Province of Alberta The 27th Legislature Third Session Alberta Hansard Thursday, March 18, 2010 Issue 20 The Honourable Kenneth R. Kowalski, Speaker

Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 27th Legislature Third Session Kowalski, Hon. Ken, Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock, Speaker Cao, Wayne C.N., Calgary-Fort, Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees Mitzel, Len, Cypress-Medicine Hat, Deputy Chair of Committees Ady, Hon. Cindy, Calgary-Shaw (PC), Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation Allred, Ken, St.

Albert (PC) Amery, Moe, Calgary-East (PC) Anderson, Rob, Airdrie-Chestermere (WA), WA Opposition House Leader Benito, Carl, Edmonton-Mill Woods (PC) Berger, Evan, Livingstone-Macleod (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Sustainable Resource Development Bhardwaj, Naresh, Edmonton-Ellerslie (PC) Bhullar, Manmeet Singh, Calgary-Montrose (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Municipal Affairs Blackett, Hon.

Lindsay, Calgary-North West (PC), Minister of Culture and Community Spirit Blakeman, Laurie, Edmonton-Centre (AL), Official Opposition Deputy Leader, Official Opposition House Leader Boutilier, Guy C., Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo (Ind) Brown, Dr. Neil, QC, Calgary-Nose Hill (PC) Calahasen, Pearl, Lesser Slave Lake (PC) Campbell, Robin, West Yellowhead (PC), Government Whip Chase, Harry B., Calgary-Varsity (AL), Official Opposition Whip Dallas, Cal, Red Deer-South (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Environment Danyluk, Hon. Ray, Lac La Biche-St.

Paul (PC), Minister of Infrastructure DeLong, Alana, Calgary-Bow (PC) Denis, Hon. Jonathan, QC, Calgary-Egmont, (PC), Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Deputy Government House Leader Doerksen, Arno, Strathmore-Brooks (PC), Deputy Government Whip Drysdale, Wayne, Grande Prairie-Wapiti (PC) Elniski, Doug, Edmonton-Calder (PC) Evans, Hon. Iris, Sherwood Park (PC), Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations Fawcett, Kyle, Calgary-North Hill (PC) Forsyth, Heather, Calgary-Fish Creek (WA), WA Opposition Whip Fritz, Hon.

Yvonne, Calgary-Cross (PC), Minister of Children and Youth Services Goudreau, Hon. Hector G., Dunvegan-Central Peace (PC), Minister of Municipal Affairs Griffiths, Doug, Battle River-Wainwright (PC) Groeneveld, George, Highwood (PC) Hancock, Hon. Dave, QC, Edmonton-Whitemud (PC), Minister of Education, Political Minister for Edmonton, Government House Leader Hayden, Hon.

Jack, Drumheller-Stettler (PC), Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hehr, Kent, Calgary-Buffalo (AL) Hinman, Paul, Calgary-Glenmore (WA), WA Opposition Deputy Leader Horne, Fred, Edmonton-Rutherford (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Seniors and Community Supports Horner, Hon. Doug, Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert (PC), Deputy Premier, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology, Minister Liaison to the Canadian Armed Forces Jablonski, Hon.

Mary Anne, Red Deer-North (PC), Minister of Seniors and Community Supports Jacobs, Broyce, Cardston-Taber-Warner (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Agriculture and Rural Development Johnson, Jeff, Athabasca-Redwater (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Treasury Board Johnston, Art, Calgary-Hays (PC) Kang, Darshan S., Calgary-McCall (AL) Klimchuk, Hon. Heather, Edmonton-Glenora (PC), Minister of Service Alberta Knight, Hon. Mel, Grande Prairie-Smoky (PC), Minister of Sustainable Resource Development Leskiw, Genia, Bonnyville-Cold Lake (PC) Liepert, Hon.

Ron, Calgary-West (PC), Minister of Energy Lindsay, Fred, Stony Plain (PC) Lukaszuk, Hon. Thomas A., Edmonton-Castle Downs (PC), Minister of Employment and Immigration Lund, Ty, Rocky Mountain House (PC) MacDonald, Hugh, Edmonton-Gold Bar (AL) Marz, Richard, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills (PC) Mason, Brian, Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood (ND), Leader of the ND Opposition McFarland, Barry, Little Bow (PC) McQueen, Diana, Drayton Valley-Calmar (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Energy Morton, Hon.

F.L., Foothills-Rocky View (PC), Minister of Finance and Enterprise Notley, Rachel, Edmonton-Strathcona (ND), ND Opposition House Leader Oberle, Hon. Frank, Peace River (PC), Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security Olson, Verlyn, QC, Wetaskiwin-Camrose (PC) Ouellette, Hon. Luke, Innisfail-Sylvan Lake (PC), Minister of Transportation Pastoor, Bridget Brennan, Lethbridge-East (AL), Official Opposition Deputy Whip Prins, Ray, Lacombe-Ponoka (PC) Quest, Dave, Strathcona (PC) Redford, Hon.

Alison M., QC, Calgary-Elbow (PC), Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Political Minister for Calgary, Deputy Government House Leader Renner, Hon. Rob, Medicine Hat (PC), Minister of Environment, Deputy Government House Leader Rodney, Dave, Calgary-Lougheed (PC) Rogers, George, Leduc-Beaumont-Devon (PC) Sandhu, Peter, Edmonton-Manning (PC) Sarich, Janice, Edmonton-Decore (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Education Sherman, Dr. Raj, Edmonton-Meadowlark (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Health and Wellness Snelgrove, Hon. Lloyd, Vermilion-Lloydminster (PC), President of the Treasury Board Stelmach, Hon.

Ed, Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville (PC), Premier, President of Executive Council Swann, Dr. David, Calgary-Mountain View (AL), Leader of the Official Opposition Taft, Dr. Kevin, Edmonton-Riverview (AL) Tarchuk, Janis, Banff-Cochrane (PC) Taylor, Dave, Calgary-Currie (AL) VanderBurg, George, Whitecourt-Ste. Anne (PC) Vandermeer, Tony, Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview (PC) Weadick, Greg, Lethbridge-West (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Advanced Education and Technology Webber, Hon.

Len, Calgary-Foothills (PC), Minister of Aboriginal Relations Woo-Paw, Teresa, Calgary-Mackay (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Employment and Immigration Xiao, David H., Edmonton-McClung (PC) Zwozdesky, Hon. Gene, Edmonton-Mill Creek (PC), Minister of Health and Wellness, Deputy Government House Leader Officers and Officials of the Legislative Assembly Clerk W.J. David McNeil Clerk Assistant/Director of House Services Louise J. Kamuchik Clerk of Journals/Table Research Micheline S. Gravel Senior Parliamentary Counsel Robert H.

Reynolds, QC Senior Parliamentary Counsel Shannon Dean Parliamentary Counsel Stephanie LeBlanc Sergeant-at-Arms Brian G. Hodgson Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Chris Caughell Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Gordon H. Munk Managing Editor of Alberta Hansard Liz Sim

March 18, 2010 Alberta Hansard 539 Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Thursday, March 18, 2010 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 18, 2010 [The Speaker in the chair] head: Prayers The Speaker: Good afternoon. Welcome. Let us pray. As Canadians and as Albertans we give thanks for the precious gifts of freedom and peace which we enjoy. We give further thanks for the gifts of culture and heritage which we share. As Members of this Legislative Assembly we rededicate ourselves to the valued traditions of parliamentary democracy as a means of serving our province and our country. Amen.

Please be seated. head: Introduction of Guests The Speaker: The hon. Member for St. Albert. Mr. Allred: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Chers collègues, j’ai le plaisir de souligner aujourd’hui la présence parmi nous dans les tribunes d’un groupe de 11 élèves de l’école La Mission, une école franco- phone de St. Albert. Ces élèves sont accompagnés par Mme Micheline Spencer, leur enseignante.

Je demanderais à ces deux groupes de se lever afin de r ecevoir la chaleureuse et traditionelle bienvenue de cette Assemblée. [Translation] It is my pleasure to rise today to introduce a group of 11 students from l’école La Mission, a French school in St. Albert. These students are accompanied by their teacher, Mrs. Micheline Spencer. I would ask them all to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. [As submitted] Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I probably fractured my French in that, but I’ll go to English now.

It’s also my pleasure to rise today and introduce to you and through you to the members of this Assembly 45 grade 6 students from Vital Grandin elementary school in St. Albert. These students are accompanied by their teachers, Ms Courtney Hooper and Mrs. Pat Tymkow; two assistants, Mrs. Karen Cabot and Mrs. Diana Yakymyshyn; and three parents, Mrs. Sharryl McArthur, Mrs. Serena Shaw, and Mrs. Gingrich. I would ask them all to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assem- bly. My third introduction, Mr.

Speaker, is a friend and colleague of mine, the executive director of the Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association, Mr. Brian Munday. I’m not sure if he’s in the public gallery or the members’ gallery, but if he is here, I’d ask him to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo. Mr. Boutilier: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. M. le Président, c’est un plaisir pour moi to introduce the students, des étudiants de l’école Boréal de la ville de Fort McMurray. Also with them today are professeurs Mme Boudreault et M. Lauzon.

I would ask them to rise and receive the very traditional warm welcome of this Assem- bly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Red Deer-South. Mr. Dallas: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a pleasure today for me to introduce to you and through you to the members of the Assembly a delegation from the Ladies Orange Benevolent Association. They are at the Legislature today as part of their visit to Edmonton to attend the 89th annual grand lodge sessions. It is an honour to introduce this delegation as it is led by my aunt, the Right Worship- ful Grand Mistress of Alberta Mrs. Marie Bradshaw of Innisfail.

Accompanying her is a delegation that includes guests from across Canada, including the Most Worshipful Grand Mistress of Canada Mrs. Marilyn Erwin of Frankford, Ontario. In total there are 27 ladies from Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia joining us today. The Orange Order is Canada’s oldest fraternal order. They focus their efforts on helping children and seniors. Their mission statement is: working together for the betterment of family, community, and country. Mr. Speaker, I will now ask them to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the House. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Edmonton-Centre. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’ve had a hard time convincing this person to be present in the Assembly so that I could introduce him. So I’m very pleased today to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly Stephen MacEach- ern. Stephen has his BA honours in political science and has completed his coursework on his master’s degree, also in political science. I’m a bit mischievous because I always like to take political science students and have them work in my constituency office just to show them what really happens.

I’m very fortunate that Stephen has been working as the constituency manager in the fabulous constituency of Edmonton-Centre since the summer and has committed to stay with me through the next election. At this point I would ask that Stephen MacEachern please rise and accept the warm welcome of the House. God knows, he deserves it. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands- Norwood. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

It’s my pleasure to introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly a number of postsecondary students, who are here as my guests, from the Legislate This! rally that’s taking place outside the Legislature. My guests are concerned that increased education fees will create even more barriers for students looking to obtain a postsecondary degree and threat en to undermin e the quality of education offered for years to come. I’m pleased to have my guests join us today and participate in our democracy.

They are seated in the members’ gallery, and I’d ask that they now rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly members of the Edmonton Arts Council and the 11 recipients of the award for cultural diversity in the arts. The Edmonton Arts Council is a nonprofit society and charitable organization that supports and promotes the arts community in Edmonton.

