Province of Alberta The 27th Legislature Third Session Alberta Hansard Wednesday, October 27, 2010 Issue 34 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) 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) Bhardwaj, Naresh, Edmonton-Ellerslie (PC) Bhullar, Manmeet Singh, Calgary-Montrose (PC) Blackett, Hon.

Lindsay, Calgary-North West (PC) Blakeman, Laurie, Edmonton-Centre (AL), Official Opposition Deputy Leader, Official Opposition House Leader Boutilier, Guy C., Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo (WA) 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) Danyluk, Hon. Ray, Lac La Biche-St. Paul (PC) DeLong, Alana, Calgary-Bow (PC) Denis, Hon.

Jonathan, QC, Calgary-Egmont (PC), 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) Fawcett, Kyle, Calgary-North Hill (PC) Forsyth, Heather, Calgary-Fish Creek (WA), WA Opposition Whip Fritz, Hon. Yvonne, Calgary-Cross (PC) Goudreau, Hon. Hector G., Dunvegan-Central Peace (PC) Griffiths, Doug, Battle River-Wainwright (PC) Groeneveld, George, Highwood (PC) Hancock, Hon. Dave, QC, Edmonton-Whitemud (PC), Government House Leader Hayden, Hon.

Jack, Drumheller-Stettler (PC) Hehr, Kent, Calgary-Buffalo (AL) Hinman, Paul, Calgary-Glenmore (WA), WA Opposition Deputy Leader Horne, Fred, Edmonton-Rutherford (PC) Horner, Hon. Doug, Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert (PC) Jablonski, Hon. Mary Anne, Red Deer-North (PC) Jacobs, Broyce, Cardston-Taber-Warner (PC) Johnson, Jeff, Athabasca-Redwater (PC) Johnston, Art, Calgary-Hays (PC) Kang, Darshan S., Calgary-McCall (AL) Klimchuk, Hon. Heather, Edmonton-Glenora (PC) Knight, Hon. Mel, Grande Prairie-Smoky (PC) Leskiw, Genia, Bonnyville-Cold Lake (PC) Liepert, Hon.

Ron, Calgary-West (PC) Lindsay, Fred, Stony Plain (PC) Lukaszuk, Hon. Thomas A., Edmonton-Castle Downs (PC), Deputy Government House Leader 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) Morton, Hon. F.L., Foothills-Rocky View (PC) Notley, Rachel, Edmonton-Strathcona (ND), ND Opposition House Leader Oberle, Hon.

Frank, Peace River (PC) Olson, Verlyn, QC, Wetaskiwin-Camrose (PC) Ouellette, Hon. Luke, Innisfail-Sylvan Lake (PC) 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), Deputy Government House Leader Renner, Hon. Rob, Medicine Hat (PC), 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) Sherman, Dr. Raj, Edmonton-Meadowlark (PC) Snelgrove, Hon.

Lloyd, Vermilion-Lloydminster (PC) Stelmach, Hon. Ed, Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville (PC) 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 (Ind) VanderBurg, George, Whitecourt-Ste. Anne (PC) Vandermeer, Tony, Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview (PC) Weadick, Greg, Lethbridge-West (PC) Webber, Hon. Len, Calgary-Foothills (PC) Woo-Paw, Teresa, Calgary-Mackay (PC) Xiao, David H., Edmonton-McClung (PC) Zwozdesky, Hon.

Gene, Edmonton-Mill Creek (PC), 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 Law Clerk/Director of Interparliamentary Relations Robert H. Reynolds, QC Senior Parliamentary Counsel/ Clerk of Committees Shannon Dean Clerk of Journals/Table Research Micheline S. Gravel 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 Party standings: Progressive Conservative: 68 Alberta Liberal: 8 Wildrose Alliance: 4 New Democrat: 2 Independent: 1

Executive Council Ed Stelmach Premier, President of Executive Council, Chair of Agenda and Priorities Committee, Vice-chair of Treasury Board Doug Horner Deputy Premier, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology, Minister Liaison to the Canadian Armed Forces Ted Morton Minister of Finance and Enterprise David Hancock Minister of Education, Political Minister for Edmonton Lloyd Snelgrove President of the Treasury Board Iris Evans Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations Ron Liepert Minister of Energy Luke Ouellette Minister of Transportation Mel Knight Minister of Sustainable Resource Development Alison Redford Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Political Minister for Calgary Rob Renner Minister of Environment Gene Zwozdesky Minister of Health and Wellness Yvonne Fritz Minister of Children and Youth Services Jack Hayden Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ray Danyluk Minister of Infrastructure Mary Anne Jablonski Minister of Seniors and Community Supports Lindsay Blackett Minister of Culture and Community Spirit Heather Klimchuk Minister of Service Alberta Cindy Ady Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation Hector Goudreau Minister of Municipal Affairs Frank Oberle Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security Len Webber Minister of Aboriginal Relations Jonathan Denis Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Thomas Lukaszuk Minister of Employment and Immigration Parliamentary Assistants Evan Berger Sustainable Resource Development Manmeet Singh Bhullar Municipal Affairs Cal Dallas Environment Doug Griffiths Finance and Enterprise Fred Horne Seniors and Community Supports Broyce Jacobs Agriculture and Rural Development Jeff Johnson Treasury Board Diana McQueen Energy Janice Sarich Education Dr.

Raj Sherman Health and Wellness Greg Weadick Advanced Education and Technology Teresa Woo-Paw Employment and Immigration

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Chair: Ms Tarchuk Deputy Chair: Mr. Elniski Blakeman DeLong Forsyth Groeneveld Johnston MacDonald Quest Standing Committee on Community Services Chair: Mr. Doerksen Deputy Chair: Mr. Hehr Allred Anderson Benito Bhullar Chase Johnston Notley Rodney Sarich Taylor Standing Committee on the Economy Chair: Mr. Bhardwaj Deputy Chair: Mr. Chase Amery Fawcett Griffiths Hinman Lund Marz Taft Taylor Weadick Woo-Paw Standing Committee on Health Chair: Mr.

McFarland Deputy Chair: Ms Pastoor Forsyth Groeneveld Horne Lindsay Notley Olson Quest Sherman Taft Vandermeer Standing Committee on Legislative Offices Chair: Mr. Mitzel Deputy Chair: Mr. Lund Bhullar Blakeman Campbell Hinman Lindsay MacDonald Marz Notley Quest Rogers Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services Chair: Mr. Kowalski Deputy Chair: Mr. Campbell Anderson Elniski Hehr Leskiw Mason Oberle Pastoor Rogers VanderBurg Weadick Standing Committee on Private Bills Chair: Dr.

Brown Deputy Chair: Ms Woo-Paw Allred Jacobs Amery Kang Benito Lindsay Bhardwaj McQueen Boutilier Olson Calahasen Sandhu Dallas Sarich Doerksen Taft Drysdale Xiao Hinman Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing Chair: Mr. Prins Deputy Chair: Mr. Hancock Amery Lindsay Berger McFarland Calahasen Mitzel DeLong Notley Doerksen Pastoor Forsyth Quest Groeneveld Sherman Hinman Tarchuk Jacobs Taylor Leskiw Standing Committee on Public Accounts Chair: Mr. MacDonald Deputy Chair: Mr.

Rodney Anderson Groeneveld Benito Kang Calahasen Mason Chase Olson Dallas Sandhu Elniski Vandermeer Fawcett Xiao Griffiths Standing Committee on Public Safety and Services Chair: Mr. Drysdale Deputy Chair: Mr. Kang Boutilier Brown Calahasen Cao Forsyth Johnson MacDonald Rogers Sandhu Xiao Standing Committee on Resources and Environment Chair: Mr. Prins Deputy Chair: Ms Blakeman Anderson Berger Boutilier Dallas Hehr Jacobs Mason McQueen Mitzel VanderBurg

October 27, 2010 Alberta Hansard 969 Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 27, 2010 [The Speaker in the chair] head: Prayers The Speaker: Good afternoon. Let us pray. Guide us all in our deliberations and debate that we may determine courses of action which will be to the enduring benefit of our province of Alberta. Amen. Please be seated. head: Introduction of Visitors The Speaker: The hon. Minister of International and Intergovern- mental Relations. Ms Evans: Well, Mr. Speaker, thank you very much.

I’m truly delighted today to introduce a very special friend. He’s back to reacquaint himself with Alberta in a brand new position. His Excellency Andrew Needs is with us today representing New Zealand, a proud Commonwealth partner. New Zealand and Alberta share many things in common, trade opportunities and much more.

We had a chance to chat – he will be meeting with our Premier this afternoon – not only on the trade opportunities that we’re fam iliar with like the imports of lamb, New Zealand lamb being, we believe, the best in the world, but the exchange of technology, the work that our postsecondary institutions do together, his special interest in carbon sequestration, and the other kinds of technology that Alberta is hoping to become even more famous for in the years ahead.

Ladies and gentlemen, here representing New Zealand, currently living in Canada, back again to hopefully enjoy Canadian hospital- ity, is His Excellency – and he likes to be known as Andrew – Andrew Needs. Would you please rise. head: Introduction of Guests The Speaker: The hon. Member for Wetaskiwin-Camrose. Mr. Olson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you’d agree, I’m sure, it’s always a good day for an MLA when you have schoolchildren from your constituency visit, and that’s the case for me today. I’m pleased to introduce to you and t hrough you to all members of the Assembly a group of grade 6 students from C.B.

McMurdo elemen- tary school in Wetaskiwin along with their teacher, Dawn Werner, and teacher helper Marnie Boyles. I’m very proud to have these great young Albertans and future leaders come and see how the Assembly works. They also had an opportunity to meet with the hon. Minister of Education. They’re seated in the members’ gallery, and if they’d stand, I would ask that my colleagues give them the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Riverview. Dr. Taft: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It’s always a great pleasure to introduce students from around Alberta to the Assembly through you. Today I’m introducing a class from one of the many fine schools in Edmont on-Riverview. It’s a class from a francophone school, l’école Notre-Dame. There are 30 of them here today. They’re seated in the public gallery, and they are accompanied by their teacher, Mr. Larochelle. I’d ask them to please rise and receive the warm welcome of all members. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Rutherford. Mr. Horne: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’m very pleased to introduce to you and through you to all members 20 exceptional students from Sweet Grass elementary school in my constituency of Edmonton- Rutherford. They are accompanied by teacher Nicki Gardner and group leaders Gwen Koch and Emmy Oben. They’re here to observe the legislative process in action, and I’d ask all members to please join me in extending the traditional warm welcome of this House. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Ellerslie. Mr. Bhardwaj: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of my colleague the hon.

Member for Edmonton-Meadowlark it is with pleasure that I introduce to you and through you a group of grade 6 students from the Meadowlark Christian school. I hope the students are enjoying their afternoon at the Legislature. At this time I’d ask the students, the parents, and the teachers to please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security. Mr. Oberle: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It’s my honour to rise and inform you that I had a wonderful meeting with the public service orientation team from my department just this afternoon, and they’re here in the gallery today. I have Lesley Kelly, Krystal Therien, Cheryl Friske, Genieve Simpson, Angela Wilson, Leanne Mathewson, Vivian Yeung, Karen Hayny, Ruth Gero, Jennifer Andressen, Isobel Lawson, Linda Gatzka, Jodie Buksa, Lenda Fisher, Ronald Mulick, Susanne George, Judy Chou, Claude Coupal, Jessica Smith, and John Lashley here.

