school, concerned about the possible closure of High Park school. Those letters are from Evelyn Kelly, Doug Billey, Nickolaus Hee, and Kim Patten. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. Mr. MacDonald: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table for the interest of all hon.

Members of the Legislative Assembly the CO 2 Monitoring and Storage Project report, that is going on in Weyburn. I referred to that yesterday during second reading debate on Bill 3. I would urge all members to please have a look at this. Thank you. The Speaker: Hon. members, pursuant to

section 4(2) of the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act I am pleased to table in the Assembly the annual report of the Chief Electoral Officer for the calendar year 2005. The report includes the office’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder. 2:30 Mr. Eggen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In honour of the International Day for the Elimination of Racism I would like to table an inspiring statement released by the Canadian Labour Congress on this issue.

I hope that all members have a chance to look at the statement and reflect on the role each of us plays in fighting prejudice and discrimination. Thanks. head: Tablings to the Clerk The Clerk: I wish to advise the House that the following documents were deposited with the office of the Clerk. On behalf of the hon. Mr.

Hancock, Minister of Health and Wellness, the Alberta Cancer Board annual report 2005-2006; the College of Chiropractors of Alberta annual review 2006 and financial statements dated June 30, 2006; the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta 2006 annual report; pursuant to the Hea lth Disciplines Act the Health Disciplines Board annual report January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2005; pursuant to the Regional Health Authorities Act the Alberta Mental Health Board 2005-2006 annual report; pursuant to the Health Professions Act Aspen regional health annual report 2005- 2006, Capital health annual report 2005-2006, Northern Lights health region annual report 2005-2006, Peace Country health annual report 2005-2006; pursuant to the Regional Health Authorities Act the Alberta College of Social Workers annual report 2005; the Alberta College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists 2005 annual report; Alberta Dental Association and College annual report 2006; the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta 2005-2006 annual report and financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2006; the College of Alberta Psycholo- gists 2005-2006 annual report and auditor’s report as at March 31, 2006; the College of Dieticians of Alberta annual report 2005-2006.

On behalf of the hon. Mr. Lindsay, Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security, victims’ programs status report 2005-2006. head: Orders of the Day head: Government Bills and Orders Committee of the Whole [Mr. Marz in the chair] The Chair: I’d like to call the Committee of the Whole to order. Bill 20 Appropriation (Supplementary Supply) Act, 2007 The Chair: The hon. President of the Treasury Board. Mr. Snelgrove: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I rise today to move Bill 20, the Appropriation (Supplementary S upply) Act, 2007, in Committee of the Whole. The Chair: The hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity. Mr.

Chase: Thank you very much. Just for Albertans who aren’t familiar with the supplementary supply estimates procedure, more detail is provided than is provided in the interim supply estimates, so we have more than just a single line item. In some cases we have as many as six or seven specific amounts listed, and we have a sense in a general manner of where this money is going to. Under Advanced Education and Technology for expense and equipment/inventory purchases $107 million has been committed. This is one of the larger commitments to supplementary supply.

A question I would have for the hon. representative of the Treasury Board is if he can break this down a little bit further with regard to the amount that is going to, for example, the infrastructure – for

March 21, 2007 Alberta Hansard 267 building, for classroom space, for seats – versus the am ount that would be passed along to research, and I’ll get into that in greater detail. Agriculture and Food is r eceiving an additional $50 million. Finance is receiving almost that same amount, $46,570,000. Health and Wellness, which continues to be one of the major expenditures of the province, will receive $147 million. Municipal Affairs and Housing, by comparison, is just receiving $42 million. When I go through the various departments, I’ll ask about what portion of that is going to incent affordable housing building.

Infrastructure and Transportation is receiving one of the smaller amounts. That’s $500,000. Considering the delays in projects, that seems like a very small amount of supplementary transfer. Service Alberta is to receive $530,000, and in Monday’s discus- sion of the need for a consumer advocate a lot of responsibility was placed at the feet of Service Alberta. I’m not sure that that amount of transfer will provide the due diligence and enforcement that we would hope to r eceive from Service Alberta with the loss of the concept of a consumer advocate.

In total, the amount of expense and equipment/inventory pur- chases under the supplementary supply act is $393,516,000, a number very similar to the relief that is being provided for the municipality of Wood Buffalo. It’s a relatively small amount in terms of the interim supply budget, which is actually approximately $10 billion.