The cultural diversity in the arts awards program provides 12 awards of $7,500 each to encourage and support Edmonton artists from diverse cultural backgrounds. The recipients in this program come to Edmonton from countries around the world and demonstrate a strong dedication to continuing their artistic practice in their new home. Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to have the award winners here as my guests today, and I’d ask that they rise as I call their names. The recipients of the awards are

Alberta Hansard March 18, 2010540 Valerie Mason-John, Reni Ferreira, Chika Udok, Jinzhe Cui, Punita Chohan, Tsehay Debebe, Gordana Zivkovic, Iryna Karpenko, Jaamac Jaamac. As well, from the Edmonton Arts Council Laurie Stalker, Sally Kim, Katia Michel-Wasney, Alison Turner, James DeFelice, and executive director John Mahon. Would you please join me in congratulating and welcoming these guests. Thank you. head: Ministerial Statements The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Culture and Community Spirit. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Mr. Blackett: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In 1966 the United Nations declared March 21 the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This Sunday our province and nation will join communities around the world to commemorate this important day by recognizing the harmful effects of racism and promoting respect, equality, and diversity. Unfortunately, even in this day and age the reality is that racial discrimination still exists.

While we may not be able to completely rid the world of racism and discrimination, we recognize this special day and every other day of the year as a celebration of our diversity over supremacy and our acceptance over rejection. Our March 21 workshops, presenta- tions, competition, and other activities will help Albertans recognize the important day and identify the role they can play in tackling racism in their own communities.

I’m pleased that the Ministry of Culture and Community Spirit, through the human rights and citizenship branch, has played a supporting role in some of the events. 1:40 However, it’s important to note that although we are celebrating this day in various forms acro ss the province, the movement to eliminate racial discrimination is a year-round initiative for many organizations. With this in mind the Alberta Human Rights Commission offers programs and resources to raise awareness and helps Albertans resolve human rights complaints.

In addition, the commission has championed and promoted the coalition of municipalities against racism and discrimination initiative in Alberta. There are over 30 commun ities across the country that have signed on. Alberta now has nine municipalities, which makes the largest number of municipalities of any province in the country. This initiative guides municipalities in following key principles to help build communitie s that are respectful, safe, and welcoming.

The Ministry of Culture and Community Spirit also assists Alberta organizations to undertake initiatives to build inclusive workplaces and communities and to promote equality for all people through the human rights, education, and multiculturalism fund. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, March 21, I ask the members of this House to join me and communities throughout the province in taking action against all racial discrimination and encourage fairness for all citizens. We need to continue our vigilance. Thank you very much. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

It is astonish- ing that even in the 21st century people will judge others by superficial traits like skin colour or the shape of someone’s eyes or the sound of their accent or things like sexual orientation, yet such differences are still used to justify actions from the horrifying to the banal, from genocide to discriminatory hiring practices to social exclusion to hurtful jokes and slurs. No matter what our ethnic background or skin colour we’ve all seen racism in action either within ourselves or from friends, neighbours, family members.

When someone acts on a racist thought, there’s only one correct thing to do: speak up firmly, immediately, and with conviction. Education, acceptance, and understanding are tools we can all use to bring racism to an end one moment at a time. In recent days I’ve been fortunate enough to attend a number of events held by organizations who’ve developed some very on-point, practical ways of ending racism.

I attended the interfaith coalition’s annual seminar and banquet, for example, which brought together representatives from different religions to hear speakers with a powerful but simple message: treat people of different races just as you treat someone of your own race. Changing Together, on the other hand, performed a day in the life of an immigrant last weekend, a powerful Ajoka theatre performance that drives home how everyday racism can do lasting damage. I also helped hand out awards at the Black History Month last weekend and will be attending the Centre for Race and Culture’s banquet on Saturday night.

I have to say that a number of my colleagues in this Asse mbly joined me at various events that I’ve already described. Even as we speak, that organization is running workshops for citizens of all kinds, anyone who wants to end racial discrimination. I’d like to join the minister in recognizing the importance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The educational and community initiatives he has outlined perform important work.

But if we really want to end racism, we need to look within ourselves, to examine our own prejudices, and speak out whenever we see the injustice of discrimination, no matter how small the infraction may seem. There should be zero tolerance for racism. If we keep working together with open hearts and genuine goodwill, then one day our children will, as the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. hoped, “not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their charac- ter.” Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Airdrie-Chestermere. Mr. Anderson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to ask the House for unanimous consent for the hon. Member for Calgary-Fish Creek to respond to the ministerial statement. The Speaker: Hon. members, I’ll ask one question with respect to this request. Is there any member in the Assembly who would oppose recognizing the hon. Member for Calgary-Fish Creek to participate? If there is, simply say no. [Unanimous consent granted] The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Fish Creek. Mrs. Forsyth: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. March 21 has been declared the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

As many members of this Assembly will know, Canada was one of the first countries to sign on to the United Nations declaration, which was established to commemorate a dark day in history. On March 21, 1960, 69 peaceful protesters, including 10 children, were horrifically gunned down as they protested in

March 18, 2010 Alberta Hansard 541 Sharpeville, South Africa. Since the Sharpeville massacre the world slowly came together to not only demand an end to apartheid but to root out racial discrimination and heal the divisions that exist in our society. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, racism and discrimination rear their ugly face from time to time. We all know someone who has suffered at the hands of another, whether it is because of our gender, our race, our sexual orientation, our religion. I could go on and on.

While our society is built upon the principles of tolerance for different ways of doing things, different approaches to solving issues, or different perspectives based on our human uniqueness, we cannot and should not tolerate racial discrimination. People have lived and died for the freedoms that we enjoy, people have lived and died to change the way society works, and people have lived and died to be treated with dignity and respect. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the day when racial discrimination is a thing of the past.

As we near the international day to end racial discrimination, I encourage all Albertans to reflect on what they can do to help build stronger relationships with one another that are based on human dignity and respect. Thank you. Mr. Mason: Mr. Speaker, I would request unanimous consent from the Assembly to allow the hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona to respond. The Speaker: Hon. members, there’s a request for unanimous consent to allow the hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona to respond. I’ll simply ask one question. Is any member in the Assembly opposed to granting unanimous consent?

If so, simply say no. [Unanimous consent granted] The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s an honour to be able to rise and speak about the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, on March 21. The United Nations designated March 21 as a day to remember the 200 people who were shot and the 67 who died in what came to be known as the Sharpeville massacre. Those people had gathered to peacefully protest against South Africa’s apartheid regime.

They died because they confronted the overt racism of their country’s political system with a simple act of civil disobedience, a challenge which the state answered with violence. Thankfully, in Canada we’ve eliminated these types of overt racism from our legal system and have established racial equality as a Charter right. However, we are still a long way from abolishing racism from our society. Just as damaging to society as overt, intentional acts of discrimi- nation are the sometimes unintentional consequences of adverse effect discrimination, sometimes known as systemic discrimination.

We see it in the overrepresentation of indigenous people in our prisons, we see it in the overrepresentation of indigenous children in government care, and we see it in the overrepresentation of visible minorities in low-income groups. To address the continuing existence of racism in our society, the system itself has to change. Unfortunately, we move in the wrong direction when we cut support services for immigrants, like we did in the last budget.

One of the best tools for creating equality of opportunity in our society is our education system, but we risk cementing the income gaps that already exist when we put higher learning that much farther out of reach for low-income Albertans by raising tuition rates. Instead of tearing down the walls that divide people, we build them up when we bring in foreign workers on a temporary basis rather than providing them with the opportunity to live here permanently and fully integrate with our society.

We urge this government to make the legislative and administra- tive changes necessary to eradicate racism and ensure human rights for all. The authority, the remedial options, and the resources of our Human Rights Commission must be significantly increased. I call on all members of this House to join me in renewing our collective commitment to working with groups such as the Centre for Race and Culture and many others in working to eliminate racial discrimination in our province. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity. Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

May I seek your permission and the permission of the House for the independent Member for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo, a multiracial workplace, to briefly express his concerns? The Speaker: We can do that. We do have one difficulty with respect to the standing orders. The standing orders say that question period must begin at 1:50, but I will ask the question. It deals with a unanimous request to the Assembly to basically permit the hon. Member for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo to participate in the response to the ministerial statement. I’ll ask one question.

If any member is opposed, simply say no. [Unanimous consent granted] The Speaker: The hon. Member for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo. 1:50 Mr. Boutilier: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I also want to say today, on the comments that have been made, that it’s a special moment for me as an independent member to applaud all elected officials in this Assembly and all four political parties that have spoken on such an important cause. I congratulate each and every one of them for the very positive comments that have been made today. Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. head: Oral Question Period The Speaker: First Official Opposition main question. The hon. Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition. Electoral Boundaries Ms Blakeman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In September a back- bencher stated publicly that Executive Council had determined that there would be two seats in Calgary, one in Edmonton, and one in Fort McMurray. Lo and behold, that’s exactly what the Electoral Boundaries Commission report recommended.

Yesterday the Premier revealed that the reason for adding four seats to the House was to protect at least three rural seats which would have been redistributed, maintaining an im balance weighted toward rural Alberta when the population is in the cities. My questions are to the Premier. Why is the Premier promoting a disparity in the value of votes between rural and urban Albertans? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, the Legislature amended the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act to establish 87 ridings.

Alberta Hansard March 18, 2010542 Speaking to the urban-rural, it is quite ironic because it wasn’t that long ago, when I asked the capital region to get together and form a local governance board, that I was accused of the opposite, of supporting urban over rural. This is finding balance in the province, looking at the increase in the population, over a million since 1986. Ms Blakeman: Back to the Premier. Well, over 80 per cent of Albertans live in cities. Does the Premier not understand that a major reason for low voter turnout is that people feel their vote doesn’t count?

In Alberta, if you’re a city dweller, your vote does count for less than a rural vote. Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, I disagree. There are rules, as all members in the House are aware, that are established, some in part by previous decisions of the Supreme Court. There are rules established by the Constitution. The commission followed those rules, very transparent. Their report is out there for the public, you know, to bring about their suggestions on boundary changes. It’s by law that we have to do it before every third election, and we’re following the law. Ms Blakeman: To the Premier.

Albertans have categorically rejected the logic that four new MLAs are worth the millions of dollars of increased costs. Why doesn’t the Premier just admit that these new seats are only necessary for maintaining a rural power base? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, I believe we’re so fortunate to live in a democratic country and a democratic province. But if that’s the case, if it’s a matter of cost, then I would assume that the Liberals will be phoning the Prime Minister and saying: “Please don’t give three more seats to Alberta.

Even though the population has increased and the differences between east and west, please, it’s a matter of cost, so don’t give us any more representation.” The Speaker: Second Official Opposition main question. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. PDD Funding Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Official Opposition has appealed to this government to treat vulnerable Albertans, including PDD, with humanity. The minister says that cuts are not trickling down to vulnerable people, but PDD-funded agencies have notified us that they are facing cuts from $30,000 to $140,000.

There is no amount of administrative efficiencies that can be found that will prevent these cuts from harming the lives of people on PDD. My questions are to the Premier. Why is this government doing another round of cuts on Calgary region PDD service providers? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, we’re fortunate as the province of Alberta that we saved during the good times. We have a cash surplus fund that’s set aside to cushion the blow on the significant reduction in our revenue. One of our commitments, of course, is to ensure that we support the most vulnerable.

PDD, persons with developmental disabilities, are a part of that group, and we’re doing whatever we can to ensure that the services that they have will continue to be provided. Ms Blakeman: Back to the Premier: given that before the new fiscal year even starts, several Calgary area service providers know they are facing cuts for next year’s programming, why does the Premier continue to deny that government budget decisions will result in less service delivery to vulnerable Albertans? Of course it will. Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, the minister has all of the detail with respect to region to region.