I’d ask them to rise and receive the warm welcome of the Assembly and my thanks for the great work that they do in the department. The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Municipal Affairs. Mr. Goudreau: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to introduce to you and through you to the members of this Assembly my constituency assistant. Emily Plihal has been working with me for a number of months now, and prior to this, she was editor of our local paper, and in her spare time she helps her family in their guiding business.

I would like to ask Emily to stand – Emily is in the members’ gallery – and receive the warm traditional welcome. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Decore. Mrs. Sarich: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is truly an honour for me to rise today to introduce to you and through you to all members of the House guests from my constituency of Edmonton-Decore.

There are six members of the Killarney Community League present in the members’ gallery today, not only to watch the exciting happenings of the House, but more importantly they proudly represent a large community of people who celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Killarney Community League. I would ask each of them to stand as I mention their names. We have Ernest Pawluski, president of the Killarney Community League, Terry Baumgartner, Bill Maxim, Lorne Niehaus, and Mary Ellen Pawluski. I would ask all members of the House to give them the traditional warm welcome. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Edmonton-Manning.

Alberta Hansard October 27, 2010970 Mr. Sandhu: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have two introductions to do. My first introduction. It’s my pleasure to rise today to introduce to you and through you to the members of this Assembly Giani Pargat Singh. It is a great pleasure to see Giani Pargat Singh here in the Assembly. The last seven to eight years he has been teaching and preaching to Sikhs across Canada, the U.S.A., the U.K., and spreading the message of love, peace, and brotherhood in the Sikh community. He belongs to the village where I was born in India and has always called me Uncle Peter.

I would ask him to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome. The second introduction. I have known Mohinder Singh Cumo and Zora Singh Jhajj for the last eight years. Both are very dedi- cated members of the Sikh community. Every month along with other Sikh members from the community they prepare hot meals and serve them to the people in the Bissell Centre. They also devote a lot of time to the newcomers. I would ask them to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Leduc-Beaumont-Devon. Mr. Rogers: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly two very special friends who are joining us in the members’ gallery today. Michael Groves has been a friend of mine for some 20-plus years, and we’re such good friends that we often introduce each other as brothers. This is a very special year for Mr. Groves as he celebrated the birth of his first grandson, Daxton, and also met for the first time his son Terry.

Michael is joined today by Terry Groves, and I would ask them both to stand and receive the tradi- tional warm welcome of this Assembly. 1:40 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands- Norwood. Mr. Mason: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to rise today to introduce to you and through you to all Members of the Legislative Assembly a constituent of mine in Edmonton-Highlands- Norwood, Mrs. Dagmar Lofts. Dagmar is a 17-year constituent of Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood and a 20-year resident of Alberta living with multiple sclerosis.

Dagmar received liberation therapy for chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, or CCSVI, in Frankfurt, Germany, on August 20 and would like every Albertan with MS to be given a second chance at life. Dagmar is a member of CCSVI Edmonton, which is an advocacy group whose mission is to achieve timely approval of CCSVI research and treatment through an objective consideration of all available evidence. I want to welcome Dagmar, who is seated in the public gallery, to the Legislature, and I would now ask her to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to rise today to introduce to you and through you to all Members of the Legislative Assembly Mr. Kevin Barlow. Kevin is a Mi’kmaq from Indian Island First Nation in New Brunswick. Kevin has dedicated more than 20 years of his career to improving the health and wellness of aboriginal peoples, and he is currently the inaugural chair of aboriginal programming with the Kaiser Foundation. He is the former executive director of the Canadian aboriginal AIDS network, and in 2006 Mr.

Barlow received an award of excellence in aborigi- nal programming for his work in harm reduction by the Kaiser Foundation. I want to welcome Kevin, who is seated in the public gallery, to the Alberta Legislature, and I would now ask him to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Mill Woods. Mr. Benito: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It is my honour to introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly Maurice Fitzgerald and his wife, Anne Fitzgerald. Maurice and Anne are here from CCSVI Edmonton.

Anne has been afflicted with MS for 35 years, and they are looking to achieve timely approval for CCSVI research and treatment from our government. They are seated in the public gallery, and I would ask them to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. head: Members’ Statements The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Decore. Killarney Community League Anniversary Mrs. Sarich: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is with great pride that I rise today to honour and commemorate the Killarney Community League’s 50-year anniversary of operation, which was celebrated on September 18, 2010, in the constituency of Edmonton-Decore. Fifty years ago a number of Killarney residents met in the basement of the Church of the New Jerusalem to develop plans for the establishment of the community league for the area residents. With great determination community neighbours mobilized an ambitious plan to purchase land, and on January 20, 1960, the community league was established.

Killarney Community League was named after Killarney, Ireland, and it was the first subdivision in Edmonton to be given an Irish name. Over the past 50 years, Mr. Speaker, this community league has developed into a multipurpose centre for an abundance of activities and programs which foster strong community support. Activities include hockey, bowling, baseball, broomball, soccer, and basket- ball. The Killarney Community League has also taken great pride in keeping the streets safe for their residents.

In 1995 the Killarney residents started Edmonton’s first community-wide foot patrol with the help of Constable Steven Chwok from the Edmonton Police Service. Today this foot patrol continues to serve the community very well. Each year Killarney Community League residents continue to come forward and join the volunteer movement to keep the commu- nity league growing and vibrant for all to enjoy. Heartfelt thanks, Mr.

Speaker, and an abundance of deep gratitude to all those volunteers from the past, present, and into the future who contribute to the bountiful success of the 50 years of the Killarney Community League. Once again, congratulations on this historical 50-year milestone achievement, and best wishes in the days and years to come. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-McCall. Calgary International Airport Development Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Immediately upon being elected, Calgary’s new mayor said that the construction of the Calgary airport tunnel was his top priority. Mr.

Nenshi’s words instilled great hope in the hearts of Calgarians, who understand the vital importance of the tunnel. As the MLA representing the

October 27, 2010 Alberta Hansard 971 northeast communities who are most affected by the expansion of Calgary’s airport, I consider it a solemn duty to continue pushing this government to do their part to make the tunnel a reality. Our new mayor clearly understands that the tunnel must be built to avoid unbearable congestion in the northeast and on Deerfoot Trail, with all of the economic harm, environmental damage, and safety concerns that come with inadequate transportation links. It is all too easy for this government to claim that Calgary alone should bear the cost of the tunnel.

But that is fundamentally unfair, for the new runway at the airport that is causing this whole contro- versy will serve all Albertans. The airport expansion will boost Alberta’s economy and quality of life as a whole; therefore, the province has a stake in the tunnel just as Calgarians do. I urge the Premier and his administration once again to step up to the plate for Alberta to help build this vital transportation link. Thank you very much. The Speaker: The hon. Member for St. Albert. Conflict Resolution Day Mr. Allred: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

October 21 last week was Conflict Resolution Day, an international day of awareness held to promote peaceful means of resolving conflict. The Association for Conflict Resolution designated the third Thursday of October as Conflict Resolution Day in 2005. This day highlights the impor- tance of public awareness and practice of alternative dispute resolution. By working in collaboration with other organizations and international groups, the Association for Conflict Resolution has successfully organized day- and week-long celebrations in commu- nities to celebrate this international day of awareness. Mr.

Speaker, the logo of this significant day is a tree. Similar to a tree Conflict Resolution Day will continue to grow, much like a tree does, supporting and improving alternative dispute resolution. In fact, the use of conflict resolution has grown in Alberta over the past 30 years and now is a routine and accepted part of the conflict resolution process in most fields of endeavour. I encourage all Albertans to recognize those who work in conflict resolution, who have contributed to our society in peaceful means of mediation, arbitration, and conciliation.

I also encourage Albertans to continue to practise these peaceful means in their schools, businesses, communities, and even within their families. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues sitting here today to promote the use of diplomatic conflict resolution and to continue to raise awareness of the different resolution methods available to Albertans. In addition to helping create safer and stronger communi- ties, conflict resolution allows disputes to be settled more amicably and reduces the strain on our overworked court system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Ellerslie.

Trade Winds to Success Program Mr. Bhardwaj: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to rise today in recognition of the Trade Winds to Success Training Society apprenticeship award banquet, which I attended on Septem- ber 25, 2010. The banquet was a celebration of the achievements of the graduates, who have been successful in their apprenticeship towards their journeyperson status. The event was particularly memorable for me as I remember the excitement and pride I felt when I became a journeyman auto mechanic in 1983. Mr.

Speaker, the government of Alberta is pleased to have been a supporter of the Trade Winds to Success project from the very beginning. In 1999 the Union Trading Trust Funds began talks with the federal government, the provincial government, and aboriginal communities to find ways of increasing the number of aboriginal people working in the trades. Trade Winds to Success is the outcome of this unique partnership, a partnership which has to date supported more than 350 apprentices towards their goal of achieving journeyperson status.

The Alberta government shares their vision, supporting aboriginal participation in the economy. Mr. Speaker, one more time I would like to congratulate all of the apprentices who have completed their training and the Trade Winds society for helping them reach their goal. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. head: Oral Question Period The Speaker: First Official O pposition main question. The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition. Alberta Health Services Financial Operations Dr. Swann: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Ministers change, deputy ministers change, chief executive officers change.

That leaves only one person completely responsible for the chaos that Alberta Health Services has experienced for the last two years. To the Premier. The Auditor General found that Alberta Health Services lost track of some $900 million. Is that the definition, Mr. Premier, of sound management? 1:50 Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General has done what is his role, to look at the financial records of not only the province but all of the authorities that r eceive money from the province. The Alberta Health Services Board has met or will meet all of the recommendations in the Auditor’s report.

I know there’s a lot of detail to it, and the minister of health can respond to the other questions. Dr. Swann: Well, again, Mr. Speaker, Albertans want to hear from the Premier since you’re the primary author of our health care reform. Yesterday the Premier was boasting about all the money the government is throwing at health care, but isn’t the Premier a little nervous when Alberta Health Services can’t accurately say where the money is going? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr.

Speaker, the Premier has indicated that I will deal with some of these details, which the hon. member should already know, but in case he’s not in the loop, I’ll bring him up to speed. The fact is that we had 12 different health entities for the period in question, and the Auditor General indicated that each one of them had their own accounting systems, their own payroll systems, their own budgeting processes.

Because they were independent silos, if you will, when it came to amalgamating them, people had to take the time to look at how to do that, and unfortu- nately some expenses were categorized in different areas. That’s all it is. Dr. Swann: Mr. Speaker, it’s been two years since Alberta Health Services took over, and the Auditor General highlighted that Alberta Health Services had no plan to track where funds were going when it was created and still isn’t fully implemented. Will the Premier take full responsibility for rushing the centralization without a plan and call it what it is, a failure?

Alberta Hansard October 27, 2010972 Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, it’s actually the very opposite. It is a tremendous success, but as I’ve indicated, looking at the past is always 100 per cent in 20/20 vision. Looking forward to the future, let’s look at what some of the benefits will be. We no longer have as large an administration. That money now is going into health care services, which Albertans need. At the same time you have only one CEO, with a centralized reporting system, and having good controls in that regard is very important because it gives us better efficiency and better outcomes.

