Manitoba Hansard — Sitting 18 (42nd Legislature, 4th Session)

42-4-18

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Fourth Session – Forty-Second Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Myrna Driedger Speaker Vol. LXXVI No. 18 - 1:30 p.m., Monday, March 7, 2022 ISSN 0542-5492

MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Forty-Second Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALTOMARE, Nello Transcona NDP ASAGWARA, Uzoma Union Station NDP BRAR, Diljeet Burrows NDP BUSHIE, Ian Keewatinook NDP CLARKE, Eileen, Hon. Agassiz PC COX, Cathy Kildonan-River East PC CULLEN, Cliff, Hon. Spruce Woods PC DRIEDGER, Myrna, Hon. Roblin PC EICHLER, Ralph Lakeside PC EWASKO, Wayne, Hon. Lac du Bonnet PC FIELDING, Scott, Hon. Kirkfield Park PC FONTAINE, Nahanni St. Johns NDP FRIESEN, Cameron, Hon. Morden-Winkler PC GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GOERTZEN, Kelvin, Hon. Steinbach PC GORDON, Audrey, Hon.

Southdale PC GUENTER, Josh Borderland PC GUILLEMARD, Sarah, Hon. Fort Richmond PC HELWER, Reg, Hon. Brandon West PC ISLEIFSON, Len Brandon East PC JOHNSON, Derek, Hon. Interlake-Gimli PC JOHNSTON, Scott, Hon. Assiniboia PC KINEW, Wab Fort Rouge NDP LAGASSÉ, Bob Dawson Trail PC LAGIMODIERE, Alan, Hon. Selkirk PC LAMONT, Dougald St. Boniface Lib. LAMOUREUX, Cindy Tyndall Park Lib.

LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas-Kameesak NDP LINDSEY, Tom Flin Flon NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Malaya Notre Dame NDP MARTIN, Shannon McPhillips PC MICHALESKI, Brad Dauphin PC MICKLEFIELD, Andrew Rossmere PC MORLEY-LECOMTE, Janice Seine River PC MOSES, Jamie St. Vital NDP NAYLOR, Lisa Wolseley NDP NESBITT, Greg Riding Mountain PC PEDERSEN, Blaine Midland PC PIWNIUK, Doyle, Hon. Turtle Mountain PC REYES, Jon, Hon. Waverley PC SALA, Adrien St. James NDP SANDHU, Mintu The Maples NDP SCHULER, Ron Springfield-Ritchot PC SMITH, Andrew, Hon.

Lagimodière PC SMITH, Bernadette Point Douglas NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Vérendrye PC SQUIRES, Rochelle, Hon. Riel PC STEFANSON, Heather, Hon. Tuxedo PC TEITSMA, James Radisson PC WASYLIW, Mark Fort Garry NDP WHARTON, Jeff, Hon. Red River North PC WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WISHART, Ian Portage la Prairie PC WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC Vacant Fort Whyte Vacant Thompson

455 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, March 7, 2022 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Madam Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen.

We acknowl edge we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline and Nehethowuk nations. We acknowl edge Manitoba is located on the Homeland of the Red River Métis. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. We respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partner- ship with First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Please be seated.

Good afternoon, everybody. An Honourable Member: Madam Speaker, I rise on a matter of privilege. MATTER OF PRIVILEGE Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Union Station, on a matter of privilege. MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): Madam Speaker, this is the first op portunity I have to rise in this matter, as the matter concerns comments made by the Minister of Health (Ms. Gordon) during the last sitting day. I took the time to review Hansard, and this is the first opportunity since that time to raise this matter to your attention. The prima case of this matter of privilege is clear.

The Minister of Health deliberately misled this House this past Thursday, March 3rd. The Minister of Health stated, and I quote: "Madam Speaker, after riding out the fourth wave, the second most im portant issue for our gov ernment is the diag nostic and sur gical recovery backlog . . . that is why we esta blished a Diagnostic and Surgical Recovery Task Force, and that's why tomorrow at the update, Manitobans will hear about the great work that is being done by the task force." End quote.

The minister stated this in the House that Manitobans would receive an update on what the gov- ernment says is one of their most im portant updates on Friday, March 4th. However, there was no update last Friday. No officials from the gov ernment, from the Health De partment o r Shared Health or any member of the task force–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. MLA Asagwara: –provided an update to Manitobans. There are tens of thousands of Manitobans who are waiting in pain and waiting in vain for information about when the backlog of surgeries and diagnos tic procedures will be cleared.

The government has failed to even set a deadline for when this backlog will be cleared. House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition, makes it quite clear, and it is con sistent with all other procedural author ities: To deliberately mis- lead the House is a violation of the privileges of members as well as the House itself. The minister deliberately told this House there would be an update, but that statement proved to be false. Ministers –indeed, all members –need to be accountable for their statements in this House. As a result of this breach, I move, seconded by the member for St. Johns (Ms.