She will be able to answer that question. The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. Jablonski: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In our budget that’s being debated right now, we have kept our budget level. Certainly, that’s going to create a situation where we need to find efficiencies. We have asked our regions to help us find those efficiencies, and I believe that the regions are asking the social agencies that work with our PDD clients to help us find those efficiencies with little or no impact on our clients.

Ms Blakeman: Again back to the Premier: why does this govern- ment want to quietly cut the number of people on PDD and leave them with no grounds for appeal? The regulation covering PDD appeals states that a decision to amend a contract with a service provider is exempt from appeal. If the government makes cuts to PDD service providers and the service providers then have to cut support hours, there’s no recourse for anyone affected. Mrs. Jablonski: Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of this situation at all. I believe that there is an appeal process.

We have special, separate PDD appeal boards to handle situations just as have been described here. I will look into this fact, but it’s something that I’m not aware of. The Speaker: Third Official Opposition main question. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped Ms Blakeman: Mr. Speaker, when someone living with severe mental health issues gets hospitalized, voluntarily or not, they often have to leave their residences and all their stuff: clothing, furniture, teddy bears, dishes, cooking condiments, their pillow, everything.

After three months their AISH is terminated, and their belongings are gathered by the landlord and thrown out. Just when they need stability and familiar surroundings, they start over with nothing. My questions are to the Minister of Seniors and Community Supports. Has the minister considered a need for a trusteelike agency to intercede on behalf of individuals, give notice, pack things up, store them, help people maintain some stability? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. Jablonski: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

When our AISH clients are being served in our hospitals , whatever hospital that may be, their needs are being looked after and taken care of. There is a period of time when their placement in AISH is held, and after a certain period of time in the hospital the AISH itself is put on hold. But when those people are back in the community, we have a quick response for them to regain their AISH status. Ms Blakeman: No. They lose everything, including their AISH.

Back to the Premier: given that AISH will only cover a one-time moving fee and a one-time damage deposit, would the Premier consider asking the minister to provide additional coverage on a case-by-case basis for those with repeated hospitalizations?

March 18, 2010 Alberta Hansard 543 Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, the budget in that particular area has been increased three years in a row. Off the top of my head I don’t know the full increase, but we’ve supported clients very well. There are some issues that perhaps we can look at. Of course, we’ll look at what is available and deal with the issue at hand. The Speaker: The hon. member. Ms Blakeman: Thank you. Back to the Premier. Well, here’s something else for you to look at.

Given that after age 65 AISH benefits cease and CPP benefits are lower and do not include a drug plan, would the Premier through the minister consider a top-up for previous AISH recipients once they pass the age of 65? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, that just speaks to the program that we have for AISH clients. As a result, if that is true what the member has said, that just shows the size of our program and support for our AISH clients. The other thing, though, is that we are reviewing the whole social area because there are so many different silos there, based on age, based on the community that you live in.

We’re trying to gather it all together under a one-window approach so that we improve the type of service that we provide for AISH and all those requiring social services. Senate Appointments Mr. Anderson: Mr. Speaker, my constituent Senator Bert Brown and many other Albertans have long championed the cause of an elected Senate, and that day is now very close. Yesterday the Premier was unclear on when he will call a needed Senate election in Alberta. If he waits until 2012, Alberta will be underrepresented in the Senate starting in 2011.

Given all the federal issues we’re grappling with, this is not in Al berta’s best interests. To the Premier: will you commit to holding Senate elections prior to Senator Banks’ upcoming retirement in 2011 to ensure Alberta continues to be fully represented in Ottawa? 2:00 Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, in my answer yesterday I said that we have three choices. We either proceed with an election in conjunc- tion with the municipal election this October, we can hold an independent election, free standing, sometime in 2011, or wait till 2012 for the provincial election.

I mentioned to the member yesterday that if you want to approve an increase in the budget for Municipal Affairs to put the names on the ballots, then tell us that today, and we’ll make the necessary accommodations. Mr. Anderson: We’ve got more than enough fat to pay for $3 million for a Senate election.

Given that holding stand-alone elections prior to 2012 would be far more expensive to the taxpayer than holding them in conjunction with municipal elections and given that waiting until the 2012 general election would mean Albertans would be underrepresented in the Senate, will the Premier commit to holding the Senate elections in conjunction with upcoming municipal elections in October? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, as I said, there is a lot of, you know, demand for the few dollars that we have available, and this is a discussion that we’re going to have as a government. Mr. Anderson: Mr.

Premier, I think you’re stalling. My final question is this: is this PC government actually consider- ing undermining Albertans’ democratic and constitutional rights and all the battles we’ve waged on Senate reform because they’re worried they might lose the Sena te election to the Wildrose Alli- ance? Is that the reason? Mr. Stelmach: I don’t know who is even going to run for the Senate position. There are a number of names that have to be on a nomina- tion list. There are a whole bunch of things that have to happen. This is not in terms of a political party.

This is a Senate election, a candidate for Senate, and we want to of course have the best representative for the province of Alberta to represent us in the Senate. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands- Norwood. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, the NDP probably won’t be having a candidate in that election. Oil and Gas Royalties Mr. Mason: In 2007 the Premier told Albertans, and I quote: the royalty framework is here to stay; $1.4 billion, 20 per cent.

He defended sliding scale royalties because they would capture more money when the market was strong and adjust for a weaker market when necessary. Well, Mr. Speaker, here we are two years later. The market isn’t as strong as it was, but what’s really weak is this Premier’s leadership. Why has the Premier sold out the majority of Albertans, whom he promised he would get a fair share for? Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, there are significant market condition changes on the North American continent; the price of natural gas has dropped substantially; huge, huge supplies of natural gas in shale: these are all issues that have come forward over the last two years. We’ve taken a lot of time to work with industry, to look at all of the data that was given to us, and we made a decision. It’s not just the slice of the pie. It’s growing a much larger pie, and that is the intent of the competitiveness review. Mr. Mason: That’s Belinda Stronach’s economic theory at work here, Mr. Speaker.

Given that Albertans own the resource and the Premier promised it would bring in an additional $1.4 billion a year in revenue and given that last week’s flip-flop will see that number rolled back by almost a billion dollars, why won’t the Premier admit that he cannot be trusted to fight for ordinary Albertans when big oil threatens to take its political contributions elsewhere? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, again, I think that just the way the question was posed shows a total misunderstanding of how royalties are calculated.

As I said before, it’s to get the industry back on their feet, to start developing the resource. If they don’t develop the resource and the gas stays in the ground, there are no royalties paid. There are none. Mr. Mason: Mr.

Speaker, given that the finance minister admitted during his estimates that the province does have a revenue problem and given that the Premier has committed to give $2 billion to industry for carbon capture and about a billion dollars a year in cuts to royalties, will the Premier finally admit that he has sacrificed the public interest, that he sacrificed billions in revenue, and that he has now broken his biggest promise of all?

Alberta Hansard March 18, 2010544 Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, once again, the $2 billion we have set aside for carbon capture and storage is to ensure that we protect our marketplace. As you know, on the issues that we’re facing not only on the North American continent but from Europe in terms of amount of carbon produced and all of those things, we positioned Alberta very well. It’s not that the money has been spent, but we have set it aside to ensure that we proceed with some of the carbon capture and storage projects and protect our marketplace, and that’s very, very important. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Calgary-Varsity, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Bow. Postsecondary Tuition Fees Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Education equals economy. Three years ago this government promised stability in postsecondary education for a decade. Instead, students outside this House and across our province are seeing their bursaries dwindling, their debt growing, their fees rising, and could face tuition increases in the thousands of dollars next year.

To the Minister of Advanced Education and Technology: how can this minister justify down- loading postsecondary education costs, especially on middle-class families, that are already stretched too thin? Mr. Horner: Mr. Speaker, over the last five to six years our operating grant increases to postsecondaries have been more than 42 per cent. I don’t believe there is a jurisdiction in Canada that has put the amount of capital into sp aces and access that this government has.

In fact, today, even during these economic times that we have, we’re over a billion dollars in cap ital infrastructure going in the ground as we speak, and that is a commitment to education and postsecondary. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Alberta has the lowest postsecondary enrolment, and it will get worse if these hikes continue. When the minister reaches a decision on tuition hikes, will he bring those increases to this Assembly for a vote so that Albertans from every riding in this province know where their member stands on affordable postsecondary education? Mr. Horner: Mr.

Speaker, the hon. member is talking a bout tuitions. Tuitions in the province of Alberta are capped to the CPI. They will be approximately 1 and a half per cent across the board across the province. There are some instances where the institutions approached us and said, “We think you made a mistake when you froze tuition in 2004,” another good policy decision by this govern- ment taken in 2004. At the time it was the right thing to do. But did we review all of the tuitions across all 3,700 different programs and offerings? We did not, so there may have been some anomalies.

We’re looking to correct the mistake that may have happened to protect the CPI cap going into the future. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It appears that promises in this province seem to have time limits. Will the minister at long last spell out a firm timeline for when he will make these cr itical financial decisions, or is he intentionally trying to run out the clock on the spring sitting of the Legislature? Mr. Horner: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member was available at our estimates.

I recall that during a couple of the 10-minute periods during our estimates he didn’t want to do the banter back and forth but simply read from a sheet a whole list of questions, which department staff are spending a lot of time on looking at how we’re going to answer. It would have been a great time for him to ask that exact question, about where we’re going with the budgets and how we’re doing these things in terms of the market modifiers that have been presented to us. As I’ve said in this Assembly before, we will be making those decisions within the next few weeks. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Calgary-Bow, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. Patient Safety Report Ms DeLong: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My constituents do not need to be protected from the truth. They know that there are problems with our health system that need to be addressed, yet the Health Quality Council of Alberta released very limited information on the review of serious incidents at Alberta Children’s hospital in Calgary last year. Now, the Minister of Health and Wellness said that he would ensure that the full report would be released within 10 days. To the minister. Today is day 9.

Are you going to keep your promise? Mr. Zwozdesky: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I certainly am. I said that the Health Quality Council of Alberta, working with Alberta Health Services, would release the full public report within 10 days. Earlier today I actually presented a copy of that full public report to the Clerk of this Assembly, and it will be tabled here today. The Speaker: The hon. member. Ms DeLong: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. To the same minister. Our government believes in and has been very vocal in support of open government, so why was the full report not released last week?

They’ve had it for months. 2:10 Mr. Zwozdesky: I believe I indicated last week in this Assembly that there were some confidentiality issues that both the Health Quality Council and Alberta Health Services were still addressing. That is very necessary because whatever information gets released to the public, as you would know, Mr. Speaker, has to combine a number of considerations. One of them is the Alberta Evidence Act, and the other one is the Health Information Act. That has now been satisfied, so the full public report is being released today.

Ms DeLong: To the same minister: can we count on all of the Health Quality Council’s recommendations being included in this report, and will they be implemented? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, the entire bevy of recommendations from the Health Quality Council is included in this full public report although a few of them may have been combined under one title. But they’re all there. Regarding implementation, I can tell you with great assurance that Alberta Health Services has already taken some very positive steps to ensure that those kinds of unfortunate mistakes do not happen in the future.

Patient safety, patient quality of care are two very fundamental goalposts for our health system.