This is what we’re striving for. It’s too bad the opposition doesn’t like it. The Speaker: Second Official Opposition main question. The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition. Villa Caritas Long-term Care Facility Dr. Swann: Thank you again, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday the Premier said in the House, “I would ask the hon. member to speak to the family members of those individuals that were for a large portion of their time in Alberta Hospital and now are in new facilities in Villa Caritas.” Well, I tried, but Villa Caritas will not open until Novem- ber 30, so there was actually no one to talk to.

To the Premier: how can the Premier claim to be on top of an issue when he doesn’t know whether the facility is open or not? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, I have to refer to the annual meeting of Covenant Health, where we had members of all of the hospitals that Covenant Health operates in the province meet in Edmonton, and there was a presentation made by one of the families. It was quite, you know, heartwarming to see the improvements in the amount of services offered but also the compassion and love shown to the people in Villa Caritas.

I can only speak for the people that work in that facility and their compassion for their seniors. Dr. Swann: Well, Mr. Speaker, I’m glad the Premier was feeling the love. What is the Premier’s excuse for this health minister handing over 40 million extra dollars for completing Villa Caritas when there wasn’t even a contract signed? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I spoke with the Premier about this over the last few weeks, and I’m happy to tell you that the Villa Caritas site has now been upgraded.

There are more final touches still being done so that this particular category of resident can be better accommodated and so that the people working in the facility can feel safe. Going from a long-term care or a continuing care type facility to what will now be a state-of-the-art facility for geriatric mental health patients required upgrades to nursing stations, to doors, to walls and windows, and that’s been done. Dr. Swann: Smoke and mirrors, Mr. Speaker. We’re talking about financial mismanagement to the tune of $40 million. Still no contract signed, Mr. Health Minister. What’s that about? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr.

Speaker, the important thing is that a lease agreement is now in place, contrary to what the member is saying. It’s true what the Auditor General said. He could not find a contracted piece of paper per se, but there were understandings, and he pointed that out. In fact, Alberta Health Services had already pointed it out as well. They’ve worked together on that to resolve that. It goes back to a previous administration, perhaps as far back as the Capital health authority, but it was an unintentional oversight. It’s been admitted to, it’s been corrected, and today we have a signed lease agreement in place.

The Speaker: Third Official Opposition main question. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Oil Sands Tailings Ponds Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. More ducks are dead because of the tailings ponds. As long as there are tailings ponds, there will be dead ducks, but it’s clear that this government does not have high enough standards for deterrent mechanisms, nor is reclamation of the tailings ponds a priority. The animals, birds, waterways, and environment are always going to lose up against tailings ponds and fast-paced oil production. My questions are to the Premier.

Why has government given a pproval to any company when their cleanup plans do not meet the requirements of the ERCB’s directive 074? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, with respect to this current situation, which is sad and certainly disturbing, our job here is not to specu- late. Our job is to regulate, to investigate, and, if necessary, to enforce the rules of the province. Ms Blakeman: And you failed at doing that.

Back to the Premier: given that allowing oil sands and other development along wildlife and flight corridors will inevitably lead to the results we saw yesterday, why does this government continue to allow development and even expansion of existing ponds in those areas? The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Environment. Mr. Renner: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The fact of the matter is that we are moving very aggressively to new technology that will fundamentally change the way mining operates in the oil sands. Directive 074 that the member refers to has to do with the existing operators.

As new operators come on, they will be implementing technology that minimizes the use of tailings ponds and maximizes recycling of water. Ms Blakeman: Well, we’ll wait a long time for that. Back to the Premier again: why does the government separate environment and wild life protection? In separate silos, separate ministries, we will continue to get the results we see today. Why? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, we don’t separate any of these issues. They’re all important to the province of Alberta. As I said, this matter is under investigation. Let’s hear the full investigation report.

We’ll bring, as I said yesterday, all of the evidence, what we heard through the investigation, to the House and communicate that with the rest of Albertans as well. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Airdrie-Chestermere. Emergency Medical Services Mr. Anderson: From ducks to human beings. Yesterday, when asked why he and his caucus voted against a debate on the emer- gency room crisis, the Premier answered, “It’s not an emergency.” This after tabled documents show 322 horror stories over a six- month period in 2008 from just one of Alberta’s emergency rooms. New statistics show the situation has only gotten worse.

To the Premier. It has come to my attention that a large portion of these

October 27, 2010 Alberta Hansard 973 documents in question were sent to the Premier’s office roughly four days after the last election. Can he please confirm this? And why did he not do anything about it? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, I’m not aware of what documents or what information has been sent, but I can tell you that in this province – and this is last year’s experience – 5,300 people every day admitted to hospital, 165,000 lab tests, an average of 140 babies born every day, the number of ambulances dispatched across the province of Alberta: that’s a system that is working.

Yes, there are improvements to be made to the system, but I can say that of the 5,300 people that are admitted every day, not every one is the horror story as that opposition always claims it to be. The Speaker: The hon. member. [interjections] The hon. member has the floor. Mr.

Anderson: Again to the Premier: given that I’ve also been informed that the then minister of health, the Member for Calgary- West, also received this document four days after the election, did nothing about it, and given how this government mishandled the H1N1 immunization debacle, is ignoring warnings from doctors of imminent health care emergencies the standard operating procedure of you folks over there? 2:00 Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, four days after the election the member that he referred to wasn’t the minister. Mr.

Anderson: Given that what is transpiring in our emergency rooms is clearly dangerous to the health and well-being of Albertans, will this Premier immediately call in the Health Quality Council to independently investigate the situation? Why on earth wasn’t this done two and a half years ago, when the Premier and his future health minister first became aware of it? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I have permission to take this question because I have spoken with the Health Quality Council. We had a couple of informal chats earlier this month and a couple before that about a variety of issues.

The bottom line is that today I issued a number of directives for Alberta Health Services to follow that will help ameliorate this situation, that is being somewhat exaggerated on the other side. Nonetheless, it will be addressed. As part of that, I also said that if and when a more formal review process by the Health Quality Council is necessary, then I will certainly consider it. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands- Norwood. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

The minister of health has just held a joint news conference with the ER doctors who have raised concerns that we’ve been dealing with in this House. Instead of real commitments to solve the tragic overcrowding in our emergency rooms, we heard vague words about accountability measures. How these will be achieved was not explained. My question is to the Premier. If these targets are not met, will you be accountable? Will you put your minister’s job on the line? Will you put your job on the line? Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, given that the minister of health was part of the news conference, he’ll be able to inform this House of what was said earlier this afternoon. The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Zwozdesky: Thank you very much. There was a lot said. I’ll try and be as brief as I can, Mr. Speaker. Today in response to the meeting that we had last night with the emergency docs, which went very well, by the way, I directed Alberta Health Services to adopt some very specific performance measures. The Speaker: And I’m sure the minister will get to that following the next question. Mr. Mason: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker.

Well, of course, the question was about accountability. I don’t know why the Premier refuses to make himself accountable. Perhaps because he has made these promises before and never lifted a finger to keep them. My question is to the Premier. Why are you refusing to hold your minister and yourself accountable? Is it because you have no intention of keeping your promises again? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I don’t know about that side of the House, the opposition, but this side is accountable every single day. We’re accountable to Albertans.

We listen carefully and attentively to what they say, and we act on the suggestions that we can to improve things. For example, today I issued some directives, six of them in total, for Alberta Health Services to follow. Here are a couple of them: the maximum time in an emergency room for a nonadmitted person – in other words, someone who does not need an overnight stay – should not exceed four hours; the maximum time in an emergency room for an admitted person, one who does require an overnight stay, right from triage through to bed placement should not exceed eight hours.

Those were accepted by the emergency docs because they are national standards, and we will have the protocol in place by Christmas. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Mason: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. We’ve heard promises before, two and a half years ago. Given that the Premier has promised more long-term care beds and then reduced them, promised more nurses and then laid them off, can he tell the people of Alberta one thing: why should we trust you now? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, a number of exciting initiatives have occurred and will continue to occur. You know why?

Because we now have for the first time in Canada a five-year funding commit- ment from this government. Never before in the history of Canada has that been done. What will that do? That will allow us to have longer range planning, improved planning, predictable and stable funding to open up 1,300 additional care beds this year; 800 are already open. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Riverview, followed by the hon. Member for Red Deer-South. Dr. Taft: Well, thanks, Mr. Speaker.

You know, King Canute couldn’t stop the tide with the wave of his hand, and this minister won’t be able to solve overcrowded emergency rooms with just a wave of his hand and a signed directive. Is this minister aware of the fraudulent reporting practices in Britain relating to emergency room wait-time protocols? How is he going to prevent that from occurring here?

Alberta Hansard October 27, 2010974 Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of the example that has been brought in from a foreign country. I want to just continue with something that is relevant to this. As part of the directives I issued today, I asked and directed Alberta Health Services to report publicly the actual performance of emergency departments by individual site in relation to the targets I indicated a little bit earlier. I also asked and directed Alberta Health Services to closely track and monitor and report on the progress being made toward the other protocols. Dr. Taft: Mr.

Speaker, I think we all know that reporting and monitoring isn’t going to help the person having a heart attack who can’t get service in an emergency room. Given that 60 per cent of emergency room beds in urban hospitals are already backlogged with patients waiting for hospital rooms, what is this government going to do when winter flu season swamps emergency rooms? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr.

Speaker, I also this morning and this afternoon directed Alberta Health Services to immediately improve processes for hospital site leads – the vice-presidents, the medical directors, and the site directors – to respond to these periods of peak pressures in emergencies by ensuring that the delegated authority is there at the local site level on a per hospital basis so that immediate action can be taken to address issues like the hon. member has just brought up. We are acutely aware that a flu season is coming, and we’re preparing for it. Dr. Taft: You know, Mr.

Speaker, wait time protocols and monitor- ing just doesn’t cut it. It’s not going to fix it. Is this government considering, for example, setting up all-weather tents to provide enough capacity for hospital emergency rooms? Are they going to do something real? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, the fifth item that I directed today toward Alberta Health Services was in fact to accelerate new or additional bed openings where possible. At the same time, number 6 was to explore additional strategies on what could be done in concert with the emergency surgeons to deal with these sensitive issues.

That’s why we’re opening 18 more transition beds at the University of Alberta hospital in the member’s riding, as I recall, or close to it, and 21 new medical assessment unit beds at the Royal Alexandra, for example. There are other strategies that they’ve been commanded and directed to work on as well. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Red Deer-South, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Buffalo. Federal Transfer Payments for Health Mr. Dallas: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As we are all well aware, the federal government under the mandate of the Canada Health Act provides funding transfers to all provinces in Canada to help pay for a portion of our health care costs. My question is to the Premier. Is Alberta currently being treated equally in terms of funding transfers in comparison to all other provinces in Canada? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, this is a matter of great importance to all Albertans. Last year the federal Finance minister unilaterally changed the 10-year agreement all provinces signed in 2004 to fund health care across the province.

Our issue is that Alberta has been singled out as not receiving the same amount of funding as every other province and territory in Canada is receiving. In fact, it means that over the course of the agreement we may be paying billions more twice for health services that are being received in other provinces. I say that is definitely unfair because cancer is cancer. It doesn’t matter. It’s just as devastating in Ontario as it is in Alberta. Mr. Dallas: Mr. Speaker, my supplementary question is to the Minister of Finance.