From the capital investment – as I’ve pointed out previously, the capital fund – which contains approximately $6 billion, a small amount is being transferred, $530,000, leaving a considerable amount which could be put towards reducing infrastructure deficits, building schools, and a variety of worthwhile projects. With regard to the general revenue fund again I’m pleased to note that Advanced Education and Technology score largely.

As I indicated at the beginning of my presentation, we get into more details, which I very much appreciate, and we get some of the breakdowns; for example, for postsecondary institutions. The enrolment planning envelope receives approximately $214 million, almost $215 million actually. Of that, the supplementary appropria- tion is $31,700,000. Now, we know that postsecondary institutions are in desperate need of increased space. In Calgary alone over the last two years 25 per cent of eligible students who had the appropriate marks and could afford the high tuition increases in this province had no access.

So this small amount of transfer is not going to assist tremendously in increasing enrolment, as is suggested by this enrolment planning envelope. With regard to infrastructure for postsecondary facilities this is an area where I would like to see a much greater transfer both in the interim supply, which I’ll be speaking to later, and also in the supplementary supply because the supplementary appropriation here is only $69,100,000, and this is a concern I have because our future is determined by the quality of students we produce, whether it’s from technical colleges or academic universities.

It is interesting to note that Mount Royal College has recently been granted certain status as a university in the specific area of nursing. Hopefully, there will be support from the government and also, in terms of governance, further appropriate development at the University of Calgary. 2:40 I commented earlier about research, and I notice that the research innovation capacity is $2 million. That seems like an extremely small amount given the amount of research that universities are expected and required to carry out.

The information continues with regard to ministry support services, and basically I see, in thousands of dollars, the equivalent of a million dollars. In terms of program delivery and support I gather that the government didn’t c onsider this an area that was in need of support because there’s no budget line for that item. Postsecondary fac ilities infrastructure. Again, this is an area, considering that the University of Calgary just last year celebrated its 40th anniversary. There are a number of buildings at the University of Calgary which are basically falling apart.

A good example of that would be the old arts and admin building. There is a dramatic contrast when you go into the accompanying Haskayne School of Business. It’s a considerably more attractive and well- supported facility, largely due to the fact that the Haskayne family donated a large amount, for which the University of Calgary is very appreciative. In the details of the supplementary estimates for Agriculture and Food I note that Canadian agricultural income stabilization – in other words, thanks to the federal government’s CAIS program – $50 million is being transferred.

A number of farmers are very depend- ent on that CAIS program. One of the areas that I would like to see further transfers for in these supplementary estimates would be supplying farmers with a kind of equivalent of a workmen’s compensation program so that farm labourers and farmers them- selves and their families could be supported in the tragic event of an accident. So this is an area where I would suggest that more money could be provided in terms of supplementary estimates. One of the areas that I am concerned about with regard to the agricultural industry is the oversight.

For example, a number of farmers for years have been incented by this government to take on alternate forms of agriculture, including such questionable practices as elk and deer ranching. Previously, we know that with the onset of BSE the testing for diseases was extremely limited, and one of the reasons that we didn’t find out about our first outbreak of BSE was the fact that there weren’t enough testers, and CWD and testing for it was being taken up. So this is one area I would like to see more supplementary supply being extended to, and that’s the testing program.

It’s still in the very early stages, but my hope is that with possibly some of the money put into agriculture and some of the money put into postsecondary research, we will be able to test animals for CWD and BSE while they’re still alive so that we don’t end up with what personal members of my family have experienced, losing their entire herd of Angus cattle because the animals couldn’t be tested while they were still living. I realize that we have to take drastic measures to ensure that the spread of disease is eliminated.

I would support research into live testing, and I know that the countries to which we export the meat would be very appreciative of that as well. With regard to Finance, treasury management has received an increase, most likely because a new department has been created to oversee Finance in terms of the Treasury Board. I’m not quite sure why that extra oversight is required when we’re talking about eliminating a number of ministries.

I’m appreciative of the fact that the government did reduce the number of ministries, but this was a new ministry that was added, and possibly the minister can explain to me some of the expenses associated with creating this new ministry. Investment, treasury and risk management. Today in Public Accounts and for the last two weeks in the House I have talked a tremendous amount about risk management in the form of the risks associated with P3s: private, for-profit at public expense projects.

I’ve also brought out the fact that despite the government’s assur- ances with regard to risk management that there would be no cost overruns in P3 projects, it has already been noted that there was an

Alberta Hansard March 21, 2007268 almost $37 million overrun on the southeast leg of the Ant hony Henday. I’ve already spoken about the concerns I have with the ring road in Calgary and the associated expenses. With regard to Health and Wellness, it comes as no surprise, given the fact that the government reached an agreement with the Alberta Medical Association, that there would be supplementary monies going to this area.