March 18, 2010 Alberta Hansard 545 *See page 574, left column, paragraph 6 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview. MLA Remuneration Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The order in council on April 30, 2008, setting out the pay for Conservative MLAs to sit on internal cabinet policy committees, Treasury Board, and Agenda and Priorities was issued one month into the fiscal year. This should have only made members eligible for 11 months of pay, but records indicate they were paid for 12.

To the President of the Treasury Board: why did the government pay last year $42,000 to give PC government members retroactive payments for sitting on the internal cabinet policy committees?* Mr. Snelgrove: Mr. Speaker, I’ll look into the statements made by the hon. member, and I’ll report back to the House. Mr. MacDonald: I appreciate that from the President of the Treasury Board. Now, again to the hon. minister: given that the government set the fee

schedule on April 30, 2008, one month into the fiscal year, why did the government give PC government members one month’s retroactive pay also for service as parliamentary assistants, cabinet policy committee chairs, members of Treasury Board and Agenda and Priorities under that fee schedule? Mr. Snelgrove: Mr. Speaker, I presume they sat on the committees, and work isn’t interrupted. I committed that I will look into it, and I will report back to the House. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again to the same minister: given that cabinet ministers and the Premier did not receive retroactive payments with their deal, which was set up two months into the fiscal year, who authorized these retroactive payments for all these PC government members? Mr. Snelgrove: Mr. Speaker, I have said – and I have lived up to everything I have said in here before – that I will look into the matter, and I’ll report back to the House. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity. Continual Urban Crime Mr. Vandermeer: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recently there has been a series of violent robberies and assaults committed at all transit stations in Edmonton. It is getting out of hand, and this is unacceptable to my constituents. To the Minister of Justice and Attorney General: what is the minister doing to ensure that people who have committed violent crimes will not reoffend? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Ms Redford: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a serious matter, and we’re finding that one of the reasons that the government needed to introduce the safe communities initiative was to get to the root of some of these causes.

While we haven’t been able through the police in this city to identify at this point in particular who the perpetrators are with respect to this incident and a few other incidents, what we do know is that very often we find there are youth who get involved in high-risk activity, they get in contact with the justice system, and they keep being rotated through the system without dealing with the root causes of crime. We’ve got to find ways, as we are doing through our safe communities innovation fund, to address youth at risk, to develop mentor programs, and to deal with addiction issues in youth. Mr.

Vandermeer: To the same minister. It’s my understanding that time and time again it is often the same individuals who consistently are threatening the security of our communities. Can the minister explain this? Ms Redford: Well, Mr. Speaker, while we can’t speak to who may have been involved in the most recent incidents, what we do know is that we do have situations where a number of times we do know that there are prolific offenders who are involved in what is consid- ered to be continual urban crime.

There is an initiative that has been started in partnership with the Edmonton Police Service – and they’ve been leaders in this, Mr. Speaker – in dealing with prolific offenders so that in cases where we do know that there are people who are repeating the same crime over and over again, sometimes involving violence, we’re able to focus our prosecutors, our bail packages, and our police on those. Mr. Vandermeer: To the same minister. We know that oftentimes individuals committing these sorts of senseless acts are fuelled by a drug habit which is, of course, rooted in organized crime.

Can the minister tell the Assembly how her department is addressing some of these issues on a preventative level? Ms Redford: Well, Mr. Speaker, the member makes the very good point that very often when we have this cycle, it does involve people that are committing crimes because they have addictions, to try to find money to buy drugs, that are very often being sold to them by organized crime. It’s a continual cycle. It’s one of the reasons that the government developed an Alberta gang strategy. We look at all the pieces of this cycle.

We try to provide education and awareness, we try to provide intervention and assistance for addicts, and where that’s not possible, we then enforce and prosecute. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity, followed by the hon. Member for Leduc-Beaumont-Devon. Budget Debate Process Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Children and Youth Services must believe that debating the budget at a rate of $6.1 million per minute is sufficient for holding the government to account for how they spend taxpayer dollars because last night the minister refused to respond in writing to questions that were not answered during the debate. To the Minister of Children and Youth Services: how exactly does debating $6.1 million per minute reflect accountability for how taxpayer dollars are spent? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. Fritz: Well, thank you. Mr. Speaker, I really enjoy Committee of Supply.

It’s one of my fav ourite committees, actually, that happens with the Assembly because you do get to discuss budgets, business plans, the policies. I know that over the years you as well enjoyed that committee just as much as I do. Last night in this committee you’d be interested in what happened. There were 12 pages of questions that this member expected I answer within the

Alberta Hansard March 18, 2010546 first 10 minutes. I did explain to the member that he has his process; he can submit questions, do whatever he likes in that manner. I had mine, and I answered the questions fully. Mr. Chase: Mr. Speaker, it is on the record that I asked for ques- tions not completed to be submitted following debate. How is it a reflection of an open and transparent system when the government limits debate on the budget to three hours regardless of whether or not there are further questions to be answered? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. Fritz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

One of the other processes that I think we all enjoy here in the Assembly is the one where people can provide written questions to the Assembly. I can tell you that this member may do that in the future if he does have questions that he would like to have specifically answered in writing through the Assembly. I will look at that time as to whether or not I will accept those questions. Also, the member can ask me in writing, or, hon. member, you could actually sit down and have coffee, and we could discuss some of the issues that you’d like to discuss. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Chase: Thank you.

It would be a very long coffee break. Given that the opposition asks questions of the government so that we can respond to Albertans and hold the ministry to account, will the minister provide written responses to the questions raised in the budget debate last night, as has been done in the past? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. Fritz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I answered that very clearly last evening to this member.

I believe that the questions that were submitted in the way that the member chose to submit them, to that extent – I think there were approximately 100 to 200 questions over three 10-minute periods. An Hon. Member: It was 75. Mrs. Fritz: Oh. Whatever it was, it was extensive. Mr. Speaker, I can tell you this: I made it very clear that the questions would be answered fully at that point in time, and I believe that I did do that. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Leduc-Beaumont-Devon, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Water Quality Monitoring Mr. Rogers: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My constituents, like all Albertans, value the quality of the province’s water bodies. They are very concerned about reports that the water monitoring budget in this year’s budget is being cut. My questions are to the Minister of Environment. With the focus of many jurisdictions squarely on Alberta’s environmental performance, why would this minister even contemplate reductions in water monitoring? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Renner: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to make a couple of things abundantly clear.

First of all, there is a reduction in the amount of budget that we have allocated to water monitoring, but the reason is because we’re taking a much more strategic approach to how we do that monitoring. There is absolutely no reduction in the amount of monitoring that is associated with any emergencies, any hydrometric monitoring such as flood forecasting, water supply outlooks, water management, or long-term river monitoring. There is a reduction in the areas where we’ve seen little or no change over long periods of time. 2:20 The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Rogers: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Given that every Albertan has the right to expect that their water supply will be of the highest quality, how will the minister ensure that monitoring reductions will not adversely impact the quality of Albertans’ water supply. Mr. Renner: Well, Mr. Speaker, we have extensive water monitor- ing that takes place in areas that have i ndustrial development or areas that have municipal and agricultural monitoring. What we’re dealing with here are very remote areas where the monitoring of water is done to establish whether there are long-term trends.

What we’re doing is not eliminating the monitoring but reducing the frequency. So if there was monitoring that was done on a six-month basis, it might now be done on a 12-month basis. The long-term trends are still intact. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Rogers: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that monitoring is much more sensitive in certain areas than others – and I’m thinking particularly of the oil sands regions – how can the minister ensure that the necessary monitoring will continue to be done in this area? Mr. Renner: Well, Mr.

Speaker, I can assure this member and I can assure all Albertans that this is not one of the remote areas that I was referring to earlier. In fact, we already have in place 11 monitoring sites that are on the Athabasca River. We have a program that audits the monitoring data that’s legally required by the operators in that region. That is in addition to the 100 water quality stations that are operated by our partner in the region, the regional aquatics monitor- ing program, RAMP. There is more than adequate opportunity for Albertans to be aware of the water in that region. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Temporary Foreign Workers Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday the NDP released government documents showing that 74 per cent of inspected employers who hire temporary foreign workers are violating their rights. The Minister of Employment and Immigration’s callous remark that this is somehow good news shows just how out of touch he is and all but sanctioned the abusive employers who take advantage of the vulnerable. My question is for this minister.

How many Alberta employers have to get caught violating this govern- ment’s employment standards legislation before you’ll admit that this is actually a bad-news story and that the government has some real work to do? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Lukaszuk: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me first make it perfectly clear that there’s nothing callous about my comments. Perhaps what is somewhat unbecoming of a member of this

March 18, 2010 Alberta Hansard 547 Assembly is to twist numbers and present them as one thing when they really represent something else. Seventy-four per cent is the number generated (

a) following a complaint, where we verified a complaint, and (

b) our random inspections of employment are sort of like checkstops. Our individuals who do the inspections know where to go, and they know where the areas of issues are, and that skews the results. The Speaker: The hon. member. Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, given that with the random checks there was still over 50 per cent violation and given that well over half of those violations against temporary foreign workers involved employers ripping them off by failing to pay them and given that the minister seems to think it’s good news if a worker gets shorted $50 here or $50 there, why won’t the minister abolish this abusive program and tell foreign workers that if they’re good enough to work here, they’re good enough to live here? Mr. Lukaszuk: Well, let’s again try to deal with facts for a change. First of all, Mr.

Speaker, this is not a provincial program; it’s a federal program. This shouldn’t even be asked in this House. We have no means of abolishing the foreign worker program. It’s a federal program. We have no means of opting out of it either because there is no possibility for provinces to opt out. Now, we also have no choice on whether these workers stay or don’t stay over here because visas are issued by the federal government. Perhaps she should speak with her friend Ms Duncan, the MP, and have her ask the question in the House of Commons.

Ms Notley: Given that $50 might not be much money to a cabinet minister who earns in the neighbourhood of $150,000 a year and given that it’s a lot to a worker who’s been lured to Alberta by this ministry with plans to send money home to an impoverished family, will the minister please define his threshold for exploitation and say exactly how much money needs to be picked from the pocket of foreign workers before he considers it a violation of their rights? Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr.

Speaker, with all due respect to this member, there’s nothing that she can teach me about the life of an immigrant and tell me what is and what isn’t important to an immigrant. She would have had to live for the last 40 years in my shoes. Any dollar is important to every worker, and our ministry not only enforces employment standards for immigrants, but we also enforce them for all Albertans. Every employee deserves to be paid every dollar. That’s why we’re there, that’s why we collect the dollars, and that’s why we make sure that workers are treated fairly. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Lethbridge-East, followed by the hon. Member for Bonnyville-Cold Lake. Lethbridge Health Facilities Security Services Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Alberta Health Services is ending the long-term security contract they had with the Corps of Commissionaires in Lethbridge. The commissionaires are a nongovernment, nonprofit organization consisting of ex-military and ex-police personnel who have served their country and communities, and they have been highly respected since 1925.

To the Minister of Health and Wellness: how many positions will be lost by the commissionaires in the Lethbridge area because of this change? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, what Alberta Health Services is doing is trying to ensure that every medical facility that comes under that particular purview will have some form of security of access to it. Under the current model, unfortunately, that’s not the case. So there is a positive side to all of this, and we’ll be watching it very closely to make sure it works out that way. Ms Pastoor: Well, it’ll be the same question: how many are going to be lost province-wide?