Can the minister advise the Assembly: how much money does the federal government in Ottawa send to Alberta for health care versus what other provinces receive, and if we are not being treated equally, what is the government of Alberta doing about this? Dr. Morton: Mr. Speaker, I can provide that information. We receive $548 per person in Canada Health transfer. The lowest any other province receives is $772. That’s the lowest. The difference is $224 per person. You do the math. Alberta is r eceiving $850 million less than the next lowest province. This is clearly unfair.

The previous finance minister raised it, I’ve raised it, and the Premier has spoken with the Prime Minister about it. Albertans send more money to Ottawa than any other province, and when it comes to health care, we get less back. Mr. Dallas: My final supplementary, Mr. Speaker, is to the Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations. I’ve always believed that the Canadian federalism system was supposed to treat all provinces equally. Clearly, this is not the case when it comes to Canada Health transfers.

To the minister: what steps is she taking to raise this issue with the federal government? 2:10 The Speaker: The hon. minister. Ms Evans: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve heard a lot of chirping on the other side. Today people should be lining up with this govern- ment in support of our striving to get equality, being recognized by the Constitution as the terms of . . . [interjections] Excuse me, guys. I mean, really. Under the terms of Confederation we deserve that equality. In my previous portfolio as the finance minister at the time, I wrote to the Hon. James Flaherty to talk about this.

I have now followed up and will table a letter I have r ecently written to the Hon. Josée Verner talking about the importance of the federal government stepping up to the plate and treating us equally. Legal Aid Mr. Hehr: Mr. Speaker, on June 23 the Law Society of Alberta met and overwhelmingly decided that Alberta’s new financial eligibility guidelines for legal aid were not adequate. Further, the Assistant Chief Judge of our Provincial Court stated that student legal services and law information centres can’t handle the increased demands caused by cuts to Legal Aid.

If that’s correct, how can the minister say that Legal Aid adequately funds criminal defendants in Alberta? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Ms Redford: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand the Law Society did have a meeting. The Law Society did make a decision. The Law Society and the government of Alberta and the Legal Aid board have been discussing whether or not there need to be changes to the governance agreement.

It’s my understanding that the Law Society benchers have not yet decided what position they will take based on the recommendations of the members, and I leave it to the Law Society to decide what they’ll decide to do in the future.

October 27, 2010 Alberta Hansard 975 The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Hehr: Well, thank you. Given that the Law Society members have given a pretty profound judgment that the system is failing, will the minister admit that her pilot project has been a mistake and restore adequate funding to Legal Aid? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Ms Redford: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a member of the Law Society I’m sure that the hon. member understands exactly what procedure is taking place in the Law Society. His characterization of the process is simplistic.

It is not accurate in terms of the way that the Law Society governs itself. There are a number of steps that the Law Society will need to go through internally. I understand that they are having discussions as to how they might like to approach this issue. The Law Society is one of three partners in legal aid, Mr. Speaker, and we’re prepared to discuss with them whether or not we need to make some changes. I’ve always said that what we’re doing with legal aid is taking a principle-based approach to changing the system that will serve Albertans better, and we’ll continue to study that.

The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Hehr: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand the hon. minister inferring that my analysis might be simplistic, but how about the Assistant Chief Judge’s assertion that people are not receiving adequate funding? Is his assertion simplistic as well? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Ms Redford: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If we actually listen to the preliminary comments that this hon. member made in his opening remarks, that was not actually what the Associate Chief Justice of the Provincial Court said.

The Associate Chief Justice, according to the hon. member’s own remarks, said that law information centres were not an adequate substitute for criminal representation in provincial criminal court, and we agree with that. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Leduc-Beaumont-Devon, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity. Alberta Health Services Financial Operations (continued) Mr. Rogers: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday the Auditor General released his fall report. This report outlines several accounting and financial management issues related to the formation of Alberta Health Services.

These questions raised by the Auditor General are very serious and, I believe, beg some clarification. My question is to the Minister of Health and Wellness. What is the cause of these financial issues? Has this money been properly accounted for? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I’ll talk about the cause in a moment, but rest assured that the monies have all been accounted for. Nothing is missing, and the Auditor General said that. They were put into some incorrect categories because of the large transition from 12 entities down to one.

It’s important to stress that it was actually Alberta Health Services that first brought this issue to the attention of the Auditor General and said: please have a look into it. They did. Secondly, let’s remember that this is the largest merger in Canadian history; 90,000 employees and a number of different accounting systems had to be amalgamated. It’s a complex process. It’s now done. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Rogers: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Minister, I’m pleased to hear that this money is safe.

Again to the minister: can you tell this House what is being done to address these issues to assure Albertans that this w ill never happen again? Mr. Zwozdesky: Well, Mr. Speaker, the first thing that happened is that Alberta Health Services agreed to and accepted all of the recommendations. Secondly, they’re going to be implementing them as quickly as they can. Thirdly, they came up with an action plan, one that calls for the consolidation of all major business systems into some common platforms.

It also calls for the develop- ment of a plan to streamline year-end financial statements; it calls for the hiring of additional financial staff, where necessary, to help ensure this doesn’t happen again; and it calls for a clearer definition of roles and responsibilities of the staff who do the financial reporting. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Rogers: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A final supplemental to the same minister: given the Auditor General’s concerns, can the minister assure Albertans that this decision to move to one health region was the right one? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr.

Speaker, it’s absolutely the right decision to move to one central entity. I don’t want to put too much of a fine line on the money side of it, but let me just tell you that in the first year, as reported in an Alberta Health Services annual report not that long ago, they cited about $500 million in savings by going from 12 down to one. Were there some bumps and bruises along the way? Of course. They could be anticipated. Again, the single largest merger in Canadian history has now occurred.

But the bottom line to all of that is that those savings went straight back into the system that’s helping address some of the pressure points, so the services are going to be more consistent and more equitable across the province. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Lougheed. Daycare and Day Home Regulatory Compliance Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Auditor General had some choice words about child care facilities in Alberta: inconsisten- cies in monitoring and enforcement, documentation was lacking when warnings were given, could not determine if verbal warnings were followed up with remedial actions. And these are government- approved facilities. To the Minister of Children and Youth Services: how can the minister ensure our children are getting the best possible care from the best staff when proper documentation and follow-ups cannot be tracked after verbal warnings are given? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. Fritz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As you know, we have daycares and day homes in our province that are providing excellent

Alberta Hansard October 27, 2010976 care in the community for children whose families are working or are not able to be at home at the time. The children are, as I said, placed in our daycares or our day homes. We have a well-estab- lished system with good, solid regulation standards. The Auditor, you know, very much agreed with that. I can tell you that I did appreciate what the Auditor did identify for this ministry because it simply related to noncompliance for issues that are very minor such as posting a menu or not documenting when a child came into the daycare. Mr. Chase: Well, the hon.

Minister of Infrastructure didn’t see the peanut warning, and he ended up in a hospital, so there’s an example of the importance of warnings. How much weight would the minister place on understaffing, change fatigue, and lack of training among staff as reasons for these criticisms? Mrs. Fritz: Well, Mr. Speaker, that was not a good analogy. I happened to be there in that situation, and that doesn’t even relate to what the Auditor General’s report said.

I can tell you what the Auditor did say, though, and I feel very pleased about this as well, that families can be confident that our day homes and our daycares in the communities are very, very safe. Also, I appreciated, as I said, that the Auditor identified noncompliance for very minor, minor situations in the daycares and in the day homes. I agree with the improvements required, and we will be implementing the recom- mendations. Mr. Chase: Well, I’m concerned that you’re taking these recom- mendations as being minor, because children’s lives and their well- being are affected.

My question is: what specific steps will the minister take now to address the issues raised by the Auditor General? Or are you just going to pass them off as minor? Mrs. Fritz: Well, Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that I’m concerned about how you’re overstating them, because you are, and what that will mean to the public as a whole. The Auditor said they’re very low-risk infractions, and I can tell you, as I said, that I will be implementing changes to what the Auditor has identified for the staff out in the field, and the staff will work toward that. You know, Mr.

Speaker, in your riding, if a staff member went to a day home and saw that there wasn’t a menu posted or it hadn’t been entered into the log what time a child came in, that staff member would then speak to the provider of the day home or daycare, and they would then drive back to the community, and that number of hours would – the staff member now, perhaps, would have the provider fax that they had done that. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Lougheed, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. 2:20 Emergency Medical Services (continued) Mr. Rodney: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’ve heard from many constituents for some time about mounting pressures on emergency rooms in Alberta. The issue, of course, flared again recently in a letter written by the head of emergency medicine to the Minister of Health and Wellness. I understand that the minister had an impor- tant meeting about this last night, and I wonder: can the minister tell us what the outcome of that meeting was? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, we had an excellent meeting, which the emergency docs commented on today.

The purpose was to meet face to face, open up the important lines of communication, and develop a work plan that would help accomplish some immediate solutions to alleviate the overcrowding issues that are very important to Albertans and, obviously, to the doctors. In that context, we developed some medium-term goals and some longer term goals. But make no mistake about it, we’re doing some things immediately as well. Mr. Rodney: To the same minister. It appears that members of the opposition are interested in this as well, and I’m certain that they would want to know, Mr.

Speaker: what details and what commit- ments did the doctors ask specifically of you, Mr. Minister? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, one of the most important commit- ments the doctors asked for was a stated set of benchmarks, performance measures, targets, what have you. This morning I announced what those were, with the f our-hour time slot and the eight-hour time slot, which is already in Hansard. They also wanted a reporting back type of system, where we could track and monitor things in two weeks, in two months, and so on. I’ve offered that to them as well; I’ve committed to it.

In the final point they also said: just give us greater accountability with on-site authority and management response capabilities. We’ve offered that to them as well, and I directed AHS with the challenge to deliver it as quickly as possible. Mr. Rodney: My final question is to the same minister. It’s great to hear about commitments, but we need some follow-through, for sure. So I think it’s fair to ask on behalf of Albertans: what specific action is this minister going to take along with Alberta Health Services to deliver on those commitments? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr.

Speaker, now that we have a framework, if you will, of action in place, we’re going to watch very carefully to ensure that it is adhered to. That’s called holding the feet to the fire for Alberta Health Services, and we’re going to do that. In the meantime, we’re opening 250 additional beds, many of them in Calgary and Edmonton, obviously. We’re looking at other parts of the province as well because we need a multifaceted approach that deals with more beds, the new discharge protocol, improved services with Health Link, and increased home-care funding. We’re doing all of that right now. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Edmonton-Strathcona, followed by the hon. Member for Lethbridge-East. Oil Sands Tailings Ponds (continued) Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday we learned about another serious environmental tragedy in the Wood Buffalo region. The impact on migratory birds is only one of the many threats that toxic tailings lakes pose, yet this government has already allowed them to cover a hundred and seventy square kilometres, and they’re growing as I speak.

To the Minister of Environment: why won’t this government take real action to force companies to stop the growth of tailings lakes and eliminate them as soon as possible? Mr. Renner: Well, Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that the hon. member should have a look at the facts. The facts are that we are taking real action, and the evidence is in the retirement of Suncor’s tailings pond 1. Directive 074 clearly enunciates the responsibility of industry to implement technology that is going to severely restrict

October 27, 2010 Alberta Hansard 977 the growth of tailings ponds in the medium term and reduce the overall tailings pond legacy in the longer term. Ms Notley: Well, Mr.