This is an area that I very much support in terms of the transfer of funding b ecause in Calgary alone – and I’m sure the story repeats itself throughout the province – we are losing general practitioners. We’re losing front-line staff. In Calgary we lost 41. I know that, for example, in the Wood Buffalo region there is a desperate need for doctors, to the point where doctors are being offered $1,200 a day. They’re being incented to help out the Fort McMurray circumstance.

Of course, this is just an interim band-aid situation, but supplementary supply is a form of sort of meeting the need now and making the appropriate transfers. Another area, of course, that is of concern is the management of the health services, and I look forward to the fact that Public Accounts will be ca lling before it the two large health regions in Calgary and Edmonton, Capital health and the Calgary health region.

Also in Public Accounts today I suggested that I would like to provide support for the Wood Buffalo region, which is experiencing tremendous growth, and of course south in Grande Prairie there is a need for hospital and health support and infrastructure housing. This province is booming, but there are expenses associated with that boom, and one is the social deficit. So when I note that $147 million was added to the amount, I’m appreciative of the fact. I think it’s money well spent, although again the detail is not quite clear.

I notice that in line 3 on page 24 it says Assistance to Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission. An Hon. Member: Hear, hear. Mr. Chase: I agree, but unfortunately there is no line item; there’s no supplementary appropriation for this extremely important area. 2:50 Again, I’m very pleased with the discussions that occurred today in Public Accounts about the desire to have a very strong, financially effective, and supportive AADAC operating in the province.

It has been noted that the AADAC organization, which deals with addictions, receives only 3 per cent of the money that is raised in terms of gambling and lotteries. It seems like it’s an extremely small amount to cure the problem of gambling addiction. Of course, of all the money that we receive from alcohol taxes, I would like to see a tremendous amount transferred to the AADAC program in terms of prevention. Just adding new bells and whistles on VLTs and slots does not dampen the addicted individual’s enthusiasm.

In terms of Municipal Affairs and Housing, I indicated at the beginning my concerns that there is very little money being added under supplementary appropriation. I note that the $42.846 million is a total amount. There’s a very small amount under housing services. It says rent supplement, and it shows a 2,000 figure here. Of course, we’re talking in the thousands so approximately $2 million for rent supplements. I keep referring sometimes to thousands when I should actually be noting that the book indicates that this is in thousands of dollars.

The Alberta Liberals have been calling for an emergent support in the form of rent supplements and subsidies. A number of people on AISH and on fixed incomes, who are supposedly not required to expend more than 30 per cent of their total earnings on rent, are being forced to pay up to two-thirds of their meagre $1,000 AISH amount on rent, and that leaves very little for food or other necessi- ties, such as transportation. So the area of supplementary supply for housing, especially to initiate a ffordable housing, is an area where I would definitely like to see more money spent. Thank you.

I’ll look forward to rejoining. Mr. Snelgrove: One of the things the hon. member talked about was the $530,000 in Infrastructure. That’s simply a transfer from Infrastructure to Service Alberta for the planes, so it was not supplementary spending in Infrastructure. Mr. Chairman, it doesn’t really matter to me if we want to debate Bill 25 or Bill 20 or rent controls. It’s the hon. member’s time, but most of what he talked about wasn’t really relative to supplementary supply.

They may be addressed under Bill 25, interim supply, and the budget, but the elk farming and rent controls and P3s – it doesn’t matter to me, but that misinformation about the $530,000 was directly related to my department. The other ministers may want to comment on this. The Chair: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Mill Woods. Mrs. Mather: Thank you very much. It’s a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak on Bill 20, the Appropriation (Supplementary Supply) Act, 2007, in Committee of the Whole.

This is an estimates that’s including capital for postsecondary institutions, agricultural assistance programs, housing initiatives and programs for the homeless, and funds for physician services. It’s money that’s viewed as urgently needed, or emergent. I’m just thinking how nice it would be if a lot of the Children’s Services agencies could have the same opportunity to bridge the gap in their budgets with supplementary supply, as our government does. These agencies need predictable and stable funding. I noticed that Children’s Services is not asking for supplementary supply.

I wonder why some areas are asking for additional funds but Chil- dren’s Services is not. As I look at this bill, which is asking for additional money from the last budget to the tune of $393,516,000, this is the second time in my term here where I have experienced this request for supple- mentary money. In a sense it’s like signing a blank cheque because we don’t get much detail about where the money is going.