Fontaine), that the Minister of Health be called on to apologize to this House, and that the matter of the surgical and diagnos- tic backlog and the failure of the gov ernment to set a deadline to clear the backlog, to be moved to a com - mittee for immediate consideration. Madam Speaker: Before recog nizing any other members to speak, I would remind the House that remarks–[interjection] Order. Order. Before recognizing any other members to speak, I would remind the House that remarks at this time by honourable members are limited to strictly relevant comments about whether the all eged matter of

456 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 7, 2022 privilege has been raised at the earliest op portunity and whether prima facie case has been established. Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Government House Leader): I understand that the member opposite is trying to make a political point. It wasn't a very strong political point and it certainly was not a matter of privilege. It is true– An Honourable Member: Keep it relevant. Mr. Goertzen: Well, I think the Leader of the Opposition is asking about relevance. I'm not sure what has been–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr.

Goertzen: –relevant in his questions for the last two days that he's been here, Madam Speaker, but I would say this. When it comes to the issue of surgical backlogs, this government has made it a priority. We absolutely know the devastation that COVID -19 has caused when it comes to surgeries, not, of course, just in Manitoba, but across Canada –and I would say most jurisdictions in the world. That is why it formed the surgical task force. That is why it's made it a priority when it comes to finances and procedures, Madam Speaker. So on that point, the member opposite is entirely wrong in their assertion.

When it comes to the matter of privilege in parti- cular, it is true, of course, that an update was com - mitted to and an update was provided. I know the member opposite might–I suspect that they are aware of some thing called the Internet and there was a update provided on the Internet. I would offer her the oppor tunity to go to the Internet. She could look at Google. We could provide her the link. We can probably provide her a computer. [interjection] They could then look at the Internet and they could then find the infor mation that they are looking for, Madam Speaker.

And all Manitobans were provided that update, including the critic and including all members of the opposition. Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, I rise to speak to the important point of order raised by the MLA for Union Station. The update–it is true–is a really important update to have been provided, as it was promised, on Friday. But, of course, as we all know, it was not delivered on Friday. This is no question a very severe concern of many, many people in Manitoba. We have, we are being told, hundreds of thou- sands of people on waiting lists for diagnostic tests or for surgical procedures.

These are numbers from the– Doctors Manitoba because the gov ernment is not actually providing adequate numbers. There have been delays and delays with respect to announcements and misinformation. I will give you an example. Some weeks ago, we were told in a major an- nouncement that patients would be going to North Dakota, but it turned out a few days later that this wasn't going to happen anytime soon, and as far as I know, it's still not happened. And that was weeks later. One of the things which is im portant to note – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. * (13:40) Mr.

Gerrard: –in this case is that the intent or the expectation when it was announced it would be given on Friday would be that there would be opportunities for media to ask questions and for members of the Legislature to provide comment. And, in fact, the gov ernment, it appears, deliberately–although the Minister of Justice (Mr. Goertzen) emphasizes the op portunities on the Internet, we all know that there is a fair amount of misinformation on the Internet and that it is really, really important that there be media allowed to ask questions to verify the accuracy of what they're being told.

And the fact of the matter is–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Gerrard: –that the government tried to deliver, in secret, a report without the ability for questions from the media.

One of the things which is really im portant from reviewing the past history of matters of privilege: in order for a matter of privilege to be described as a prima facie case in this sort of interest–instance where the government is misinforming the members of the Legislature by comments made by the minister, th at there be a deliberate intent and that it is im portant to be able to show and provide evidence that there was some deliberate intent to mislead.

March 7, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 457 We can't necessarily read the minister's mind on this question, but it was announced one day and then not delivered the next day. One would have presumed that in the ordinary sequence of events, it would have been delivered–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Gerrard: –on Friday and we can only make the presumption that there was perhaps a deliberate intent not to release it on the Friday because they were concerned about media questions and they were concerned about opposition comment and therefore – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr.

Gerrard: –there is at least a reasonable basis for considering that there was a deliberate attempt by the government to, you know, make it difficult for the critics of the gov ernment and those who want to openly ask questions and check on the accuracy of information provided. So, Madam Speaker, those are m y comments. I hope they can be taken into account. Thank you. Madam Speaker: A matter of privilege is a serious concern. I'm going to take this matter under advise - ment to consult the author ities and will return to the House with a ruling.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Bill 13–The Social Services Appeal Board Amendment Act Hon. Rochelle Squires (Minister of Families): I move, seconded by the Minister of Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations (Mr. Lagimodiere), that Bill 13, The Social Services Appeal Board Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la Commission d'appel des services sociaux, be now read a first time. Motion presented. Ms. Squires: The Social Services Appeal Board Amendment Act will allow the board to focus its resources on hearing more substantive and complex appeals and to assure that all appellants receive their information within a reasonable time before a hearing. I'm pleased to present this bill to the House for its consideration. Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] Committee reports? Tabling of reports?