Speaker, given that, at best, the ERCB directive 074 will see toxic lakes grow well beyond 1 trillion litres of toxic waste and that they will be with us for at least another 50 years – that’s in the directive – and given that the ERCB has waived its weak-kneed measures 7 out of 9 times in the last year and a half, why won’t the Minister of Environment admit the truth, that his current half-hearted measures will never get rid of these toxic lakes? Mr. Renner: Mr. Speaker, I won’t admit it b ecause it’s not true. The fact of the matter is that the ERCB has not, as this member characterizes, waived the directive.

What they have done is allowed for additional time to implement. Let’s be absolutely clear to all members of this House and to all Albertans that it is a complete commitment on the part of the government and on the part of the ERCB to implement directive 074. It will happen. Ms Notley: Well, Mr.

Speaker, since this government’s paltry penalty scheme has done nothing to force industry into cleaning up the ponds and keeping wildlife away and since industry’s job is to make money for their shareholders while government’s job is to ensure that jobs, people, water, air, and wildlife are prioritized and protected in that process, will this government commit to throwing out directive 074 and bringing in meaningful requirements that force industry to eliminate the toxic lakes and that they will enforce fully? Mr. Renner: Well, Mr.

Speaker, we’ve been engaged over the past four months in developing a tailings management regime that will do, in essence, what the member is asking for. No, we’re not going to throw out directive 074, but by no means should anyone assume that directive 074 is the be-all and end-all. It clearly is not. We are committed to constantly improving the performance of this industry, and we will do so. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lethbridge-East, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Decore. Sale of Public Land for Commercial Use Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I didn’t have to read in the newspaper about the Crown land sale for potatoes b ecause I wrote the

article on October 8. There have been numerous e-mails, letters, phone calls, and personal consultations from the public, who complain that this is not a transparent process. To the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. In 2007 the Auditor General recommended that guidelines for the leasing and selling of Crown land, that include when and whom to consult, must be developed. Why after three years is this recommendation still outstanding? Mr. Knight: Well, Mr.

Speaker, the fact of the matter is that all of the recommendations that have been forwarded from the Auditor General to the Department of Sustainable Resource Development are being dealt with. Most certainly, the one that deals with the transfer of public land and leases is a very serious matter for a number of Albertans. We do continue to move forward, and progress is being made with respect to that issue. The Speaker: The hon. member. Ms Pastoor: Thank you. To the same minister: is the sale of Crown land for agricultural use part of that discussion, and will it be a transparent process? Mr. Knight: Mr.

Speaker, again, I would suggest that all of the transfer of public land in Alberta, whether it’s for leases relative to aggregate, whether it’s dispositions for cattle grazing, whether it’s sale disposition for the use of municipalities or for the use of agriculture, is open and transparent now. Ms Pastoor: You may be one of the few that believe that. Do you agree that this proposed land sale should not go ahead before the completion of the South Saskatchewan regional plan, which, unfortunately, has already been delayed? Mr. Knight: Mr. Speaker, the answer to that, from my point of view, is no.

We’ve been working on a land-use plan in different regions of the province of Alberta for at least 20 years, and during that period of time the province has to continue to develop the resources. The land base that we have in Alberta belongs to the people of the province of Alberta. It is our responsibility to be sure that it is developed in accordance with good practice. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Decore, followed by the hon. Member for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo. Villa Caritas Long-term Care Facility (continued) Mrs. Sarich: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In the report of the Auditor General, the Auditor General has raised concerns that Alberta Health Services is expending money without proper funding arrangements in place regarding Villa Caritas. To the Minister of Health and Wellness: can the minister please explain how funding arrangements were allowed to happen? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I mentioned earlier, and I’ll stress it again, that the important thing now is that the complete lease agreement is in place. It has been signed, and it’s gone through. Secondly, I want to just indicate that Covenant is a great partner to work with.

They were going to build a long-term care facility, as you know, but when the need arose for a geriatric mental health program and for those residents to be accommodated in a new facility, the deal was made with them to proceed. We now have a state-of-the-art facility there, that’ll be open soon. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mrs. Sarich: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again to the same minister: if there have been cost escalations on this particular project, what exactly are the causes of the cost escalations? 2:30 Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr.

Speaker, it’s not so much about cost escala- tions in this case as it is about repurposing, as it’s known in the trade, of the facility. Repurposing of the facility means upgrading it or changing it in some way to accommodate the new use. I indicated before, and I’ll indicate again that we need to have safe nursing stations designed and built in a different way for mental health patient needs than for long-term care patient needs, and there are other improvements as well. Mrs. Sarich: Thank you. My final question is to the same minister.

In light of the current discussions and current situation in our emergency departments within hospitals, does he think it was advisable to change the scope of Villa Caritas?

Alberta Hansard October 27, 2010978 Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I think it was a good decision. I’ve looked at it very carefully, obviously. The new facility will offer a very modern, enhanced environment with large private rooms and bathrooms for all the patients, with dedicated space for recreational activities and for therapy needs and for social activities.

It’s also important to note that over 70 per cent – I believe that’s the latest figure – of professional staff from the geriatric mental health program at Alberta Hospital Edmonton are now transferring to the new Villa Caritas site to continue providing outstanding care. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo, followed by the hon. Member for Athabasca-Redwater. Waterfowl Deaths in Oil Sands Tailings Pond Mr. Boutilier: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

First of all, I want to take this opportunity to compliment – I said compli- ment – the Minister of Energy because he was the only, the only one, who didn’t throw the oil sands industry under the bus yesterday with the unfortunate duck situation. The Premier and the Minister of Environment clearly did. My question today is to the Minister of Environment. Will you apologize to the workers who are at the Mildred Lake site, working 24 hours a day, and, rather than being a judge and a jury and an executioner, wait for the findings first rather than the inexcusable tone that you used yesterday? Mr. Renner: Mr.

Speaker, I’m not sure which media this member has been watching, but that is exactly what I have been saying. I have been doing my very best to turn down the rhetoric from members on the other side of the House from the media and point out to them that we have an investigation under way, and until that investigation has been concluded, we should not be jumping to any kind of conclusion. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Boutilier: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Perhaps the Minister of Environment can communicate that to his leader because the headlines today read that the Premier demands answers – he demands – yet here are the companies working out there, extraordi- nary lengths with technology, working 24 hours a day. They fail to talk about the motherhood that took place yesterday. It’s inexcus- able, his tone and the Premier’s tone. So will you apologize for the Premier for what he had said in the media yesterday? Mr. Renner: Again, Mr. Speaker, I don’t know where this member is doing his research.

The Premier is saying the same thing as I am saying: yes, we do want some answers. That’s why we’re conduct- ing an investigation. We want to know – the Premier wants to know; I want to know – whether or not there were infractions of our regulations. That’s what the investigation is all about. Mr. Boutilier: Mr. Speaker, given that the minister is reassuring all Albertans that they’re not going to be inflammatory as they continue to put gasoline on fire, why hasn’t the minister, in fact, visited on- site that very situation? Why hasn’t he been there? Why hasn’t the Premier been there relative to the situation?

Clearly, we hear about the oil sands. We hear about how im portant it is, but it’s not important enough to go and visit. Mr. Renner: Mr. Speaker, the only person inflaming the situation in this House is that member over there. I have expressed very publicly my disappointment that despite the fact that we have had significant progress and im provement in the way we deal with bird deterrents over the past two years, we are now having to live through this one more time. I am waiting with great anticipation to find out what the results of this inspection will be. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Athabasca-Redwater, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-McCall. Landowner Private Property Rights Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday I raised some of my local landowners’ concerns with respect to Bill 19, and my constituents appreciate the minister’s reassurance. However, another recent b ill that has caused some confusion with some of my constituents is Bill 36, the Alberta Land Stewardship Act. My questions today are for the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. Can the minister tell us why Bill 36 is so important for Alberta? Mr. Knight: Mr. Speaker, most certainly.

Over the last number of years the government of Alberta has heard through a number – a number – of consultation processes that Albertans believe that we have need for better co-ordination, better planning, better policy, and better decision-making with respect to activity that’s on the land base in the province of Alberta. The Alberta Land Stewardship Act allows regional plans to provide this leadership for the government and for Albertans. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have a constituent who was advised by a self-proclaimed land rights expert that Bill 36 will allow the government to extinguish existing rights, and this includes land titles, and that it restricts the right to compensation, thereby allowing the government to do with land as they see fit. Can the minister assure my constituents that this is not the case? Mr. Knight: Mr. Speaker, I categorically can affirm that, number one, the Alberta Bill of Rights protects property rights in the province of Alberta. It has done so and will continue to do so irrespective of any other act that we have in place.

The Land Stewardship Act does not – and I will repeat: the Land Stewardship Act does not – take away any existing private property rights. The act does not provide the ability for expropriation or the removal of land or mineral title. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Johnson: That’s all, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-McCall, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-North Hill. Protection of Personal Information Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

School files, electronic health records, financial aid applications, drivers’ licences: government handles a lot of personal information, but the Auditor General reports yesterday that this government is still not doing its job in keeping that information secure from hackers and fraudsters. To the Minister of Service Alberta: how can the minister justify leaving the personal information of citizens so insecure when they have had two years to fix the problem? The Speaker: The hon. minister.

October 27, 2010 Alberta Hansard 979 Mrs. Klimchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the Auditor General’s report I’m very pleased to respond on this. At any time of day in the week we have the Auditor General’s staff working with us on a regular basis to ensure that we are protecting Albertans’ information. This department does protect Albertans’ information. That’s indicated by the number of recommendations that have been brought forward. We have supported all of his recommendations that he’s given thus far. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Given that the minister’s department is laying off hundreds of employees, isn’t the cost- cutting putting the personal information of Albertans at risk? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. Klimchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the things that we did establish was that there is a chief information officer resident in Service Alberta. There are chief information officers in all departments across the government. Every November there’s a review of the plans that we have in place to ensure that their websites and all their systems are on track and secure. Mr.

Kang: To the minister again: is the failure to adopt uniform IT security policies the fault of the minister’s department alone, or are the other ministries refusing to follow Service Alberta’s lead? If so, which ones? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. Klimchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is indeed a uniform policy across government, which is why the chief informa- tion officer process was set in place two years ago. Two years ago there were 12 recommendations from the Auditor General.

Two we have completed, nine we’ve made significant progress on, and the one that was presented in his report most recently: we are working with him on that with respect to making sure that Albertans’ information is protected. The Speaker: Hon. members, that will conclude the question period for today. Today we were able to recognize 17 members, and there were 100 questions and responses provided. In 30 seconds from now we’ll continue with Members’ State- ments. 2:40 head: Members’ Statements (continued) The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Fort. Calgary Municipal Election Mr. Cao: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’m pleased to rise today to thank and congratulate the thousands of Albertans involved in October’s municipal election. Candidates’ staff, volunteers, and supportive family members make great sacrifices of time, money, and sometimes reputation in order to preserve our democracy. As an MLA from Calgary I would especially like to commend all candi- dates running for mayor, alderman, and school trustee in Calgary for their efforts in the hard-fought competition for votes. At a time when public apathy challenges our democratic process, the excitement in Calgary’s election was tremendous.