I know that they’re spending on specific ministries, but there’s no real breakdown of how much goes where and the full details about where they’re going to spend money or whether they’ve already spent some of it, as a matter of fact. First of all, I’d like to talk from the point of view of my own constituency. Some of these things are being addressed here in supplementary supply, and I’m really happy to see that. We have a grave concern in Edmonton-Mill Woods about the waiting times at hospitals, and this is a shortage of doctors and nursing staff that’s a real and ongoing concern.

I hear about the roads in urban and rural areas, I guess. It’s not just in Edmonton-Mill Woods. Another real concern I have, though, is a bout what I’ll call the social deficit, with low-income people and more and more middle- income people feeling that they are now low income. We should think about these people who are earning less than $20,000 and who are finding that their rent costs are going up astronomically and unreasonably. They’re concerned about electricity rates. Of course, there are some that are facing homelessness. These are issues that are of grave concern in my constituency.

Environment is also a big issue, and I’m glad that the government is taking some steps to address environmental issues. Another thing that is a big concern all over this province is the problem with addictions. There are not enough beds for detox or treatment, yet we’re not asking for supplementary money to help with that area and that issue. The purpose of supplementary supply is to deal with emergent and emergency situations. So I was looking at this and looking at Advanced Education and Technology: $34.5 million for a grant to

March 21, 2007 Alberta Hansard 269 match private donations to the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary. My ques tion is: why does this have to be done in supplementary spending? Why could it not have been done earlier, last spring in the budget, or in the upcoming budget? I’m not sure why that is. I also am wondering what capital projects are being funded with the $66.3 million that’s been requested. Another question: is the $34.5 million grant from the access to the future fund, or is it from general revenues?

If it’s from general revenues, why hasn’t the access to the future fund started paying out yet? I believe that that is what it was set up for. Looking at the Department of Finance, there’s $7.07 million to reimburse public-sector pension plans, research endowment funds, the scholarship fund, and other minor funds for investment losses. I’m wondering how it happened that we have investment losses when we are in a wonderful, incredibly hot economic market or economic environment right now. What actions were taken against the managers of those funds?

What hard questions were asked about the investment decisions that resulted in a loss? It’s hard to imagine that in this economy we’d be losing money like that. Additionally, with Finance we have in one lump-sum payment $40 million that the government is putting into their share of the management employees’ pension plan unfunded pension liability. We know that we have nearly $7 billion already in an unfunded liability to the teachers’ pension plan, which we press this govern- ment about fairly consistently.

We’re continually told time and time again that it’s coming, something is going to be addressed with that, but we don’t see the movement on that. So this is a situation where taxpayers are funding this to the tune of some $45 billion over the lifetime of this project as opposed to dealing with the $7 billion liability right now. It would be a good deal, I believe, for taxpayers if we could look at this unfunded liability today and get rid of it. 3:00 I’m hoping that this is going to be addressed in the upcoming budget. Again, the question is: why was there $40 million needed in the middle of a budget year?

If there’s $40 million for that particular unfunded liability, what about all the other unfunded liabilities that the government has, certainly the largest of which is the teachers’ unfunded liability fund? I look at the Health and Wellness department getting $147 million for the higher than budgeted cost of physicians’ services, and I believe there’s an urgent need for that. There’s probably really good justification for that request, but I’d like to ask: how will the money be allocated?

Can the minister provide a breakdown of how the money for physicians’ services will actually be spent, and I’m wondering why that money wasn’t included in the 2006 budget. Could these costs not be predicted? How is it possible to under- budget by $147 million? Then, I guess, always we have to ask what measures are being taken to be sure that Albertans are getting value for their money. I look at the total of $42.846 million going to various issues surround housing affordability. This is an emergent issue, and it makes sense to me that we are asking for this now.

I have concerns that some things are not included, like Children’s Services: the need for more child care spaces, so acute in this province; the need for child care staff; the need for adequate funding for our agencies, who are struggling with all kinds of stressors these days.

I’m looking at the need for predictable, stable funding for FCSS agencies and the AASCF agencies, where over and over we’re hearing that it’s hard to function with the tyranny of project-based funding and the uncertainty of knowing what’s coming next month in terms of help and the amazing amount of energies that have to go into fundraising so they can provide the programs that we know are needed for the vulnerable in our society. I would hope that we won’t be seeing supplementary estimates anymore. I think that a good job of budgeting would make the need for this extra request for money not necessary.