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Madam Speaker: The honour able Minister of Families, and I would indicate that the required 90 minutes notice prior to routine proc eedings was provided in accordance with our rule 26(2). Would the honour able minister please proceed with her statement. National Social Work Month Hon. Rochelle Squires (Minister of Families): Social work is a profession dedicated to helping in- dividuals, families, groups and communities enhance their individual and collective well-being.

March is National Social Work Month, and I appreciate the opportunity to rise today to recognize the important work that social workers do to enrich the well-being of all Manitobans. The theme for this year is In Critical Demand – Social Work is Essential, which is especially true during this difficult time. While resources have been stretched, social workers continue to provide much- needed services and supports, including addressing issues related to racism and systemic discrimination.

Whether working in health care, justice, educa - tion or in social services, social workers support in - dividuals and families during extremely difficult and stressful times, and th ey do so with compassion and integrity. Madam Speaker, social workers make valuable contributions in society every day, and their role is vital to improving the overall quality of life of Manitobans.

Throughout the COVID -19 pandemic, social workers rose to meet exceptional challenges of this 'mergency,' continuing to provide much -needed ser- vices and support and embraced these changes to ensure the continued health, safety and well-being of our vulnerable citizens. Social workers practise diligently with kindness, creativity and dedication on behalf of the people they serve. They continue to go above and beyond to support them, their co -workers and the many Manitobans who rely on the critical work that they do.

Please join me in recognizing March as so cial work month in Manitoba, and thanking social workers

458 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 7, 2022 for the tireless work that they do every day, and especially for their dedicated service to Manitobans during this pandemic. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Mrs. Bernadette Smith (Point Douglas): I want to begin by quoting Ms. Hornbrook, the executive director of Peguis Child and Family Services, on the PC government's record on social work. I quote: It's very clear that the ultimate goal is to reduce costs at all costs–reduce costs at the expense of children currently in care, reduce costs at the expense of children and families. End quote.

It is deeply unimpressive to watch the members opposite pretend to celebrate social workers today when for years they have forced them to do more with less: they cut the maximum amount allowable for older children in foster care; they decreased daily supports for foster parents; they cut the newcomer support unit in CFS and unanimously supported BITSA that included a clawback to the children's special allowances in tended for Indigenous children in care. Manitobans know that this PC government is failing social workers and the Manitobans they serve.

But don't take our word for it, just listen to the Manitoba advocate for child and youth who said less than a year ago that, and I quote: What became abundantly clear from speaking with child- care pro- viders is while families take that work –told us that workers inside the disabilities system are skilled, knowledgeable and supportive, resources are scarce and are stretched too thin. The PCs have always chosen to prioritize cuts over people.

But it's still shocking to watch them stand up in this House and say that they support social workers while they force children in CFS care and children with disabilities to pay the price for their austerity agenda– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, I ask leave to speak to the minister's statement. Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to respond to the statement? [Agreed] Mr. Gerrard: National social work week is an oppor- tunity to pay tribute to the amazing work that social workers have done, including during COVID.

Let me mention two social workers. Wayne Helgason, from Sandy Bay First Nation, worked for 10 years as a social worker in the North End of Winnipeg looking after children and child welfare. He then ran the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre for a number of years and then was executive director of the Social Planning Council and had a critical role in the development of the Aboriginal Centre. After retirement, he became band manager at the Tsawout First Nation in British Columbia. His diverse career is an example of the diverse and varied roles of social workers and the tre mendous contribution that they make.

Another Manitoban, a social worker, is Sid Frankel. He's been heavily involved with the Social Planning Council for many years, has been a major advocate for im provements to address poverty for many years. If only the governments of Manitoba over the last 20 years would have listened, we would now have much less poverty in our province. There are so many more social workers in Manitoba who deserve recognition. I could go on and on and on for a long time, but my time is limited. * (13:50) Let me conclude with a big thank- you to all Manitoba's social workers.

It's important that we have a whole month to say thank you. A day would not have been enough. Merci. Miigwech. Dyakuyu. Thank you. MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Rally in Support of Ukraine Mrs. Cathy Cox (Kildonan-River East): Yesterday, my heart was full as I stood amid a sea of blue and yellow Ukrainian flags, together with our Ukrainian community and my caucus colleagues to send a strong message to Vladimir Putin that we stand with Ukraine, united in defiance of his cowardly attack on our Ukrainian homeland.