Voter turnout was a whopping 53 per cent. This is Calgary’s highest participation rate in more than three decades. I applaud Calgary’s new mayor, Naheed Nenshi, and his team for their successful campaign, their ability to tap technology, stir social media, and land a vibrant victory. Mr. Nenshi together with a steady stream of volunteers was able to broadcast his ideas, skills, and passion to the masses. With 15 people competing for the mayor’s seat, Mr. Nenshi managed to take over 40 per cent of the total vote.

I also congratulate five new members of the city council: Gian- Carlo Carra, Peter Demong, Shane Keating, Gael MacLeod, and Richard Pootmans. I also congratulate the nine returning aldermen: Andre Chabot, Diane Colley-Urquhart, Druh Farrell, Dale Hodges, Ray Jones, Gord Lowe, John Mar, Brian Pincott, and Jim Stevenson. We optimistically look forward to success as the new team works with our provincial government to improve the quality of life of all Calgarians and Albertans. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona.

Daycare and Day Home Regulatory Compliance Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This summer a daycare near Edmonton had to be closed for the safety of the young children after allegations of physical discipline, shaming, and forced feeding. We learned that investigators had noted less severe concerns of the same nature in the previous two years’ inspections. However, it was not until the ministry received specific complaints that they stepped in with a proper investigation. It’s d ifficult to think about the risk to which children may have been exposed over the course of that two- year period.

Yesterday we learned from the Auditor General that the ministry responsible for ensuring the safety of children in daycare centres hasn’t taken its responsibility seriously. We are told there’s a lack of consistency in how licensing officers monitor child care pro- grams, that where an inspector can’t observe some criteria they are asked to inspect, they may not follow up to assure themselves that the issue is being addressed safely, professionally, and with the high quality that parents have a right to expect from those caring for their children.

The Auditor General went on to say, “Without adequately documenting the results of monitoring and enforcement activities, Authorities and the Department cannot demonstrate that child care programs meet Statutory Requirements or applicable standards.” In other words, documentation is not adequate, and we cannot rely on the minister’s assurances that child care centres are safe. The AG outlined that one of the common enforcement measures used by licensing officers is the verbal warning. He says that there is little documentation to show that improvements are ever made after these warnings are issued.

He says that officers may wait months or even up to the next year to follow up. In short, young children and babies are being allowed to stay in daycare centres that don’t meet basic minimum standards perhaps for extended times. The Auditor General says, “Consistent failure to correct areas of seemingly low-risk non-compliance increases the probability of negative impacts on the health, safety, and well-being of children.” For years this government has ignored research that supports the value of high-quality, affordable child care. They have com pro- mised the future of our children.

Albertans and their children deserve better, and it is time for this government to act. head: Presenting Reports by Standing and Special Committees The Speaker: The hon. Member for Strathmore-Brooks in his capacity as chair of the Standing Committee on Community Services.

Alberta Hansard October 27, 2010980 Mr. Doerksen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As chair of the Standing Committee on Community Services I would like to table the requisite number of copies of the committee’s report on Bill 203, the Municipal Government (Local Access and Franchise Fees) Amend- ment Act, 2010, sponsored by the hon. Member for Calgary-North Hill and referred to the committee on April 16, 2010. I would like to extend the committee’s sincere appreciation to the organizations, municipalities, and the individual Albertans who made written submissions and presentations on the bill.

I would also like to thank the officials from Alberta Municipal Affairs for sharing their expertise during the review process and acknowledge the support provided to the committee by the staff of the Legislative Assembly Office. Finally, I would like to recognize my fellow committee members, representing all parties in the Assembly, who have worked together over the past six months to complete a thorough review of this bill. Mr. Speaker, the report recommends that Bill 203 not proceed.

I request the concurrence of the Assembly with respect to the report on Bill 203, Municipal Government (Local Access and Franchise Fees) Amendment Act, 2010. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: All those members who concur in the report, if you agree, please say aye. Some Hon. Members: Aye. The Speaker: Those who are opposed, please say no. Some Hon. Members: No. The Speaker: Okay. The report has been concurred in. Carried. head: Introduction of Bills The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Energy. Bill 26 Mines and Minerals (Coalbed Methane) Amendment Act, 2010 Mr. Liepert: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I request leave today to introduce Bill 26, the Mines and Minerals (Coalbed Methane) Amendment Act, 2010. Mr. Speaker, this legislation contains three major provisions. One, it provides coal-bed methane ownership certainty by declaring that coal-bed methane is and always has been natural gas for both Crown and freehold minerals. Two, it recognizes that existing agreements entered into by the natural gas owner or their lessee that specifically granted coal-bed methane rights to the coal owner or coal owner’s lessee will not be affected.

Three, it protects coal owners and their lessees, surface owners, and the government from being sued by natural gas owners or their lessees for extraction, reduction, or removal of coal-bed methane prior to enactment of this legislation. [Motion carried; Bill 26 read a first time] head: Tabling Returns and Reports The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Finance and Enterprise. Dr. Morton: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to table the appropri- ate number of copies of my letter to Minister Flaherty on the Canada health transfer.

The letter asked three basic questions on why Albertans are being treated unfairly by the federal government on this issue. Thank you. The Speaker: Are there additional? Ms Evans: Mr. Speaker, I too would like to table the appropriate number of copies of my letter that I referenced in my response to the question from Red Deer-South, the letter to Hon. Josée Verner discussing the fair and equitable treatment of Alberta under the terms of the Canadian federalism system. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. Mr. MacDonald: Yes. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have three tablings today.

The first one is a tabling which I have permis- sion to provide to the hon. members of the Assembly. It’s a letter from a constituent, Laurent G odbout, who is deeply concerned by the government’s plan to close or change the psychiatric care beds at Alberta Hospital Edmonton. The second letter I have is also regarding Alberta Hospital Edmonton, and it is from a constituent, Catherine Jevic. Catherine expresses the same concerns as the first letter that I tabled. Also, I have a public notice here. This is quite interesting, Mr. Speaker. It is a notice inviting people to a breakfast with the hon.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General. It has also listed here the hon. member as the Political Minister for Calgary. The details are here for everyone to see, and this event is taking place Friday, October 29, in the hon. Member for Calgary-North Hill’s constitu- ency. Thank you. 2:50 The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Culture and Community Spirit under tablings. Mr. Blackett: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to table the appropriate number of copies of annual reports for the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, the Alberta Historical Resources Founda- tion, the historic resources fund, and the Wild Rose Foundation as well as the annual review for the Alberta Human Rights Commis- sion. The Speaker: Before I call the next item, hon. members, today is the anniversary of birth for the hon. Member for Peace River and the hon.

Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security. head: Orders of the Day head: Government Bills and Orders Second Reading Bill 16 Traffic Safety (Distracted Driving) Amendment Act, 2010 [Debate adjourned October 26: Mr. Hinman speaking] The Speaker: Hon. Minister of Seniors and Community Supports, are you participating? Mrs. Jablonski: No, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Shall I call the question?

October 27, 2010 Alberta Hansard 981 Hon. Members: Question. [Motion carried; Bill 16 read a second time] Bill 19 Fuel Tax Amendment Act, 2010 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Red Deer-South. Mr. Dallas: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to rise today on behalf of the hon. Member for Ba ttle River-Wainwright to move second reading of Bill 19, the Fuel Tax Amendment Act, 2010. I want to point out first that this legislation does not introduce any new taxes, nor does it change any tax rates. It is essentially changing the timing for when tax is payable.

This legislation supports the implementation of the province’s upcoming renewable fuels standard in 2011. Without this legislation the renewable fuels standard program could see tax distortions that would have Alberta’s renewable fuel production industry at a disadvantage compared to producers outside the province. This is because currently fuel, including renewable fuel, can be imported to a refinery or terminal in Alberta without being subject to fuel tax. This contrasts with the sale of fuel by an Alberta renewable fuel producer, which, even if delivered to a refinery, is currently taxable.

As such, an unfair tax situation exists where renewable fuel produced in Alberta is taxed while renewable fuel from outside the province may not be. Alberta’s fuel tax system inadvertently creates an incentive for fuel suppliers to purchase renewable fuel from outside Alberta. This legislation corrects this, leveling the playing field for tax purposes. It would allow renewable fuel from an Alberta producer to be sold to a fuel supplier here in Alberta without being subject to tax. Note, of course, that fuel tax is still charged later, when the fuel leaves the refinery or terminal or is sold into the marketplace.

This change also eases the administrative burden for both industry and government by ensuring there is not a mixture of taxed and untaxed fuel at a refinery or terminal, which could be difficult to track. This amendment also authorizes information sharing between Alberta Finance and Enterprise and Alberta Energy. Information sharing will improve administration and verification under both the fuel tax and renewable fuels standard programs. It also allows efficiencies to be developed under both programs to reduce the reporting and compliance burden for industry.

Finally, there are also a number of minor technical amendments to remove references in the act to blend stock and blending. Currently the term “blend stock” in the act refers to a nontaxable fuel. However, there are no blend stocks in Alberta, so this term has no real effect. Further, the term “blending” is commonly used by industry to describe the mixing of traditional fuel with renewable fuel, an entirely different meaning than the meaning of the term used in the act. Thus, the references in the Fuel Tax Act to blend stock and blending are removed to avoid confusion. Mr.

Speaker, this legislation will help ensure Alberta’s renewable fuel producers are on a level playing field for fuel tax purposes with producers outside the province. Amendments also allow information sharing between Alberta Finance and Enterprise and Alberta Energy to support efficient administration of both fuel tax and renewable fuel programs and allow for the reduction of reporting burden for industry. Other minor technical changes are made to support the renewable fuels standard. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. Mr. MacDonald: Yes. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate that explanation from the hon. Member for Red Deer- South. Certainly, I think this is a bill that we on this side of the House will support as it proceeds through the Assembly. As I understand it, these amendments to the Fuel Tax Act will remove the disincentive, that the hon. member talked about, for traditional fuel suppliers to purchase from Alberta-based renewable fuel producers. This amendment will also provide a more consistent method of taxing fuel with Bill 19. Now, certainly, from what I can understand – and I’m looking through public accounts when I say this, Mr.

Speaker – Alberta Finance and Enterprise tries to be consistent with the purposes of the renewable fuels standard established by Alberta Energy. One only has to look through there, and you can see the individual distributors who are receiving money or having a rebate for one reason or another from the government as they provide or distribute fuel to various users. The bill, as I understand it, in a very modest way provides support or a contribution to climate change by removing this disincentive for Alberta businesses to produce renewable fuel.

Hopefully, this bill is part of a larger strategy to address climate change targets by promoting the use of renewable fuels and also cleaner fuels, in my view. I would consider natural gas to be a very, very clean fuel. As I understand it, Alberta’s renewable fuels standard will require an average of 2 per cent renewable diesel in diesel fuel and 5 per cent renewable ethanol in gasoline sold in Alberta. Now, I think that we should also in the course of the debate and discussion on Bill 19 have a look at natural gas and how we should incent natural gas as a fuel for the transportation sector.