These are people that rely on these jobs. Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I’ll try and get that level of detail for the member, but I think what’s important to remember here is that the safety of patients, the safety of workers and other professionals in the system has to be respected. When you have a system that perhaps falls a little bit short of that, which is the current case, you have to move to something new and different and better, and that’s what’s being attempted here. Ms Pastoor: Ex-military and ex-police couldn’t do it.

Why did the Health Services Board choose Paladin Security over the nonprofit commissionaires? Is this another instance of it only being all about money? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, the security is of primary concern, and that’s one reason why as many security cameras as possible are going to be installed under this system. With respect to the exact numbers of FTEs I will undertake to provide that information. I assume it’s available somewhere, and I’ll get it. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Bonnyville-Cold Lake, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. Agricultural Assistance Mrs.

Leskiw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Agriculture has faced more than its share of challenges in recent years, including drought, market restrictions, and high costs due to regulations. Beef produc- ers in my constituency are feeling the pressure and asking tough questions. My first question is to the minister of agriculture. Is the AgriRecovery program designed to offset the loss that cattle producers are facing as a result of last summer’s drought, and will the producers in my constituency be eligible for AgriRecovery funds? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Hayden: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I think it’s important to point out first of all that the AgriRecovery program is, in fact, a federal program, and it’s in place to address situations where significant and unique disasters occur. We are, I can assure you, working with the federal government right now on the AgriRecovery assessment for our province. I speak with the minister on a regular basis, and we will try to get a resolution to this as quickly as we can. Mrs. Leskiw: My first supplementary question is to the same minister. What is being done to reduce the costs the beef producers are facing as a result of the added regulations? Mr.

Hayden: Well, Mr. Speaker, we are working on trying to reduce the regulatory burden that producers face. We have allowed grants for specific programs with respect to the transfer of livestock. That is going to help them in so me ways. We are also working on a number of areas where we can reduce through good planning and research the cost of feeding livestock. We work with them on an ongoing basis.

Alberta Hansard March 18, 2010548 Mrs. Leskiw: My next supplementary is to the same minister. Producers in my area are skeptical a bout the role of ALMA. Has ALMA produced any positive results, and if so, what are they? Mr. Hayden: Well, actually, Mr. Speaker, ALMA is about a year and a half old now, and I’m very pleased with some of the things that have taken place this early in their mandate. One of things that I’m proud of is the work that they’ve done working with the federal government in opening markets in Hong Kong.

They have a number of programs that have been able to help us leverage money for research and for improving the quality of what we provide in this province, something to the tune of $97 million. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar, followed by the hon. Member for Strathcona. 2:30 School Utilization Formula Mr. MacDonald: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Early in May officials from Alberta Education will present to school board chairpersons and school superintendents the province’s new provincial school utilization rate.

These changes are a very long time in coming, and I would like to thank the hon. Minister of Education for coming forward with these new provincial utilization rates. [some applause] It’s certainly about time. Now, my first question is to the Minister of Education. How will the new provin- cial utilization rates work for public schools located in maturing neighbourhoods? These schools were built 50 to 60 years ago. Mr. Hancock: Well, Mr. Speaker, I must admit that I’m a bit at a loss to understand what he’s talking about.

There is a review of the utilization rate happening, and there will be some further discussion with the stakeholders in the system about that utilization rate process, but nothing has been completed in it. I’ll check to make sure that something isn’t being hidden from me, but I’m not aware of it being presented as a fait accompli to the system in May. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That surprises me because your colleagues are so enthusiastic over these changes.

Again to the Minister of Education: will the minister ask Edmon- ton public school board to delay the school closure process that’s proceeding now until parents and taxpayers can see the full impact of the province’s new school utilization formula? Mr. Hancock: Well, Mr. Speaker, this hon. member is following the same tack as his colleague from Calgary-Varsity and, actually, quite misunderstanding the process. The school utilization formula really has nothing to do with the discussion that’s happening with respect to schools in Edmonton or other jurisdictions.

School boards have to determine what facilities they need and where they need them to provide a good educational program for the students in their area. He probably, actually, should be looking – and maybe I shouldn’t tell him this – at the plant operation and maintenance process because that has much more to do with the funding we give them for the operating of the schools than the utilization formula, which is really just one of the characteristics for determining whether new schools will be built. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. MacDonald: Yes. Thank you.

Certainly, to the hon. minister, I’m not going to tell him what kind of surplus Edmonton public had last year in their operating budget b ecause he may want that back, too. Again, how are communities facing school closures supposed to have confidence in this process when the minister is admitting that the rules will be changed after decisions that affect five central neighbourhoods are made, and these decisions could be the closure of their vital public schools? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member, obviously, wasn’t listening the last time, so I’ll basically just repeat it again.

The utilization formula that’s utilized has really nothing to do with the school closure process that school boards are engaging with. What has more to do with it, perhaps, is the plant operation and mainte- nance formula, which gives them the money that they need to keep schools operating. What they’re really trying to determine is how they can make sure that they give the best educational opportunity to students in their jurisdiction without running excess facilities. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Strathcona, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-McCall. Capital Region Municipal Planning Mr.

Quest: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government of Alberta recently adopted the capital region growth plan. Plans are one thing, but Albertans are more interested in actions. My question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs. Is this plan really going to help the capital region, and how? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Goudreau: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This plan will have lasting benefits for all of the region’s residents. It’s a very solid plan that will eliminate duplication amongst the municipalities.

It will co-ordinate and help co-ordinate essential infrastructure investments and, no doubt, help to attract a lot of investment in the region. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Quest: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Second question to the same minister: when the board was first established, our province was in a very different economic climate, so is this plan still relevant? Mr. Goudreau: Mr. Speaker, certainly, the capital region needs to look ahead. We expect over 600,000 people and new residents over the next 40 years in this region.

This plan sets the standards for smart development, planned growth, and a greener, more co- ordinated approach to land use. Our Premier’s vision was to create a stronger region that builds on current and future economic opportunities, and that’s exactly what the capital regional plan is doing. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Quest: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question also for the Minister of Municipal Affairs. The Calgary Regional Partnership is preparing a similar plan for the Calgary region. Can the minister please provide this House with an update on the Calgary metropoli- tan plan?

The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Goudreau: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That’s a good question. The Calgary Regional Partnership has submitted its plan, and our

March 18, 2010 Alberta Hansard 549 government is currently reviewing what has been presented. I just want to reiterate that regional co-operation is a priority for our government and that these plans will contribute significantly to the success of our communities and throughout the whole province. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-McCall, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Decore. Energy-efficient Personal Transportation Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government’s approach to energy efficient vehicles such as Segway is out of date.

These vehicles are considered to be safe by the federal government but are roadblocked by provincial red tape. To the Minister of Transporta- tion: why have these carbon friendly modes of transportation not been legalized? Mr. Ouellette: Well, Mr. Speaker, I think he’s talking about Segways, and that’s a two-wheeled vehicle. It’s also a vehicle with no type of lighting, no type of anything on it, so how do you mix that up with traffic and big vehicles and say that they’re safe? We’ve run some pilot projects.

There are some different police departments in Alberta that are using them right now, but when you mix them on sidewalks with people walking – these vehicles go up to 20 kilo- metres an hour. We just haven’t found a safe place to be able to license them to have them run. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Seeing that these vehicles meet Canada motor vehicle safety standards and are already enjoyed in other jurisdictions, why hasn’t this been a priority for this government? Mr.

Ouellette: Boy, I absolutely don’t know where he got that information from because the information that I have does not have them licensed as a motor vehicle anywhere in Canada, Mr. Speaker. But there have been a few places that have done pilot projects, like we have said, and we’re a leader in that. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given all the rhetoric from this government about environment, when will this government allow these environmentally friendly modes of transportation onto Alberta’s streets? Mr. Ouellette: Mr.

Speaker, till they can meet national vehicle standards, we can’t allow them on the streets. The only rhetoric that I ever hear is coming from the hon. member over there that doesn’t listen to the answers to the questions. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Decore. Temporary Foreign Workers (continued) Mrs. Sarich: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are to the Minister of Employment and Immigration. Given that there are questions being raised regarding temporary foreign workers not receiving the wages they are owed, the fact remains that these workers are not being treated very well.

To the Minister of Employ- ment and Immigration: what is the minister doing specifically to protect temporary foreign workers? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Lukaszuk: Thank you. Well, first of all, let’s get the record straight. A majority of Alberta employers who employ temporary foreign workers are good employers. Many, many employers use foreign workers, so it would be very unwise and unjust to brush all employers with that same reputation. The fact of the matter is that we do audits, but we do targeted audits. We provide information in many languages in writing. Mr.

Speaker, you may find this very interesting: we actually take calls in more than 170 languages to listen to complaints. Mrs. Sarich: To the same minister, Mr. Speaker: is it true that temporary foreign workers will be sent back to their home country if they speak up for themselves regarding issues that they may have? Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, we encourage them to speak. As a matter of fact, we have campaigns asking not only foreign workers but all Albertans to inform us if there are issues relevant to any abuse of workers. That’s why we print materials in several lan- guages.

That’s why we have telephone lines and websites. So that’s not the case. Whether they choose to go back to their country of origin, that’s an issue that they have to raise with the federal government. I think that this is the best place to live on the planet. I choose to live here, but I can’t be pompous enough to assume that everybody will stay here. They have that option. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mrs. Sarich: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To the same minister: given that there are questions being raised regarding the cutting of budget to employment standards inspections, how can this minister justify the cuts that are being made in this particular area at this time when we need to ensure temporary foreign workers and all Alberta workers are being treated fairly in the workplace? 2:40 Mr. Lukaszuk: Well, that’s a very good question, Mr. Speaker. We’ve gone through estimates already, and I can tell you that one department in the ministry that has received zero cuts – zero – is that particular department.

Our field officers are out there in the same numbers as they have been in the past, and they are doing their inspections, and they’re doing that very diligently. Let the message be clear to any employers who may be listening: if you do not adhere to Alberta laws and rules and if we find over and over that you are breaching the rules, you will find yourself in court, and myself and our Minister of Justice will look into this. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Whitecourt-Ste. Anne. Wildfire Season Mr. VanderBurg: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this week’s rural municipal convention the Whitecourt-Ste.

Anne leaders expressed concerns to me about dry conditions for landowners and managers. My questions are all to the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. Given such dry conditions within Whitecourt-Ste. Anne, why is the forest tanker base not opened at the Whitecourt airport? Mr. Knight: Well, Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is, of course, that April 1 is officially fire season. We do have a situation across the province of Alberta, particularly in northern Alberta, where our

Alberta Hansard March 18, 2010550 moisture levels are low, about 80 per cent of average. What we’re doing at the moment, of course, is exactly as the member has indicated. We’re staffing up our 13 forestry bases, where we operate manpower from, and the 14 tanker bases across the province of Alberta, including the one in Whitecourt-Ste. Anne. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. VanderBurg: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s March 18: five forest fires already in Alberta. Are you ready for a busy season? Mr. Knight: Well, Mr. Speaker, absolutely we are ready for a busy season.

I have to say that right now, as we’re here having the debate, there are a number of young folk – well, not even so young – that are being qualified or requalified to go out as front-line workers to attack these forest fires when they occur. Again, the member is absolutely correct. We’ve got a 50-hectare fire burning in Swan Hills . . . The Speaker: I know. Mr. Knight: Yes, Mr. Speaker, you know. . . . and there are a couple of smaller fires that are in the Whitecourt region. We’re very aware of this, and we are preparing, and I believe that we’ll do a very good job this year on that particu- lar issue. Mr.