As a third-generation Ukrainian, I was especially proud to see thousands of our Ukrainian people standing in solidarity, shoulder to shoulder in support of a free, sovereign and democratic Ukraine. For years our Ukrainian people have faced op- pression and tyranny. My uncle Boris [phonetic] also–always shared with me how he was victimized, bullied and taunted as a new immigrant here in our province. Ukrainians anglicized their names, forced to

March 7, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 459 hide their heritage in order to procure a job so they could feed their families. It's been 90 years since Ukrainians endured the Holodomor where wheat was used as a weapon by Stalin to starve millions of peaceful Ukrainians. And yesterday, as Ukrain ians united together on the grounds of our Manitoba Legislative Building, they said, never again, Madam Speaker. Never again will they stand idle when cowards like Vladimir Putin defy Ukraine's sovereignty and democracy.

And as we stood together, side by side, in de - fiance of Putin, our Ukrainian com munity said –our Ukrainian com munity sent a strong message to the Putin regime that never again will evil be victorious over our Ukrainian people. Madam Speaker, I say dyakuyu to Metropolitan Lawrence for l eading our Ukrainian community in prayer at yesterday's rally. And I ask all members in this Chamber to pray for the souls of those Ukrainian heroes who lost their lives protecting Ukraine's sovereignty. And I ask you to pray for their families and pray f or the mothers, the babies, the babas forced to flee from their homeland.

And I ask you to pray for a peaceful resolution for our Ukraine. The invasion of our Ukraine is not only criminal but unconscionable. But, Madam Speaker, even dur - ing these darkest times we see goodness and remark - able acts of kindness. I want to thank the Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Manitoba– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Some Honourable Members: Leave. Madam Speaker: Is there leave to allow the member to conclude her statement? [Agreed] Mrs. Cox: I want to thank the Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Manitoba for aiding and advocating for humanitarian relief for Ukraine.

And I express my sincere appreciation to everyone donating and raising money in support of our Ukraine. Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the people of Poland and the other neighbouring countries who have opened their hearts by welcoming nearly 2 million Ukrainian families into their homes. We stand together. Slava Ukraini. [Glory to Ukraine.] Wolseley Winter Wonderland Ms.

Lisa Naylor (Wolseley): I am so pleased to rise today to thank some incredible Wolseley volunteers who have, over the past two long pandemic winters, worked so hard to create what is known as the Wolseley Winter Wonderland. This is a stretch of the Assiniboine River that spans from Maryland Street to Omand's Creek that was frequently shovelled and groomed to provide a walking trail, a ski trail and a skating trail and other recreation. There are ice rinks for skating and hockey, a separate one for curling. Dozens of Christmas trees were donated and collected, picked up to create windbreaks and cozy spaces.

Residents built fire pits and art installations. In 2021, there was a giant crokinole board and, in 2022, a river selfie photo booth. While our Wolseley Winter Wonderland was dependent on hundreds of acts of kindness and thou- sands of hours of personal service by many different residents, the core group of volunteers were Lariss a Skakum Boning, Ross Brownlee, Garett Surcon, Eric Neumann, Christopher Beauvilain, Aleksandra Osipova and Michael Bennett. Last winter, this team crowdsourced funds to pur- chase shovels and wood.

This year they built more access points and placed six h andmade wooden benches for those needing rest along the trail striving to make our wonderland fully accessible to all visitors, regardless of mobility needs so they can enjoy its beauty. Winnipeg winters are long, and this one seemed longer than most. How ever, Assiniboine River trail season is short due to the instability of the ice, flood mitigation efforts causing a flow from the Shellmouth Reservoir as well as overflow from the city's archaic sewage system.

I want to commend this incredible team of volun- teers for their hard work, perseverance and optimism in the face of a very short payoff. I thank them on behalf of the many Manitobans who experienced laughter, play, friendship and all the benefits of sunshine and physical activity as they skated, ski ed, rolled, ran or walked their way through our Wolseley Winter Wonderland these past two winters. Virtual Sittings at the Legislature Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, on March 19th of 2020, almost two year s ago, the Manitoba

460 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 7, 2022 Legislature adjourned due to COVID-19. Since then, this Assembly has sat with as few as six members, as was the case of spring of last year. And in all of those days in between, it fell to your office and to the Clerk's office and othe rs to try to figure out a way to keep this democratic House working and the ability for the voice of repre sent- atives to be heard, even if they weren't here personally. Two years ago, members could not have imagined attending the Assembly from their kitc hen. Yet, in that time, some members did just that.

And yes, sometimes we forgot to put ourselves on mute and sometimes we forgot to take ourselves off of mute. And there was the odd display that was ruled out of order, a poorly timed virtual heckle now and again. MLA's backgrounds were a challenge at times, and there were a couple of system crashes. And while I only had the pleasure of attending virtually for four days these past two years, overall, from what I observed on both ends of the screen, I would say that it went as well as any of us could've expected. Turning over 100 years of tradition in this Assembly in just a matter of weeks really was incredible.