Certainly, we would need a few dollars for a promotion like that, and, Mr. Speaker, I even have a location within the province’s current budget where we could find a few dollars to do that. I brought up this issue quite some time ago in the House regarding the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Alberta farm fuel benefit program. There are actually two programs, one of them in Alberta Finance and one of them in Alberta Agriculture.

Of course, I was criticized, not by the current minister of agriculture, certainly, but by a previous one, that this has just been hard on farmers and to not worry if we happen to have a little bit of leakage in the government program. In this case the farm fuel benefit program, when you total it, was close to $100 million as an amount in the two programs.

If there were invalid permits issued, then they should be retrieved by the government, and those individuals who are not valid farmers under that program should not have been eligible for any money. 3:00 Now, I was interested to read on page 121 in yesterday’s report of the Auditor General that in December 2008 the department started a three-year continuous Alberta farm fuel benefit program renewal process. I applaud the minister for that effort.

Each year the department contacts one-third of Alberta farm fuel benefit program registrants to renew their registration number and update all the information that is necessary. The renewal information is used to determine if the producers are still eligible to use marked fuel in their farming operations. Renewals for 2008 and 2009 are substan- tially complete, and they resulted in approximately 5,000 producers, or permits, as I understand it, being cancelled.

The Auditor goes on to say that his office has reviewed the renewal and verification process, and they’re satisfied that the process ensures the eligibility of recipients. So there have been up to 5,000 permits pulled from that file. Certainly, that would indicate or conclude with this member that there has to be or should be a surplus in the amount of money that

Alberta Hansard October 27, 2010982 has been rebated from Alberta Finance. So a portion of this money, I think, should be used to incent particularly our trucking sector to convert from the use of diesel, whether it’s mixed diesel or not, with a renewable fuel, a renewable manufactured fuel. We should be encouraging more and more of our trucking companies to convert to natural gas. I think it can be done. It’s certainly being done in other jurisdictions. I don’t know. Maybe the hon. Member for Whitecourt-Ste. Anne could update us.

I don’t know if on the truck routes – and there’s a lot of trucking on highway 43 – there would be such a facility, if such a facility would now exist along that commercial stretch in Whitecourt. I know there would be for propane. I think in the discussion of this bill, Mr. Speaker, this is part of the solution to improving our climate change targets, having natural gas as a fuel for the transportation sector. I think we should be encouraging and, to a certain degree, incenting that to happen. There is a conference going to occur in Calgary on this matter quite soon.

I would like to see an increase in the domestic consump- tion of natural gas in this province for transportation. I know the price of natural gas has to climb significantly, even from what the minister of finance had targeted in the budget. We’re 75 cents, I believe, below his initial target, and I know that target was revised in the first-quarter update. However, that being said, natural gas as a transportation fuel, I think, would be a real alternative to diesel whenever you compare conversions, if we could incent the location of some fuelling stations.

Let’s start on major trucking routes where a lot of freight moves by truck and see what happens. When we further discuss fuel taxes, I would like this House to consider that now is the time – particularly, we could say that the price is right because of the cost of natural gas – that we provide an incentive to some of the larger users of diesel fuel to consider natural gas as an alternative source of fuel. Certainly, in conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Battle River-Wainwright and also the hon. Member for Red Deer-South for their work on Bill 19.

It’ll be interesting to see how this proceeds through the House, but I have one question, that will hopefully be answered as we proceed through committee, and that would be: did the treasury lose any money as a result of the past practices that are being corrected with this amended legislation? Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity. Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll be uncharacteristically short. The reason for my supporting Bill 19, the Fuel Tax Amend- ment Act, moved by the hon.

Member for Battle River-Wainwright, is that it’s doing what I’ve been asking for and been basically harping on this week in terms of achieving cross-ministerial co- operation and co-ordination. Amendments to the Fuel Tax Act will remove a disincentive for traditional fuel suppliers to purchase from Alberta-based renewable fuel producers. The act will provide a more consistent method of taxing fuel, and it’s that consistency that is very important to me.

Having Alberta Finance and Ente rprise moving their practices to be more consistent with the purposes of the renewable fuel standards established by Alberta Energy, to me, is a step in the right direction. I also appreciate, Mr. Speaker, the sort of made-in-Alberta solution to this in terms of removing an existing incentive for traditional fuel s uppliers to purchase renewable fuel from outside Alberta, which is not taxed when delivered to a refinery in Alberta.

The bill in a small way provides support to a very modest contribu- tion to climate change by removing a disincentive for Alberta businesses to produce renewable. There does not appear to be any reason why we would oppose it; therefore, Mr. Speaker, we are in support, and thank you for this opportunity. The Speaker: Well, that one minute 40 second speech, though, does provide an opportunity for a five-minute question-and-comment period under

section 29(2)(a), so would anyone like to participate? There being none, the hon. Member for Calgary-Buffalo on the debate. Mr. Hehr: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s an honour and privilege to speak in sup port of Bill 19, the Fuel Tax Amendment Act. The amendments to the Fuel Tax Act will remove a disincen- tive for traditional fuel suppliers to purchase from Alberta-based renewable fuel producers, and that’s good news. We can only hope to encourage more of the renewable fuels and the like within Alberta.

It is actually one of the ways we can possibly diversify our economy, not only through these renewable fuel products, but hopefully this will lead this government to follow the lead of other jurisdictions and look for other opportunities in developing other renewable fuel sources such as solar and wind. I’m hopeful that this act is just the beginning of a broader based climate change policy and a broader based look at how we’re going to diversify our economy from one that has primarily relied on our oil and gas supplies to possibly look elsewhere.

We haven’t had a ton of success on that over the last 40 years, but maybe this b ill is sort of signifying that we see a change coming, and that gives me hope. It also looks that this is going to ensure that the fuel tax framework administered by Alberta Finance and Enterprise is consistent with the purposes of renewable fuel standards established by Alberta Energy. I would like to echo the comments made by my hon. colleague from Calgary-Varsity.

It shows some good cross-ministry work that is looking at: if the left arm is doing something, let’s check out what the right arm is doing; let’s see if they’re working together. That is evident on this bill. I’ve alluded to this earlier. Transactions between renewable fuel producers and traditional fuel suppliers will no longer be taxed until the fuel enters the consumer distribution system. This will remove the existing incentive for traditional fuel suppliers to purchase renewable fuel from outside Alberta.

Remov- ing that barrier just makes common sense for many of the reasons I brought up earlier. 3:10 Simply put, we have to get into this renewable game and the game where we’re moving our energy forces from the traditional use to some of the stuff that people are saying is going to become in vogue over the next 30, 40 years: solar, wind, and the like. Of course, there will always be a need for our energy industry, and I hope it produces for a long time and allows us an economic engine and advantage that we can rely on.

Nevertheless, we have to do our part to not only diversify our economy but also to take climate change seriously. That is both very important at least to members on this side of the House and, I’m assuming by this bill, to many members on the other side as well. I would also like to comment on the comments made in connec- tion with this bill and possibly looking at how we can use this bill as sort of a template for moving more into utilizing our vast reserves of natural gas. As the hon.

Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar so wisely pointed out, they are at a low in terms of price, and it may be an opportune time where we can use some of that cleaner burning fuel for possibly our trucking industry, possibly our buses in Edmonton and Calgary.

October 27, 2010 Alberta Hansard 983 I know a local mayoralty candidate, Craig Burrows, former alderman, actually came up with that policy of converting the bus force to natural gas, and I think that was a very good idea. Possibly maybe some tweaking by members in this House could allow for municipalities or we could assist municipalities to sort of move in that direction by providing a little bit of the framework and the necessary legwork that’s going to go into providing some of these opportunities to use natural gas more in not only our city centres but, as the hon.

Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar pointed out, some of our busy trucking centres that are no doubt moving forward. It would also save them a great deal of money. Allowing people to make a few more extra dollars while they’re saving the environment is a pretty good thing. I would like to thank the hon. Member for Battle River-Wain- wright for bringing forward this bill.

I think it goes a long ways in trying to remove some of the disincentives for renewable fuels to be produced here in Alberta and to be worked on and to be refined and to hopefully get Alberta into the game of what much of the rest of the world has already embraced. On that note, I will cede the floor to someone else. I thank you for the opportunity in allowing me to speak to this bill. The Speaker: Standing Order 29(2)(

a) is available. Hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood, do you have a question? Mr. Mason: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask a question to the hon. Member for Calgary-Buffalo. He referred a number of times to environmental bene fits of renewable fuels.

I wonder if he is convinced, I guess, or has strong evidence that the environmental benefits overall – that is, the potential carbon emissions of biofuels – are, in fact, substantially less than regular petroleum fuels and also whether or not he has concern that the conversion of agricultural land away from food production into the production of fuels will tend to drive up food prices and whether or not that’s a concern. Mr. Hehr: I thank the hon. member for the question.

Of course, I have read numerous articles, and in fact I was up late not the other night but a few nights ago watching some Charlie Rose, where they were discussing exactly this issue on biofuels. I’m of two minds on that issue. There’s no doubt we have to feed a growing world and a growing population and try to understand that we have some humanitarian standards throughout the globe. Of course that’s a concern. It’s a concern not only for people throughout the world, but there are also people here in Alberta who need an adequate food supply.

There’s no doubt that growing food locally and supplying our citizens with that food is very important. That said, we are at the beginning of biofuels, okay? What biofuels we are producing now, although there are signifi- cant problems with them – they have not been seen so far to reduce greenhouse gases; in fact, they have been seen almost to do the opposite and to take up a lot of land and take agricultural land away. Some people are of the view that since we’re just at the start of this, we should be doing some of this experimentation so we can refine our biofuels so they can play a

part in our overcoming our addiction to fossil fuels, which, of course, are running out, and to help global warming and CO 2 emissions. I understand the question. I am very concerned about being able to feed a population that is growing, but at the same time there has to be some room for at least some experimentation and some development of a biofuels industry. That’s going to take some heavy monitoring by government. Government is going to have to do some heavy lifting in terms of monitoring what is the right balance on that and ensuring that this is not going to be an easy answer.

I’m still of these two minds, and hopefully I’ll be able to work through it further, but I don’t have a definite response, just a little bit of both there. I thank the hon. member for the question. The Speaker: Others? Other speakers, then, on this bill? The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood. Mr. Mason: Mr. Speaker, I just want to elaborate on the points that I raised in my question to the hon. Member for Calgary-Buffalo. I think there are a number of reasons why this bill may be necessary in order to, I guess, level the playing field, as it were.

Essentially, I think that it’s important that we raise some questions about some of the basic assumptions about the benefits of biofuels. In the first instance, when you count in all of the emissions that are produced – for example, in the planting, the fertilizing, and the harvesting of these crops, the processing, and so on – plus the fact that they are still carbon-based fuels, you’ll find that the environ- mental benefits relative to petroleum are not as great as many people assume. These are carbon-based fuels that are produced, and they release carbon into the atmosphere when they’re burned.

There’s a considerable amount of carbon that’s released into the atmosphere in the production of these fuels. You know, I think that that’s one concern. A real concern for me as well is the price of food for people. Now, I understand and have read articles relative to the production of biofuels in other countries, for example in Mexico, where serious shortages of corn, for example, which the low-income agricultural workers depend on, created hunger and some unrest. I think that there are instances like that around the world.