I would like to see that we can actually do some serious thinking and strategic planning, long-term planning so that there is no longer a need to be asking for supplemental money. Thank you. The Chair: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Glenora. Dr. B. Miller: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It’s an honour for me to stand and speak on Bill 20, the Appropriation (Supplementary Supply) bill. I haven’t had a chance so far in second reading, and I’ve been following the debate in Hansard. I just want to speak for a few minutes about the supplementary supply under Municipal Affairs and Housing.

It was, of course, a privilege for me to be on the Affordable Housing Task Force and to go around the province and listen to people and their concerns, so immediately my attention was riveted on this portion of the supple- mentary supply. The $2 million to fund 600 additional units for the rent supple- ment program, of course, is an excellent move. I think that more is required because that program is such a g ood program.

It enables people with low income to be able to move into apartments where there’s a supplement to the 30 per cent of their income that is put into the rent, so the landlord receives a cheque directly from the government to provide that extra money. Given the fact that our low-income people are really strugg ling in this province, in many, many cases I don’t know how else they would be able to find a place to live.

We are facing a housing crisis in this province, and all that we can do to help low-income people, especially on the income side of things, not just the supply side, is something that we should seriously look at. The problem is that low-income people, not just people who are on AISH or receiving money from Alberta Works but low- income people who are actually working but whose salaries don’t provide enough income to provide for rents given the rise in rents in this province, need help.

I applaud the government for at least making this step, and I hope that there will be more support for the rent supplement program in the future. Now, I still want to make a comment about the next line, the $15,173,000 for the affordable housing program to increase the availability of affordable housing units in the province.

I believe that this is a part of the affordable housing trust program, but the money referred to here is actually the money that the provincial government has received from the federal government, the one-time federal funding of $81.1 million which has been provided to Alberta over three years. I think in answer to the hon.

Member for Calgary- Currie, who is our housing critic in the Official Opposition, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing did respond that this, indeed, was federal money, and that’s the explanation for the sentence here, “This spending would be offset by a transfer from the federal government.” Well, this is a bit misleading because here’s an announcement of money that’s going into this affordable housing trust program, but it actually is federal money. Where’s the provincial money? Shouldn’t this federal money be matched by provincial money?

That would be a more interesting announcement so that we would really be clear that the provincial government is committed to this program, not just using federal money but actually adding more money. So instead of $81 million over three years if the province actually matched that money, we’d have $162 million over three years, and that would be, indeed, good news in terms of developing

Alberta Hansard March 21, 2007270 more affordable housing in this province. As I said before, we have just a crisis in housing in this province, as all of our task members heard, and we just have to be vigilant now and make the right kinds of decisions. Of course, the minister will wait and respond to the task force. The task force report has already been delivered to him. I would like to see that report become public much earlier than sometime in May; nevertheless, we need to have the government moving in the direction of more support for affordable housing.

I could say exactly the same thing on the next item, $16,142,000 for the off-reserve aboriginal housing program to increase the availability of housing for aboriginal Albertans living off-reserve. So this, again, is a reference to the off-reserve aboriginal housing trust, which was a one-time federal funding of $48.4 million that will be provided for Alberta over three years. My understanding is that that federal money actually has already come and is sitting in the treasury and awaits distribution, so this is an announcement that $16 million of that money will be distributed.

That’s great, but what about the rest, and what about, again, matching? What about an announcement that the province is actually going to match this federal money also? 3:10 I am very impressed by various aboriginal groups in the province, including Métis settlements and the groups that are concerned and the nonprofit organizations that are ready to move to help build this housing for aboriginal people. It’s been a program that’s worked in the past, and it will work in the future. But I don’t see the commit- ment of the provincial government here reflected in these numbers.

I mean, it’s fine to transfer the federal money on, but what about matching this money so that we can really indeed deal with the crisis in housing in this province? Those are my thoughts on the Appropriation (Supplementary Supply) bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Chair: Are you ready for the question on Bill 20, Appropriation (Supplementary Supply) Act, 2007? Hon. Members: Question. [The clauses of Bill 20 agreed to] [Title and

preamble agreed to] The Chair: Shall the bill be reported? Are you agreed? Hon. Members: Agreed. The Chair: Carried. Bill 25 Appropriation (Interim Supply) Act, 2007 The Chair: The hon. President of the Treasury Board. Mr. Snelgrove: Thank you again, Mr. Chairman. I now rise to move Bill 25, the A ppropriation (Interim Supply) Act, 2007, to Committee of the Whole. The Chair: The hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung. Mr. Elsalhy: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is my pleasure to rise and participate in debate on the interim supply bill in Committee of the Whole.