And we will take from it many memories of a time that we may not look back on with fondness, but certainly with a sense of resiliency. But I know personally, as one MLA, I hope we are done with it. I hope we will now always have the ability to be here in person if we choose. I am sure that we will incorporate some of what we learned into matters of committee or elsewhere, and it will make this Assembly more accessible to us and to the public. But as a whole, and in the main, democracy is meant to be exercised in person between elected officials.

And while I may not always agree with the content or the context of debates that happen in this place, last week I can say that I was happy to see everyone in person again. We've learned not to predict the future. But for today, to you, Madam Speaker, and all those who helped make our virtual sittings possible, thank you for keeping the light of democracy on. House Fire Prevention on First Nations MLA Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): Last month, on February 12th, three children tragically lost their lives in a house fire on Pimicikamak Cree Nation. They were 17, 13 and two years old.

A family has been shattered, and the community is left reeling from the grief and shock of a tragedy that was preventable. The area where the fire occurred has no running water and Pimicikamak Cree Nation does not have a fire h all. RCMP officers and First Nation safety officers tried to get into the home but with the –fire was burning, it couldn't because of the intense heat. Indigenous people living on reserves are 10 times more likely to die in a fire than non-Indigenous people due to crowded housing and a lack of infrastructure and firefighting resources such as fire hydrants.

The community has been denied twice for a federal Rapid Housing Initiative, which would help address urgent needs of vulnerable people during the pandemic. But this is not just a federal issue, Madam Speaker. The Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) expressed her condolences, but I'm calling on her government to go beyond words and take action to protect the lives of Indigenous people. While addressing the deeper issues like chronic underfunding of housing and infrastructure in Indigenous communities are the most crucial, the Province could provide smoke alarms for all Indigenous houses and ensure they are checked regularly.

The provincial government of BC did this in 2012, and the number of deaths from house fires in Indigenous communities went down to zero. I'm calling on the Premier and her government to take action today and fight for Indigenous people to get the funding and supports they deserve. Lives are at stake. Thank you. * (14:00) Black Balloon Day Mr. James Teitsma (Radisson): Yesterday, Sunday, March 6th, was Black Balloon Day. Black Balloon Day is locally organized by Overdose Awareness Manitoba, and it's a day to raise awareness and remember the hundreds of lives lost to overdose in our province.

These were people who struggled with substance abuse disorder, people who received a lethal combina- tion of drugs, often unknowingly. Drug addiction and overdose have an impact throughout our province. No community can claim to be untouched. No family can claim to be immune to

March 7, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 461 the potential for drug addiction to reach in and take hold of one of their loved ones. People who die from overdose were just like you and just like me. They had families that loved them. They had the potential to live, and to love, and to create, and to teach, and to serve and to lead. They deserve to be respected and treated with dignity. Anyone who uses drugs can be at risk of an overdose, whether they are struggling with problem - atic substance use or only use drugs recreationally or even if they are trying an illegal drug for the very first time.

Transcona, like many communities around Winnipeg, now has a purple ribbon display with pictures of those who died from overdose. It's set up along the Transcona Trail and it helps our community realize the seriousness of drug addiction. The Transcona display was organized by Kim Delorme Enns. In Transcona, Kim has a reputation as a leader and a volunteer following in the footsteps of her mother, Jean Delorme. And she, with her husband Brett Enns, are the founders of the Facebook group, Transcona, And Proud Of It–one of the most suc - cessful and prolific Facebook groups in Manitoba.

So, today I want to say thank you to Kim for setting up the purple ribbon display in Transcona. I want to say thank you for reminding us that Sunday, March 6th was Black Balloon Day. Thank you for helping our cousin–or sorry, helping our community remember your cousin Roland Timlick and other Transcona re sidents that have lost their lives to overdose. Every one of these lives mattered. Every one of these lives deserves to be remembered. Thank you. Speaker's Statement Madam Speaker: I have a statement for the House.

It has been brought to my attention by the inter - pretation staff working in the translation booth that MLAs have reverted back to thumping or hitting their desks in response to comments spoken on the record. I previously wrote to all MLAs about this in 2016 and I would like to remind members about the impact hitting desks can have. Banging on the desk or on the microphones imbedded in the desk creates sound explosions that are dangerous for the hearing of the interpreters and is a serious health and safety concern for the interpreters.

Should this continue, the interpreters may have no choice but to remove their headsets to avoid audible damage and this will render them unable to provide the translation function for the Assembly up until such a time as it is safe for them to return to using their headsets. Due to this, I would respectfully request that MLAs refrain from banging on or hitting their desks. While we are on the subject, I would also like members to reflect on the fact that, due to changing circumstances, it is possible for all MLAs to partici - pate in the Chamber rather than requiring a large virtual participation rate.

With this change, the overall noise level is much higher, especially with heckling and applause. It can make it very hard to hear the person who has the floor, and it can make it harder for the inter pretation staff and Hansard staff to be able to do their jobs. It can also give a negative or unflattering view of the Assembly to those who are watching our proceed- ings, particularly at this time of world unrest. I would kindly ask honourable members to please keep this in mind. ORAL QUESTIONS Surgical and Diagnostic Services Timeline to Clear Backlog Mr.

Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Madam Speaker, the surgical backlog is growing: over 160,000 procedures. Now, these are the facts: Manitobans are waiting longer to get life -saving surgery. They're waiting longer to get the tests that they need. And the only plan that the PCs have is more highway medicine à la Brian Pallister. Now, Manitobans shouldn't have to wait any longer. They deserve to know when they can get the surgeries and tests they need. Will the Premier act today? Will she set a deadline to clear the diagnostic and surgical backlog? Hon.

Hea ther Stefanson (Premier): I thank the Leader of the Op position for that very im portant question. And, of course, I will remind him that that's exactly why we did set up the surgical and diagnostic task force in the first place. There was obviousl y a significant challenge that came about as a result of COVID-19 and I know that –and I want to thank the

462 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 7, 2022 surgical task force for the in credible work that they are doing. And, of course, moving forward, it has always been part of the plan to ensure that there is a timeline in place, and when the time to do so–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs. Stefanson: –to reveal those things –of course, we're in a blackout period right now. There's some challenges around that, Madam Speaker. We need to be careful not to go in contravention of those rules – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs. Stefanson: –as well.

But, again, I want to thank the surgical task force, the in credible work that they continue to do on behalf of all Manitobans. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr. Kinew: Still no date, Madam Speaker. And that's a shame, because Manitobans are waiting in pain. Manitobans may be getting sicker while they wait for a diag nostic test. Th ey're waiting 15 per cent longer for an MRI –that's just from December to January–12 per cent longer for a CT scan. Manitobans are waiting longer, and guess what? The PC government is doing fewer surgeries.

That's a record of failure, and it's just plain wrong. We need some concrete action from this gov ern- ment, and I'm not talking about the sort of highway medicine that Brian Pallister used to always pitch. We need to set a date to end the backlog. The Premier can so do today. Will she set a date to clear the diag nostic and surgery backlog? Mrs. Stefanson: What is just plain wrong is that the Leader of the Op position continues to fear monger and continues to put things that are not the facts on the record, Madam Speaker. The fact of the matter–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs.

Stefanson: –is that surgeries and diagnos tic procedures continue to es calate as we're coming out of COVID-19, Madam Speaker, and that is a result of the surgical and diagnos tic task force that the Minister of Health (Ms. Gordon) and I put together to ensure that we address this very im portant issue for Manitobans. Again, I want to thank them for the incredible work they do, and I will caution members opposite to not put factually incorrect information on the record. It does nothing but fear monger Manitobans. It's not right.

And, Madam Speaker, we will continue to ensure that Manitobans get the facts out there when it comes to what the surgical and diagnos tic task force is working on. Madam Speak er: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Mr. Kinew: Madam Speaker, you know, there's one thing you won't see this gov ernment do, and that's to stand with somebody who is waiting for a surgery right now. They won't do that because they can't bear to look them in the face. They can't bear to give them a straight answer about a date.

Us, on this side of the House, we've got no problem standing with people waiting for surgery – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –because we come here to fight for Manitobans each and every day. What's needed–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –and what these folks deserve is a straight answer. They deserve to hear a date. They deserve to find out when they will stop waiting for these urgently needed tests and surgeries. So will the Premier just stand up today and tell all these folks waiting: What is the date by which the surgical and diagnostic backlog will be cleared? Mrs.

Stefanson: Madam Speaker, we know that the last two years has been very, very hard on Manitobans, on Canadians and on people around the world, and, certainly, we know that this situation with surgical and diagnos tic backlogs is nothing that is unique to Manitoba. But we have set u p the surgical task force and diagnostic task force, Madam Speaker, to ensure that we do tackle these very im portant issues that Manitobans want us to tackle. We will continue to stand and fight for Manitobans, unlike members opposite who just want to continue to fear monger, Madam Speaker, and

March 7, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 463 sped–and spread factually incorrect infor mation. We will continue to ensure that Manitobans are informed of some of the exciting things that will be coming over the course of the next weeks. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question. Transfer of ICU Patients to Ontario Timeline for Public Disclosure Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): I forgot to check in and ask if you had a good weekend. I know that we were very busy work- ing hard all weekend. I know not everyone works all weekend.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I have a question about a calendar. And I'll table this calendar, Madam Speaker. This is the calendar from May 2021 of the CEO of Shared Health. What it shows is that on May 13th the CEO of Shared Health had a special meeting to discuss intensive -care-unit capacity with Thunder Bay's hospital. Five days later, on May 18th, the former Health minister, current Premier, said we had capacity to handle an ICU surge and could staff up to 170 beds. The next day, we learned ICU transfers had begun.