Now, we’re obviously not in that position, but we are in a position where the price of food has continued to rise and represents a significant burden for many people. 3:20 Now, set against that is the increased profitability for certain producers who want to get into the production of biofuels in a larger way. This will then provide some tax breaks for agricultural producers and to agribusiness, so it may well perform its function of stimulating the production of more biofuels. I don’t want to say that I’m condemning biofuels as a whole, but I think it’s important to raise some of these concerns.

The other thing that’s apparent as sort of the fad of biofuels is past, probably closer to 10 years ago, was research that showed that in order to replace the entire production of petroleum fuels in transportation and other areas, you would basically need to convert all of the food production on the entire Earth perhaps several times in order to produce the amount of fuel that is currently derived from petroleum. It’s certainly not an answer to the depletion of world oil stocks if anyone thought that that might be the case. Mr.

Speaker, I don’t want to say categorically that I think this is the wrong direction, but I do just want to simply put on the record a few of the limitations and concerns around biofuels and to indicate that, in particular, I think we need to be concerned about making sure that we are in fact providing food in an affordable way to all Alberta families and that we also do our share to combat world hunger. I know that many farmers around this province do work with – I’m trying to remember the name. An Hon. Member: The Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

Alberta Hansard October 27, 2010984 Mr. Mason: The Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Thank you very much. I know that they are doing great work, that farmers throughout Alberta are growing crops specifically to help people who are going hungry in other parts of the world. I think that’s a trend we need to support. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to make those comments. This is not a categorical opposition to Bill 19 but simply to put some very I think important reservations on the record. Thank you. The Speaker: Standing Order 29(2)(

a) is available. The hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity. Mr. Chase: Thank you very much. I appreciate the comments that were made by the hon. members a bout the concern over biofuels. Currently it takes about 20 per cent more energy to produce the biofuels in terms of the amount of fertilizer, the amount of water, the cultivation of the crops, and so on. So it’s a bit of a lose-lose circumstance. I do have a question for the hon. member as to the new methodol- ogy.

For example, we’ve talked about separating the wheat from the chaff and just using the chaff part for the production of the biofuels as opposed to taking away from the grain, whether it be corn, whether it be wheat, oats, et cetera, whether that might be a little bit more acceptable. The second question I have for the hon. member is: would he like to see a larger portion of this fuel tax being allowed to the munici- palities as opposed to provincial revenues so the money could be used for infrastructure, social support programs, and so on in the local areas? Mr. Mason: Thank you very much to the hon.

Member for Calgary- Varsity for those questions. Certainly, the use of agricultural waste products as a stock for fuel production is an excellent idea, and I’m glad he brought that point up because I didn’t really distinguish that from the use of food. If that’s a cost-effective process, the use of waste products for fuel production is a great idea, but I think it’s mostly where the sugar is in the plant that is the most useful for biofuels. The other question, about more money for municipalities, is something that I strongly believe in.

I think that fuel tax revenue should be used to support transportation primarily, and I think that municipalities need more support for that. I don’t necessarily think that it has to be a bigger share of the fuel tax, but I do think that the province needs to work out an acceptable formula for revenue sharing with the municipal governments, who deliver many critical services directly to the public. The tax base that they operate from, being the property tax, is not always the most suitable or sufficient in order to meet the needs of modern cities.

In particular, property tax was designed originally for services to properties; that is to say, roads and streetlights, policing, fire protection, and so on. But modern rapid transit systems, some of the social services, and recreational programs that modern municipalities, especially large ones, are called upon to provide are difficult to operate and fund just based on the property tax. Yes, I am a strong proponent of greater revenue sharing with municipalities to give them a reliable, predictable, and guaranteed source of revenue. Those things are all important.

It shouldn’t just be going up and down like a yo-yo so that every time the price of gas drops in the province of Alberta, the arrangements are changed. I think it’s got to be something that they can plan on in order to make good long-term decisions. Thank you. The Speaker: Others under 29(2)(a)? Other speakers? Then I shall call on the hon. Member for Red Deer-South on behalf of the hon. Member for Battle River-Wainwright to close the debate. Mr. Dallas: Mr.

Speaker, I’d just call for the question. [Motion carried; Bill 19 read a second time] Bill 18 Government Organization Amendment Act, 2010 The Speaker: The hon. Minister of International and Intergovern- mental Relations. Ms Evans: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a real pleasure to rise today and move second reading of the Government Organization Amendment Act, 2010, as introduced. We have a real enthusiasm for this new partnership.

I want to say, first of all, that the opportunity for this amendment act to expand the horizon of the pioneering that Alberta has done in breaking down trade barriers does not in any way detract from the affiliation and the affection we have for the country of Canada.

This does not in any way anticipate that this New West Partnership that has been formed will replace or even supplant in any fashion the kinds of things that we do as a Confederation. [The Deputy Speaker in the chair] However, it is to take advantage of the fact that together the three provinces have 9 million people and a GDP of $550 billion per year.

It’s worthy of note that this is the epicentre in the global economy of some of the most incredible underdeveloped resources that are just waiting in all three provinces to be developed and expanded with the proper plan, with the proper partnerships, and with the proper affiliation. We started the process by breaking down trade barriers with British Columbia. Now we have Saskatchewan on board, which clearly shows how the west is leading the way. Mr.

Speaker, these amendments are required for two reasons: first of all, to bring monetary enforcement provisions into the pan- Canadian agreement on internal trade, the AIT, as it’s commonly referenced, and secondly, to extend the existing provisions of TILMA to the New West Partnership trade agreement, that includes the province of Saskatchewan. The AIT is the national agreement that governs domestic trade and labour mobility across Canada.

One of the flaws in that agreement was that a jurisdiction could break the rules without any conse- quences, and just very recently, in the last few days, we’ve heard about that rule-breaking and consequences that now can be applied. 3:30 In 2009, when all the provinces, territories, and the federal government agreed that an enforcement mechanism should be added with monetary penalties, they were incorporated into the AIT, the agreement on internal trade. These monetary penalties are up to $5 million if a jurisdiction does not comply with an AIT panel ruling.

This is the teeth that Alberta has long been advocating for and is consistent with what we put in the TILMA agreement, or the trade and labour mobility agreement, that we’ve had in effect with the province of British Columbia. In fact, the AIT dispute mechanism is modelled after TILMA. We’re already seeing its effects with the recent vegetable oil ruling over Ontario.

October 27, 2010 Alberta Hansard 985 What we’re proposing would update our legislation so that we’re compliant with the new AIT rules. Mr. Speaker, we fought for those rules to be changed on a national level. They have been in the AIT agreement. Now this puts us in harmonization with those rules. All provinces, territories, and the federal government have agreed to make these changes to legislation. It just makes sense to be in perfect alignment so that we have everybody playing by the same rules. Now, in the second part of this particular amendment act we have the New West Partnership trade agreement.

It is part of a vision that this Premier has held ever since he thought years ago as Transporta- tion minister: “Why do we have weigh scales on both sides of the Alberta border?

Why would we on highway 1 try to duplicate on the Alberta side or the British Columbia side the same kind of activity, the same kind of regulatory enforcement as the other province?” So he fought for and won the right to make sure we streamlined and had only one weigh scale, only one office, only one delivery centre to make sure that this barrier was broken down between the two provinces and that we were working simultaneously, in effect, with partnership. This kind of fundamental principle has been the underlying principle now of the New West Partnership trade agreement.

The change that we’re bringing in, in effect, does not add any new obligations for Alberta or British Columbia. The amendments will, however, allow for a common set of provisions covering all domestic trade agreements that Alberta may be party to. This will ensure that Alberta can provide timely, consistent implementation of its domestic trade agreement obligations, especially if more provinces want to join the Alberta-B.C.-Saskatchewan free trade region, and, Mr. Speaker, we’re hearing rumours of just that kind of interest from other partners.

Full implementation will improve interprovincial trade, invest- ment, and labour mobility in the west and provide seamless access for businesses and workers with a range of opportunities. It will also increase our competitiveness in the global economy. Mr. Speaker, breaking down trade, investment, and labour mobility barriers is important for our economies and our citizens. It has been part of our Premier’s leadership both in the Competitive- ness Act and in all the facets of the way we are thinking and reviewing how we can become more economic.

It is imperative with a group like our economic council, in fact, that we find new ways, and this is one of the best new ways, we believe, that we can support not only our businesses but sensible approaches to governing between the various provinces. I encourage all hon. members to support these amendments. Mr. Speaker, I’ll be prepared to answer any questions. The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Lethbridge-East. Ms Pastoor: Yes. Am I speaking to the bill, or is this 29(2)(a)? The Deputy Speaker: To the bill. Ms Pastoor: Okay. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a delight to stand up and speak to this bill.

I’m sure that everyone knows that on this side of the House we certainly hammered hard at some of the agreements in TILMA that we felt probably wouldn’t be as success- ful in light of the fact that the AIT was in place. However, I think we also knew that the AIT wasn’t as effective as it probably could have been.

I think that I can remember speaking about one of the most important things, about being able to, as the minister has referred to, weigh trucks on each side of the border because they had to drop off the beer cases before they could get them across, which was one of the things that they really wanted to do. So that was successful. Back to this Bill 18. It does bring Alberta in line with r ecently established monetary enforcement provisions contained in the newly established dispute resolution.

The minister has referred to that, the one that we won with Ontario, which now allows canola products to actually be sold in Ontario. It also would rescind the trade, invest- ment, and labour mobility agreement established by Alberta and B.C. because the agreement can be superseded by the New West Partnership trade agreement, but what it’s done is move it to

schedule 6 when, in fact, TILMA had been in

schedule 6.1. Partly what this bill has done is consolidating and, I think, probably making it a little easier for other entities that would be interested in joining to be able to have their legislation perhaps go forward to be able to meet some of the legislation that would have to be put together for all the different provinces. It actually reflects the reality that domestic trade units like the New West Partnership trade agreement are becoming increasingly common and are likely to emerge more frequently during the near future. I think that we have seen this way back when.

When we look at the European Common Market, it’s the same sort of principle, and I think we can look at that market and say that certainly some portions of that have been very successful. As I said, the recent changes to the AIT make it stronger, and more importantly its enforcement now makes it directly parallel to the provincial and regional trade labour agreements that have already been signed between British Columbia and Alberta.

The impact of this could be that the act recognizes agreements to which Alberta is liable and a participant, and it deals broadly with enforcement measures that have recently been addressed, as I’ve said before. I think it’s very important because I believe that one of the reasons that AIT didn’t work was because there wasn’t any enforcement. I don’t care how many rules you make; if they’re not enforceable, they’re not worth the paper they’re written on. I think that when we make rules, when we make legislation, let’s have some way to enforce it so that, in fact, the playing field would be level for everyone.

It’s also important to note that these changes reflect only domestic trade, and it’s good for all Canadians when we can get our domestic trade going east-west instead of always north-south. The interna- tional aspects of the New West Partnership trade agreement and their importance in the overall agreement really are not considered within the scope of the amendment. I’m sure that some of the agreements would fall under NAFTA if we were going south.

In addition, the members of what had previously been the TILMA panel, which adjudicated complaints and awards, will not change to the New West Partnership trade agreement and will stay. I’m assuming that with Saskatchewan joining, they would be allowed to nominate people to be on that adjudication panel. I think, as I’ve men