VanderBurg: My final question to the same minister. Many fires are caused by landowners that pay no attention to fire bans. Are you going to be recovering the money from those landowners that start those fires? Mr. Knight: Mr. Speaker, the answer to that is yes, under certain circumstances.

As we know, particularly if you’re looking on occupied public land, if you have a situation where you have occupied public land and the occupier under normal circumstances is not the one – is not the one – who is responsible for a fire, there is some opportunity there, I think, for us to take a look at those situations and be fair about who is the responsible party and who should bear the cost. The Speaker: Hon. members, that was 114 questions and responses today.

Nineteen members were recognized: nine from the Official Opposition, one from the third party in the House, two from the fourth party in the House, and seven from private government members. Might we revert briefly to the introduction of visitors? [Unanimous consent granted] head: Introduction of Guests (continued) The Speaker: The hon. Government House Leader. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a real honour and privilege for me to advise the House that we’ve been graced today with the presence of one of our Olympic gold medal winners, Mr. Marc Kennedy.

Marc Kennedy, who I claim to be from Edmonton, Alberta, who curls as the second for the Kevin Martin gold medal curling team, which has made Edmonton, Alberta, and Canada proud, is here with his wife, Nicole. They won the gold medal this year at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and made us all proud. I should mention that this is not their first victory, of course. They’ve won at least two Briers that I’m aware of and a world championship.

I would ask Marc Kennedy and his wife, Nicole Kennedy, who needs to be recognized as well – we all know that in the business we do and, obviously, in the sport they do, to be excellent at anything, you need the help of your family and you need support. [Standing ovation] Hon. Members: O Canada, our home and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons command. With glowing hearts we see thee rise, The True North strong and free! From far and wide, O Canada, We stand on guard for thee. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

The Speaker: Here I was ready to yell, “Hurry, hurry, hurry” so we could get our Routine in before 3 o’clock. head: Members’ Statements The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview. Fire Services Exemplary Service Medals Mr. Vandermeer: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to congratulate Mr. Richard Kadlec, Mr. Mel Roberts, and Mr. Tim Vandenbrink, who live in my constituency, for being nominated and invited this year to receive Canada’s fire services exemplary service medal.

This prestigious award recognizes the men and women dedicated to preserving Canada’s public safety through long and outstanding service. Created on August 29, 1985, the fire services exemplary service medal honours members of a recognized Canadian fire service who have completed 20 years of service, 10 years of which have been served in the performance of duties involving potential risks. Being nominated for this medal is an amazing honour, and these three Albertans deserve all the recognition and praise that this nomination brings with it.

Without hesitation these men have risked their lives in order to protect others. I would like to thank these brave men as well as all firefighters for their courageous efforts and dedication to this province. Words alone cannot describe our gratitude. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for St. Albert. Alberta Land Surveyors Act Centennial Mr. Allred: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tomorrow, March 19, marks the 100th anniversary of royal assent of the Alberta Land Surveyors Act. Introduced by the hon.

Jean Leon Côté, a Dominion land surveyor and MLA for the riding of Athabasca, this legislation established the Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association as one of the very first self-governing professions in the province of Alberta. In 1910 land surveyors applied their skills to mark out the boundaries of homestead lands and the lots of the growing cities and towns using steel tapes and transit, drafting all their plans by hand, and doing their calculations with the assistance of logarithmic tables. Does anybody remember log tables these days? With today’s electronic distance measuring equipment, global positioning

March 18, 2010 Alberta Hansard 551 systems, and hand-held computers the same job can be completed in a fraction of the time without the back-breaking labour of cutting out every single line and the intricacies of determining direction by astronomical observations. The first president of the Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association was William Pearce, from Calgary, known as the czar of the prairies. He pioneered land settlement and irrigation in southern Alberta.

Other prominent land surveyors of that era were Lionel Charles- worth, the province’s first director of surveys and the deputy minister of public works, as well as A.O. Wheeler, a pioneer of photogrammetric surveying, Alberta-British Columbia boundary commissioner, and founding president of the Alpine Club of Canada. Land surveying is critical to the identification of properties. The Torrens system of land registration was adopted by Alberta and led to the creation of one of the most secure methods of registering land boundaries in the world.

Property owners in Alberta can be assured of the integrity of their property boundaries because of the work of Alberta land surveyors in establishing the cadastral framework so essential to the efficient operation of the Torrens system at land titles. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. 2:50 Farm Worker Exemptions from Labour Legislation Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. This is farm safety week. Every worker deserves equal protection under the law.

But paid farm workers are excluded from occupational health and safety legislation, and they’re not covered by workers’ compensa- tion, despite what the Minister of Employment and Immigration said yesterday, or by labour laws. Farm workers need and deserve these protections. Nineteen workers died in 2007, 23 in 2008, and when the 2009 numbers are released, I have no doubt that the numbers will be comparable. These are deaths that better regulations and legislation could have prevented.

Such recent deaths were caused by all-terrain vehicle rollovers; others involved falls, incidents involv- ing livestock and heavy equipment. All of these incidents could have been prevented had health and safety regulations been posted. Aside from the deaths, there are hundreds of injuries on farms every year, causing avoidable human suffering, economic losses, and additional costs to the health care system.

This administration’s addition of funds for farm safety education may help reduce some of the danger, but nothing can replace the protections offered by inclusive worker safety legislation, especially considering that the farm accident monitoring system is voluntary, leaving many, many farm injuries unreported. How can we know if these education programs will work if we don’t even know how many accidents are taking place? Alberta’s safety legislation must be rewritten to include paid farm workers. These citizens have the same right to a safe workplace, and they deserve the same protections as any other worker.

I call upon the Premier to direct his ministers to fix the appropriate legislation. One more farm death is one more too many. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung. Budget 2010 Mr. Xiao: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On February 9, 2010, Budget 2010 was tabled by the Minister of Finance and Enterprise. The budget strikes the right balance between finding savings and protecting priority programs and services. Actions taken in Budget 2010 position Alberta to have the strongest financial position of all provinces heading towards recovery.

We will have the most innovative and competitive economy in Canada, we will have the best health care system in the country, and we will have the newest and the best infrastructure in North America. The Bank of Montreal has positive things to say about this budget. They call our ability to reduce the budget deficit in fiscal year 2011- 12 to $1.1 billion “an impressive improvement.” The Bank of Montreal also points out that there were no new taxes and that Albertans continue to pay the lowest taxes in Canada. Mr.

Speaker, the Bank of Montreal also shares Budget 2010’s forecast for recovery, notably in Alberta’s resource sector thanks to improved commodity prices, stating that the bank also sees that on the horizon. They believe that our real GDP will grow by 3 per cent in 2010, outpacing the national rate, and we will outperform the national average over the medium term. They deem the budget’s forecast of 2.6 per cent growth in 2010 and average growth of 3 per cent through 2013 to be achievable. Mr. Speaker, striking the right balance was not easy.

The Minister of Finance and Enterprise has said that everyone has been asked to give a little, but by giving a little today, we are building the founda- tion for a more prosperous tomorrow. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lacombe-Ponoka. Sylvan Lake Pond Hockey Tournament Mr. Prins: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to rise today to give recognition to a wonderful event that took place last weekend in Sylvan Lake. This was a true Canadian event. The second annual Sylvan Lake Pond Hockey Tournament took place and was a huge success.

A number of special guests joined in this year’s event, including the Hanson Brothers and Denis Lemieux of the movie Slap Shot , former NHLers Marcel Dionne and Charlie Simmer, and Canada’s ultimate hockey dad, Walter Gretzky. The number of teams participating also grew significantly, from 23 teams last year to 55 teams this year. This was a tremendously successful event and a lot of fun for all those who took part, both players and spectators. It was a great day. This is what Canada is all about.

The night wrapped up with an awards banquet, complete with autograph sessions on sticks, pucks, movies, and other paraphernalia. All funds raised from the event go to support minor sports in Sylvan Lake. Next year the town of Sylvan Lake invites all Albertans to come and enjoy the Sylvan Lake Pond Hockey Tournament. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Red Deer-South. Lyndon Rush Mr. Dallas: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today on behalf of the hon. Member for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake to recognize one of our local Olympic athletes, Lyndon Rush.

Last month Lyndon and teammate Lascelles Brown secured a bronze medal at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics in the four-man bobsled. Lyndon drove the sled that secured Canada a bronze medal and was only one one-hundredth of a second shy of beating the silver medallists. While all Canadians were extremely proud of these two athletes, central Albertans were particularly pleased to see a local boy win a medal. When he is not bobsledding, Lyndon works in Red Deer as a commercial realtor. We are proud that Mr. Rush calls central Alberta home.

Alberta Hansard March 18, 2010552 I’d like to extend my sincere appreciation to all of our Canadian athletes but especially our local champion, Lyndon Rush, for his hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence. Congratula- tions on your extraordinary achievement. I would ask all members of this Assembly to join me in recogniz- ing the outstanding accomplishments of Ly ndon Rush at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands- Norwood. Oil and Gas Royalties Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

In 2006, before the royalty framework was overhauled by this government, former Premier Peter Lougheed told Albertans that we need to start thinking and acting like owners of our natural resources. He was talking about fair royalty rates for our natural resources, resources that belong to all Albertans, not to oil and gas companies. At first this government seemed to be listening to the former Premier’s advice. They made a commitment to increase royalties by $1.4 billion per year. They said that they were going to take their time to get it right.

But faced with growing political pressure from industry, this government has since retreated on their commitment seven times. First, Suncor got a bitumen rollback. Then there was a deep drilling rollback, followed by Syncrude’s bitumen rollback, which was followed by a rollback for new wells. Then royalties were capped at 5 per cent, and previous rollbacks were extended. All together these rollbacks cost taxpayers $2 billion. Last week’s rollback will cost us another three-quarters of a billion dollars in 2012 alone.

Desperate to regain favour with the oil and gas industry, this government refuses to stand up for Albertans. A recent Environics poll shows that 58 per cent of Albertans oppose royalty rollbacks. Clearly, the majority of Albertans are thinking like owners. What they need is a government that will act like owners. Alberta’s NDP is now the only political party defending Alberta’s fair share. We will continue to stand up for the rights of Albertans, the rightful owners of these valuable and nonrenewable resources. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. head: Presenting Petitions The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre.

Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of my colleague the hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar I am happy to present a petition signed by a number of people who are very much against the transmission line bill and the repercussions from that. Thank you. head: Introduction of Bills Bill 13 Securities Amendment Act, 2010 Dr. Morton: Mr. Speaker, I request leave to introduce Bill 13, the Securities Amendment Act, 2010.

Alberta and all provinces and territories except Ontario made a commitment to ongoing securities regulatory reform under a 2004 memorandum of understanding regarding securities regulation. This bill will build on this work as well as assist Canada in meeting its international commitments in the wake of the global financial crisis.

Bill 13 supports Canada’s international commitments in two key areas: first, supporting Canada’s conversion to international financial reporting standards, or IFRS, for public companies on January 1, 2011, and, second, proposing the use of a new regulatory oversight framework for credit-rating organizations that is in line with international standards.