The former Health minister was already planning them when she made those public comments. * (14:10) Why did the Premier mislead Manitobans about sending ICU patients to Ontario? Hon. Heather Stefanson (Premier): Well, Madam Speaker, I know that I was certainly at the rally to support our Ukrainian friends and families on Sunday. It's unfor tunate that the Leader of the Op position wasn't there, and I'm not sure what he was doing. But I'm not going to comment on his schedule. I won't go there. What is important moving forward–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs.

Stefanson: –out of COVID–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs. Stefanson: –is that we have the surgeries and diagnostic procedures that Manitobans need, Madam Speaker. That is why we set up the task force. That is why we are addressing these issues. We will continue to work with them through these times. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr. Kinew: Madam Speaker, the Premier should be ashamed of trying to evoke the Ukrainian crisis when we're pressing her on her failure when it comes to Manitoba ICUs.

Again, when it comes to the meeting that the CEO of Shared Health–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –held on May 13th with Thunder Bay regional hospital to discuss transferring ICU patients, we find out that on the very same day the Premier met with the CEO of Shared Health to discuss the very same. I'll table her calendar from May 13th. Again, the Premier knew that we would be sending patients out of province on May 13th, but she didn't tell–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –Manitobans about it.

In fact, five days later she came up publicly and said that we would be able to care for every ICU patient here in Manitoba. What we want to know about this May 13th meeting is: Did the Premier provide direction to the CEO of Shared Health? D id she order that Manitoba ICU patients be sent out of province? Mrs. Stefanson: No, I did not, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Mr. Kinew: Madam Speaker, the CEO of Shared Health w as meeting with Thunder Bay's hospitals about transferring ICU patients on May 13th.

We've just established that the Premier met with them about the same topic on the same day. But then, five days later, the Premier came here into the House and mislead those assembled and then went out into the hallways and repeated those mis - leading comments in front of the public. She tried to assure Manitobans that there was nothing to worry about, nobody would be transferred, in fact, we had 170 ICU beds at our disposal. We learned later that same day ICU patients were transferred out of province.

464 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 7, 2022 We also know that the Premier, then Health minister, was aware of it because on her calendar from that day–which I will table now –she had a briefing about this very shamef ul period of the pandemic response. Why did the Premier not tell Manitobans– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Mrs. Stefanson: Well, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question because it gives me the opportunity to talk about w hat is happening now, Madam Speaker.

We know the last two years has been very, very difficult–not just for Manitobans but for Canadians across this county, for people around the world, Madam Speaker. And we will stand by those, cer - tainly, in Manitoba and around the world who have been suffering for the last two years. What I will say is that we have set up the diagnos- tic task force. We will look at every op portunity that we have to ensure that we expedite those surgeries, that we expedite–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs. Stefanson: –those diagnos tic procedures that Manitobans need, Madam Speaker.

If the NDP were in power they would eliminate the ability to go down to the United States to get some of this, Madam Speaker, just across the border. They would eliminate certain aspects of this because of their ideological approach. We will do what is in the best interests of Manitobans to ensure that we expedite their surgical and diagnos tic procedures –Manitoba. That's what Manitobans deserve and that's what they'll get from our government.

Transfer of ICU Patients to Ontario Timeline for Public Disclosure MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): Madam Speaker, on May 18th, 2021, the former Health minister said no patients would be sent out of province. Just hours later, Manitoba began sending its first critically ill patients to Ontario. The Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) says sending patients out of province wasn't planned. That's not true. FIPPA documents show the gov ernment was privately looking at ICU capacity in Ontario hospitals while publicly saying that no one would be sent out of province.

Why did the Premier not tell Manitobans about the plan to transfer patients out of province? Hon. Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, what I want Manitobans to know is that members opposite continue to rise in this Chamber and discredit the good work of our health- care workers every time they stand. Are they going to stand with our gov ernment to congratulate and thank health-care workers at Health Sciences Centre that have allowed for an increased surgical slate from seven–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Gordon: –to 10, 12 to 13?

Will you stand in this House and thank the health- care workers at Concordia Hospital now that the slates are running at full capacity? Will you stand with the health -care workers at – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Gordon: –St. Boniface general hospital to tell them, thank you for running slates at full capacity since January? And, Madam Speaker– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. The honourable member for Union Station, on a supplementary question. MLA Asagwara: Madam Speaker, it's a shame the minister couldn't do it on Friday, as she promised all Manitobans she would.

Madam Speaker, the Premier said there was capacity in I-U-Us when there wasn't. When she was forced to explain, she said: We have a large number of new patients into our ICUs in a very short period of time. That's a direct quote. But FIPPA documents show her own health offi- cials had been planning these transfers for nearly a week, all the while telling Manitobans and this House everything was fine. It was not. Hiding the truth of critical health decisions from the public is wrong. I ask this government: Why were the facts of the situation concealed from Manitobans until it was too late?