Some of my remarks are going to be somewhat repeti- tive from the last two years as this is my third time participating in deliberations on interim supply. In my opinion, as I have stated before, interim supply should really be minimal. It should be for emergencies or unforeseen circumstances, Mr. Chairman, and certainly not in the billions of dollars and not before each and every budget, each and every year. So the question that I basically keep asking of this House is: what is really the purpose of a budget if the government cannot stick to a budget?

Also, the issue of how late the budget usually arrives: typically one would think that a budget has sort of a fixed date, a fixed expectancy date, when we anticipate that it might be coming down. Then year after year we are faced with a situation where the budget is delayed, and sometimes it’s delayed more than one time in the same interval, or in the same year. Interim supply, by my definition, really means a cash advance. Mr. Chairman, take your credit card debt, for example. We all know that cash advances are the worst kind of transaction.

I personally as an individual and in my family, in my household, never do cash advances. We budget, and we stick to our plan, and we never run out of money this way. So why doesn’t this government budget as an individual or as a family? Why don’t they use the same method- ology as I use in my own household? Also, having interim supply tells me as an individual and as a member of this esteemed Assembly that there is no plan.

There is no overall plan where we know that we’re going to need this money, and it should be built into the budget, and budgets come on time, and it’s really simple and not in the tens of billions of dollars. Another question which is really puzzling in some way. In 2004, just to use one example, interim supply was $5.5 billion. It is almost double this amount this year when we’re asking for in excess of $10 billion for this fiscal year, 2007-2008. Why this big jump?

I mean, I don’t think the cost of running the government or the cost of conducting government business has increased by this amount, and I don’t think it’s also a factor of the fact that, you know, this year the budget is a little later than in 2004, for example. How much of a delay I don’t think explains this big discrepancy. Now, having said this, I recognize and appreciate the argument that the wheels of government have to turn and that our civil servants need to be paid in the interim until the actual budget is introduced. The question is: why is the budget more than one month late?

Customarily we have expected budgets to be announced in this Assembly or in this province sometime in mid-March. Why is this budget coming on the 19th of April instead? Couldn’t we have avoided interim supply altogether or greatly minimized the amount by being on time? That’s the question. Another question, Mr. Chairman – again, this is a layman asking – there seems to be an apparent conflict or duplication where now we have a Minister of Finance, or a Provincial Treasurer in the old definition, and then we also have a President of the Treasury Board. So role clarification, I think, is warranted.

We need to know what each of them really does. Mr. Flaherty: Good luck. Mr. Elsalhy: My hon. colleague from St. Albert is saying, “Good luck,” and I think that, yes, we need more than luck to understand this unique situation where we have two people entrusted to dispense and expend taxpayers’ money and why we need two ministers with two huge departments, lots of staff, and making two minister’s salaries, for example.

March 21, 2007 Alberta Hansard 271 Remember, Mr. Chairman, when the former Premier created a ministry for restructuring and government efficiency following the 2004 election, adding to the government bureaucracy and trying to convince us that we needed an extra department to make government more efficient, I questioned this, and many of my colleagues in the Official Opposition questioned this. We called a spade a spade, and we said that it was such a colossal waste of money and that it wasn’t making government any more efficient.

But the decision stayed, and we had a minister with staff, making a minister’s salary, and also in turn a large transition allowance when he is no longer an MLA, all at taxpayers’ expense and with no apparent benefit. After the last Tory leadership we were told the good news, that the size of cabinet had been reduced, but we didn’t really tackle the issue of duplication or conflict, redundancy. We have two ministers likely going to share some of the responsibility or going to have overlaps, and they might be at times rowing in opposite directions or at least pulling on those purse strings in opposite directions.

Then you add the hon. Premier. The hon. Premier has a lot to do with financial decisions, and from time to time he would offer an edict, or a decree, as to how things should go, and now you have an interesting triangle, Mr. Chairman, unfolding before your eyes. You have a President of the Treasury Board, you have a Finance minister, and then you also have a Premier, who all contribute to that discussion on financial matters. Anyway, I’m not going to go through each of the 20 entries in this interim supply schedule. Mr. Chase: You’re leaving it for me. Mr.

Elsalhy: I am leaving it for my hon. colleague from Calgary- Varsity be

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20070321
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	L26 S3 20070321 1300 01 han.pdf
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	bea1dc5ca740358fd198bc849c3bf7fd31d96586

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