Other amendments to the act will strengthen regulatory enforcement and ensure that Alberta’s registration regime continues to be harmonized with that of other Canadian jurisdictions. 3:00 As the second-largest capital market in Canada it is important that Alberta continues to show global leadership and keep its legislation as up to date as possible through ongoing reform. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: Hon. members, I chose deliberately not to interrupt the Minister of Finance and Enterprise, but under Standing Order 7(7) at 3 p.m. the items in the ordinary daily Routine shall be deemed to be concluded, and the Speaker shall notify the Assembly. The hon. Government House Leader. Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, I would ask that the House consider granting unanimous consent to complete the Routine today. The Speaker: There is a motion put forth by the hon. Government House Leader to complete the Routine.

If any member is opposed, please say no. [Unanimous consent granted] [Motion carried; Bill 13 read a first time] The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Transportation. Bill 14 Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2010 Mr. Ouellette: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request leave to intro- duce Bill 14, the Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2010. An administrative amendment is needed to correct an uninten- tional change to

section 162 of the Traffic Safety Act.

Section 162 of the Traffic Safety Act deals with the allocation of fines. This administrative amendment will restore the previous funding to the Traffic Safety Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Motion carried; Bill 14 read a first time] head: Tabling Returns and Reports The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Culture and Community Spirit. Mr. Blackett: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to table the appropriate number of copies of over a thousand letters and mes- sages from parents and children living in my constituency. Due to the volume of the documents they’ve already been deposited with the Clerk.

The majority of these letters are from the Rocky Ridge Royal Oak School Committee, pleading with the provincial govern- ment to approve provincial funding for the building of new public schools in Calgary, which will help eliminate the one-hour commut- ing bus ride that middle school-aged children are currently made to endure. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung.

March 18, 2010 Alberta Hansard 553 Mr. Xiao: Thank you. I’m very happy to rise today to table the capital market reports on Budget 2010, which is done by Dr. Sherry Cooper, who is the chief economist of BMO Capital Markets. Thanks. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands- Norwood. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have a couple of tablings today.

First, I’d like to table the appropriate number of copies of two documents from the Ministry of Employment and Immigration itemizing labour standards and workpl ace safety compliance rates among Alberta businesses that employ temporary foreign workers. These documents relate to the questions asked earlier today by my colleague the Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Secondly, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to table the appropriate number of copies of 34 postcards signed by Albertans calling on the provincial government to keep its promise to build 600 new long-term care beds.

The postcards are part of a campaign sponsored by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which has gathered signed postcards from approximately 2,500 Albertans. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Further to one of the questions that I asked in question period today, I’d like to table the appropriate number of copies of a 2010-2011 service provider agreement budget allocation which clearly shows a downward adjustment of $121,264.47. All that money is not going to people on PDD in Alberta. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. Mr. MacDonald: Yes. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have two tablings today. They’re both from constituents of Edmonton- Gold Bar, and they’re both tablings that I’m doing with permission. First off, Marie O’Brien is writing expressing her concern about the future of Alberta Hospital Edmonton. Carole Aippersbach is also very concerned about the direction this government is going with Alberta Hospital Edmonton. Thank you. 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. Ouellette, the Minister of Transportation, responses to questions raised by Mr. Kang, the hon. Member for Calgary-McCall; Mr. Hinman, the hon. Member for Calgary-Glenmore; and Mr. Mason, the hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood, on February 22, 2010, Department of Transportation main estimates debate. On behalf of the hon. Mr.

Zwozdesky, Minister of Health and Wellness, a report dated March 17, 2010, entitled Quality Assurance Review of the Three Medication and One Expressed Breast Milk Incidents at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, prepared by the Health Quality Council of Alberta. head: Projected Government Business The Speaker: The Official Opposition House Leader. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Could I ask the Government House Leader to share with us under Standing Order 7(6) the projected government business for the week commencing March 22, with government business commencing March 23? Thank you.

The Speaker: The hon. Government House Leader. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was thinking that we might run out of time for this today and end up where we were before without having to go on the record. Bills 13 and 14 were introduced today, and I anticipate bills 9 and 15 being introduced for first reading on Monday. That being the case, I’ll make mention of them later on in the week.

On Tuesday, March 23, of course subject to the votes in Commit- tee of Supply this afternoon a nd the introduction of the bill on Monday, under second reading Bill 9, the Local Authorities Election Statutes Amendment Act, 2010; Bill 10, the Victims Restitution and Compensation Payment Amendment Act, 2010; Bill 11, the Witness Security Act; Bill 12, the Body Armour Control Act; Bill 13, the Securities Amendment Act, 2010; Bill 14, the Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2010; and Bill 15, the Appr opriation Act; as per the Order Paper; and Committee of the Whole on Bill 7, the Election Statutes Amendment Act, 2010, and as per the Order Paper.

On Wednesday the 24th for second reading Bill 9, the Local Authorities Election Statutes Amendment Act, 2010; Bill 13, the Securities Amendment Act, 2010; Bill 14, the Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2010. Depending on progress on Tuesday, in Committee of the Whole Bill 7, the Election Statutes Amendment Act, 2010; Bill 10, the Victims Restitution and Compensation Payment Amendment Act, 2010; Bill 11, the Witness Security Act; Bill 12, the Body Armour Control Act; Bill 14, the Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2010; and Bill 15, the Appropriation Act.

On Thursday, March 25, in the afternoon for third reading Bill 1, the Alberta Competitiveness Act; Bill 2, the Professional Statutes Amendment Act, 2010; Bill 4, the Dangerous Goods Transportation and Handling Amendment Act, 2010; Bill 6, the Emergency Management Amendment Act, 2010; Bill 8, the Alberta Corporate Tax Amendment Act, 2010; Bill 14, the Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2010; Bill 15, the Appropriation Act; and as per the Order Paper. The Speaker: Hon. members, Saturday, March 20, will be the anniversary of the election 21 years ago of two members of this Assembly, the hon.

Member for Rocky Mountain House and the hon. Member for Lesser Slave Lake, so congratulations to both of them. 3:10head: Orders of the Day head: Committee of Supply [Mr. Mitzel in the chair] The Deputy Chair: Hon. members, I’ll call the committee to order. Prior to beginning, the chair will outline the process for this afternoon. The Committee of Supply will first call on the chairs of the policy field committees to re port on their meetings with the various departments under their mandate, Standing Order 59.01(7). Members are reminded that no vote is required when these reports are presented.

The chair notes that no amendments were introduced during the policy field committee meetings; therefore, no votes are required. The vote on the estimates of the Legislative Assembly as ap- proved by the Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services and the estimates of the officers of the Legislature will then take place.

Alberta Hansard March 18, 2010554 The estimates of 10 departments will then be voted on separately pursuant to Standing Order 59.03(1)(

b) and in accordance with notice provided by the Official Opposition House Leader to the Clerk on March 16, 2010. The final vote for the main estimates will consist of the estimates of any departments not yet voted on. Finally, the chair would like to remind all hon. members of Standing Order 32(3.1), which provides that after the first division is called in Committee of Supply during the vote on the main estimates, the interval between division bells shall be reduced to one minute for any subsequent division.

Committee Reports The Deputy Chair: I’ll now invite the deputy chair on behalf of the chair of the Standing Committee on Community Services to present his committee’s report. The hon. Member for Calgary-Buffalo. Mr. Hehr: Thank you, Mr. Chair. As deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Community Services and pursuant to Standing Order 59.01(7) I am pleased to report that our committee has reviewed the 2010-2011 proposed estimates and business plans for the following departments: Culture and Commun ity Spirit; Education; Housing and Urban Affairs; Municipal Affairs; Tourism, Parks and Recre- ation.

As you indicated, no amendments to the estimates were introduced during our meetings for the committee’s consideration. The Deputy Chair: Thank you. I’ll now call on the chair of the Standing Committee on the Economy to present his committee’s report. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Ellerslie. Mr. Bhardwaj: Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

As chair of the Standing Committee on the Economy and pursuant to Standing Order 59.01(7) I’m pleased to report that your committee has reviewed the 2010-11 proposed estimates and business plans for the following departments: Advanced Education and Technology, Employment and Immigration, Finance and Enterprise, Infrastruc- ture, and Transportation. No amendments to the estimates were introduced during our meetings for the committee’s consideration. Thank you very much. The Deputy Chair: Thank you. Now the deputy chair on behalf of the chair of the Standing Committee on Health. The hon. Member for Lethbridge-East.

Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Chair. As deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Health and pursuant to Standing Order 59.01(7) I am pleased to report that our committee has reviewed the 2010-2011 proposed estimates and business plans for the following depart- ments: Children and Youth Services, Health and Wellness, Seniors and Community Supports. As noted, no amendments to the estimates were introduced during our meetings for the committee’s consideration. The Deputy Chair: Thank you. Now I’ll call on the chair of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and Services. The hon. Member for Grande Prairie-Wapiti. Mr.

Drysdale: Thank you. As chair of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and Services and pursuant to Standing Order 59.01(7) I am pleased to report that your committee has reviewed the 2010- 2011 proposed estimates and business plans for the following departments: Aboriginal Relations, Justice and Attorney General, Service Alberta, Solicitor General and Public Security, and Treasury Board. No amendments to these estimates were introduced during our meetings for the committee’s consideration. The Deputy Chair: Thank you. Last, but not least, the chair of the Standing Committee on Resources and Environment.

The hon. Member for Lacombe- Ponoka. Mr. Prins: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As chair of the Standing Committee on Resources and Environment and pursuant to Standing Order 59.01(7) I am pleased to report that our committee has reviewed the 2010-2011 proposed estimates and business plans for the following departments: Agriculture and Rural Development, Energy, Environment, International and Intergovernmental Rela- tions, and Sustainable Resource Development. No amendments to the estimates were introduced during our meetings for the commit- tee’s consideration. Thank you.

The Deputy Chair: Thank you. head: Vote on Main Estimates 2010-11 The Deputy Chair: We shall now proceed with the vote on the estimates of the Legislative Assembly as approved by the Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services. Hon. members, pursuant to Standing Order 59.01(5), which requires that the estimates of the offices of the Legislative Assembly be decided without debate or amendment prior to the vote on the main esti- mates, I must now put the question. Agreed to: Offices of the Legislative Assembly Expense and Equipment/Inventory Purchases $97,113,000 The Deputy Chair: Shall the vote be reported?

Are you agreed? Hon. Members: Agreed. The Deputy Chair: Opposed? That is carried. We shall now proceed to the vote on the estimates of the 10 departments which may be voted on separately pursuant to Standing Order 59.03(1)(

b) and in accordance with notice provided by the Official Opposition House Leader to the Clerk on March 16, 2010. Agreed to: Aboriginal Relations Expense and Equipment/Inventory Purchases $152,554,000 The Deputy Chair: Shall the vote be reported? Are you agreed? Hon. Members: Agreed. The Deputy Chair: Opposed? The motion is carried. Agreed to: Advanced Education and Technology Expense and Equipment/Inventory Purchases $3,092,832,000 Nonbudgetary Disbursements $206,700,000 The Deputy Chair: Shall the vote be reported? Are you agreed?

March 18, 2010 Alberta Hansard 555 Hon. Members: Agreed. The Deputy Chair: Opposed? That is carried. Agreed to: Children and Youth Services Expense and Equipment/Inventory Purchases $1,102,159,000 The Deputy Chair: Shall the vote be reported? Are you agreed? Hon. Members: Agreed. The Deputy Chair: Opposed? That is carried. Agreed to: Culture and Community Spirit Expense and Equipment/Inventory Purchases $269,103,000 Nonbudgetary Disbursements $2,340,000 The Deputy Chair: Shall the vote be reported? Are you agreed? Hon. Members: Agreed. The Deputy Chair: Opposed? That is carried.

Agreed to: Employment and Immigration Expense and Equipment/Inventory Purchases $1,104,122,000 The Deputy Chair: Shall the vote be reported? Are you agreed? Hon. Members: Agreed. The Deputy Chair: Opposed? That is carried. Agreed to: Environment Expense and Equipment/Inventory Purchases $228,904,000 Nonbudgetary Disbursements $800,000 The Deputy Chair: Shall the vote be reported? Are you agreed? Hon. Members: Agreed. The Deputy Chair: Opposed? That is carried.

Agreed to: Health and Wellness Expense and Equipment/Inventory Purchases $15,062,686,000 Capital Investment $19,200,000 The Deputy Chair: Shall the vote be reported? Are you agreed? Hon. Members: Agreed. 3:20 The Deputy Chair: Opposed? That is carried. Agreed to: Housing and Urban Affairs Expense and Equipment/Inventory Purchases $510,063,000 The Deputy Chair: Shall the vote be reported? Are you agreed? Hon. Members: Agreed. The Deputy Chair: Opposed? That is carried. Agreed to: Seniors and Community Supports Expense and Equipment/Inventory Purchases $1,992,375,000 Hon. Members: Shall the vote be reported?

Are you agreed? Hon. Members: Agreed. The Deputy Chair: Opposed? That is carried. Agreed to: Transportation Expense and Equipment/Inventory Purchases $2,024,043,000 Capital Investment $1,490,719,000 Nonbudgetary Disbursements $8,290,000 The Deputy Chair: Shall the vote be reported? Are you agreed? Hon. Members: Agreed. The Deputy Chair: Opposed? The motion is carried. Those members in favour of each of the resolutions for the 2010- 2011 government estimates for the general revenue fund and lottery fund for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011, please say aye. Hon. Members: Aye. The Deputy Chair: Opposed?

The motion is carried. Shall the vote be reported? Are you agreed? Hon. Members: Agreed. The Deputy Chair: Opposed? That is carried. I would now invite the hon. Government House Leader to move that the committee rise and report the 2010- 2011 offices of the Legislative Assembly estimates and the 2010-2011 government estimates for the general revenue fund and lottery fund. Mr. Hancock: Mr. Chairman, as you said. [Motion carried] [Mr. Mitzel in the chair] The Acting Speaker: The hon. Member for Battle River-Wain- wright. Mr. Griffiths: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Committee of Supply has had under consideration certain resolutions relating to the 2010- 2011 offices of the Legislative Assembly estimates and the 2010- 2011 government estimates for the general revenue fund and the lottery fund, reports as follows, and requests leave to sit again. The following resolutions for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011, have been approved.

Support to the Legislative Assembly, expense and equip- ment/inventory purchases, $58,450,000; office of the Auditor General, expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $23,165,000; office of the Ombudsman, expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $2,888,000; office of the Chief Electoral Officer, expense

Alberta Hansard March 18, 2010556 and equipment/inventory purchases, $5,926,000; office of the Ethics Commissioner, expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $943,000; office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $5,741,000. Aboriginal Relations: expens e and equipment/inventory pur- chases, $152,554,000. Advanced Education and Technology: expense and equip- ment/inventory purchases, $3,092,832,000; nonbudgetary disburse- ments, $206,700,000. Agriculture and Rural Development: expense and equip- ment/inventory purchases, $645,995,000.

Children and Youth Services: expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $1,102,159,000. Culture and Community Spirit: expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $269,103,000; nonbudgetary disbursements, $2,340,000. Education: expense and e quipment/inventory purchases, $4,149,186,000; nonbudgetary disbursements, $6,112,000. Employment and Immigration: expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $1,104,122,000. Energy: expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $205,615,000. Environment: expense and e quipment/inventory purchases, $228,904,000; nonbudgetary disbursements, $800,000.

Executive Council: expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $31,688,000. Finance and Enterprise: expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $116,735,000; nonbudgetary disbursements, $36,917,000. Health and Wellness: expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $15,062,686,000; capital investment, $19,200,000. Housing and Urban Affairs: expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $510,063,000. Infrastructure: expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $1,183,671,000; capital investment, $396,319,000. International and Intergovernmental Relations: expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $23,977,000.

Justice: expense and equi pment/inventory purchases, $454,947,000. Municipal Affairs: expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $1,031,513,000. Seniors and Community Supports: expense and equip- ment/inventory purchases, $1,992,375,000. Service Alberta: expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $348,927,000; capital investment, $110,000,000. Solicitor General and Public Security: expense and equip- ment/inventory purchases, $614,926,000; capital investment, $24,700,000; lottery fund payments, $1,294,116,000.

Sustainable Resource Development: expense and equip- ment/inventory purchases, $297,651,000; capital investment, $18,425,000. Tourism, Parks and Recreation: expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $174,028,000; capital investment, $19,492,000; nonbudgetary disbursements, $2,500,000. Transportation: expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $2,024,043,000; capital investment, $1,490,719,000; nonbudgetary disbursements, $8,290,000. Treasury Board: expense and equipment/inventory purchases, $53,552,000; capital investment, $62,200,000. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Acting Speaker: Hon. members, all those members that concur with the report, please say aye. Hon. Members: Aye. The Acting Speaker: Opposed, please say no. So ordered. 3:30head: Government Bills and Orders Committee of the Whole [Mr. Mitzel in the chair] The Deputy Chair: I’d like to call the committee to order. Bill 1 Alberta Competitiveness Act The Deputy Chair: Are there any comments, questions, or amend- ments to be offered with respect to this bill? The hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity. Mr. Chase: Thank you very much. The idea of reducing red tape and promoting efficiencies is a wonderful concept.

Unfortunately, this bill fails to provide that. Like its predecessor Bill 1, the lobbyist registry, it lacks the mechanics, it lacks the teeth to accomplish the intent. In the case of the previous Bill 1, the lobbyist registry, it was easily circumvented by having a minister or a member of the government approach the industry whose services were desired and simply not bother to report.

In the case of the competitiveness bill there is no timeline, there is no check-off to indicate what progress has been made, and I have great sympathy for our poor finance minister, who has received no f unding to ensure that this bill is carried out. Unfortunately, it does not get any farther than the intent indication and has no ability to actually be carried out. It can be proclaimed, but without the tools necessary to create the efficiencies desired, we have no idea whether the government is getting back into the business of being in business or shortcutting the business of business. It’s unfortunate.

I would hope that future so-called Premier’s flagship bills will be able to be actually realized and create the efficiencies that this bill fails to create. Thank you. The Deputy Chair: The hon. Member for Calgary-Glenmore. Mr. Hinman: Thank you, Mr. Chair. It’s a great concern to me that we have as our flagship bill Bill 1, the Alberta Competitiveness Act. I feel that I need to stand up and address it once more. It’s interest- ing that it’s somewhat like the Hollywood star, as I said yesterday, who’s been caught shoplifting. They want to plead innocent: “Oh, no, no. I’ve got the money in my wallet.

I’ll pay for it.” The only reason why this government is bringing in the Competitiveness Act is because they’ve been caught. We’ve lost the Alberta advantage. We’re no longer competitive. Now they’re making the declaration: oh, no, we’re competitive. They need to make the statement. They’re trying to put out the advertisement to say that we’re competitive when we’re not. You know, I’m surprised that in the act it wasn’t included that we’re going to have a new minister, the minister of competitiveness. To expand on that, it goes back again to the time when we had a minister of government efficiencies.

I asked the question at that point: well, if there’s a minister that isn’t efficient, that isn’t competent, why not replace them with someone who is? Again, I’ll say the same thing about Bill 1 being the flagship bill. If we’re not competitive, let’s do something about it. Let’s not stand up and say: oh, we’re competitive. The hon. Member for Edmonton- Highlands-Norwood has brought up the last three times how much flip-flopping this government has been doing. I want to change that

March 18, 2010 Alberta Hansard 557 a little bit. It’s not that they’ve been flip-flopping; it’s that there has been one flop after another. It’s just flop, flop, flop. We have to ask ourselves: why are they doing this? It just seems that it’s more about political pressure and not economics, that the economics are driving the political pressure. I want to talk about a few of the other flops that this government has had. They put out the message to the different regions in the province that we’re looking at a police academy: “Put together your lobbying, your interest groups.

Let’s see what you can produce, and we’re going to select one and produce a police academy.” Some of those communities spent a lot of time, a lot of effort. [interjection] I believe I’m talking about bein g competitive, a nd I’ll wrap it up, and you’ll understand here as I go in there. They put in a lot of effort and time, and they were very competitive in their bid on how we can improve our policing in the province and why we’re looking at that, only to have another flop with nothing happening. The reason why I’m bringing these things up, Mr.

Chair, is because if, in fact, the rules are always being changed, people don’t want to bother putting their money or their time or their effort into competing. Can you imagine if every time there was an Olympics and the host country that’s playing hockey knew four years in advance that we’re going to change the net size, that we’re going to change the puck size, that we’re going to change the number of players on the field, and the other countries that are going there don’t know about that? They show up at the Olympics only to be told: “Oh, here are the new rules.

What we have is a net that’s two feet bigger.” It’s going to very quickly be to where countries aren’t going to be bothering to go to compete because they don’t know what the rules are. This is a problem that we’re having here in Alberta. The rules are always being changed. The policies are being changed. Their vision is being changed. Therefore, industry, business, workers, all of those people, say: I don’t know that I can afford to set up shop there because I don’t know what’s going to change next. We’ve gone through it, you know, with performance pay. Duckett says yes; the new health minister says no.

Centralized dispatch service: stalled halfway through. Looking back, it’s destroying the competitiveness in this province. This is about being competitive, and when we’re changing the rules, we’re no longer competitive. To stand up and to pass Bill 1 is a mockery to the competitiveness and the Alberta advantage that we used to have here in this province. We need some real changes. We need to get back on track and to apologize and say: we were wrong; we’ve done this. The best example and the most crucial at this point is in two areas. Our health care system is in shambles.

It doesn’t have the competitive- ness it needs to be innovative, to change, and to move into new directions because they don’t know if the rules are changing. The Deputy Chair: Hon. member, I appreciate the passion you have here, but we’re debating the clauses. During Committee of the Whole we’re debating the clauses of the bill. Mr. Hinman: It’s Committee of the Whole, I thought. The Deputy Chair: We’re in Committee of the Whole. Go ahead. Mr. Hinman: Thank you.

To go on, what I’m concerned about is that we’re passing a bill here stating that we’re going to be competi- tive, but when you look at it from the outside, we’re not. I’m going to say that in the health care system innovation is allowed and comes forward because areas can compete if they have a new idea, if they’re allowed to make a change. It’s interesting to me that in southern Alberta there’s a doctor who’s brought in a new technique for dealing with varicose veins. That’s very problematic for people that have that, the pooling that is going on. The old way is very painful.

It’s a long, drawn-out process where people are off work for six to eight weeks. They’ve got a new, innovative technology that has treatment with laser. People can literally walk in and walk out. That would add to the competitiveness because our workmen’s compensation and the cost to workers and people’s time off would be enhanced. Yet that area is not allowed to do it because we have to wait for the approval of the central health board now to say whether they can do this or not,

whereas at the local level they would bring it in, they’d treat their patients, and we would be moving forward. Mr. Chair, it’s just very disappointing that we have a government that wants to use the flagship bill to say that we are competitive. They’re d