Madam Speaker: Order, please.

March 7, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 465 I'm going to caution the member for Union Station that by referring to the matter that is under ad- visement, by saying that the minister did not give an update on Friday–is not allowable in this House. That matter is before me for review, and that parti cular topic cannot be raised in the House until I bring forward my findings on that. Ms. Gordon: Madam Speaker, first o f all, the Manitoba government, members on this side of the House, is confident in the work of our diagnostic and surgical backlog and the out comes that they have already achieved.

Now, members opposite know that the provincial laws regarding com munications during by -elections has made more robust updates difficult at this time, and, Madam Speaker–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Gordon: –I look forward to provi ding Manitobans with more detailed updates on the ongoing activities of the task force when the by-election blackout restrictions are no longer in effect. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Union Station, on a final supplementary. MLA Asagwara: Madam Speaker, the Premier cut hospital beds. She helped Brian Pallister as he cut ICU capacity across the province.

Then, in the heart–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. MLA Asagwara: –of the third COVID wave, her government was lining up ICU beds in Ontario, while publicly saying no one would be transferred. It's clear the Premier was not telling Manitobans the truth. Up until the very last moment, she said that everything was fine, but we know that wasn't true. Why were the facts of the situation concealed from Manitobans until it was too late? Ms. Gordon: Madam Speaker, I also want to take the opportunity to correct the record in terms of the surgeries that are happening at Sanford.

I am pleased to report to the House that the first successful spinal surgery in North Dakota took place last week, and more Manitobans will get their spinal surgeries this week. I know members opposite don't want Manitobans to know about that opportunity, but it is available and–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Gordon: –[inaudible] are helping Manitobans relieve their suffering during this very difficult time. * (14:20) Premier's

Schedule as Health Minister Work Hours During Pandemic Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): Madam Speaker, just like Brian Pallister, the Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) has been missing in action during the worst moments of this pandemic. The Premier didn't work one weekend in her entire time as the Health minister. We can all agree that's a terrible record. And while she refused to staff up our hospitals – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Fontaine: –and ICUs, keeping sick Manitobans here at home, she expected–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Fontaine: –everyone else to step up and do their

part in our health-care system, but not her. Will the Premier get up today in this House and apologize to Manitobans for not working one single weekend as the Health minister? [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Hon. Rochelle Squires (Minister of Families): Madam Speaker, one day before Inter national Women's Day, it is an absolute disgrace to s ee this behaviour on display in this House, to have the critic– to criticize–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Squires: –our Premier–a working mother–on her calendar is absolutely disgraceful.

And, Madam Speaker, I'd like to remind this House tha t this is coming from the member who cashed cheques for four years for absolutely no work when she was in government. [interjection] Madam Speaker: I think some members might not have been paying attention to see that I was standing for a little while, so I'm asking everybody and re - minding everybody that when I stand, I do expect that the position here of this Chair should be one of respect, and I do ask the House to respect when I stand–or any Speaker stands–to remain silent. The honourable member for St. Johns, on a supplementary question.

466 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 7, 2022 Meeting with Federal Health Minister Ms. Fontaine: After a crisis in our hospital resulting in 57 Manitobans being sent out of the province for care and knowing that this would happen while misleading Manitobans about it, saying every thing was fine, the Health minister was then too busy to meet with her federal counterpart during a visit here to Winnipeg, Madam Speaker. But FIPPA documents show the former Health minister's

schedule was not full. I'll table the d ocu- ments for the House. Why did the Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) refuse to meet with the federal Health Minister after the crisis that she created in our hospitals? Hon. Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, the member for St. Johns should be ashamed to bring this to the House today. In the–at the peak of the third wave, the member for St. Johns was posting videos, baking cakes and decorating them and taking orders from Manitobans take –while we were provi - ding supports to small busi nesses, the member for St.

Johns was running a small business– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Gordon: –on social media. Would the bakeries– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Gordon: –and businesses in St. Johns appreciate the member for St. Johns–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Order. The honourable member for St. Johns, on a final supplementary. Ms. Fontaine: It's not just the weekends that the Premier didn't work.

Minister Hajdu said, and I quote, Madam Speaker: We've given the minister a number of opportunities to meet, and certainly are completely open to meeting with her at her convenience. End quote. From Wednesday to Friday, when Minister Hajdu was here, the Premier's calendar had a whole bunch of openings. I mean, for the gov ernment so quick–that is so quick to blame the federal government for a crisis that they created, you think that the Health minister –the Premier–would have been glad to take an opportunity to meet with her federal counterpart.

Does the Premier think it's right to refuse a meeting with the federal Health Minister during a pandemic and a crisis that she created? [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Order. Ms. Squires: And on the day before Inter national Women's Day, instead of going down the path that the NDP is doing, with disparaging comments against a working woman, on this side of the House we want to applaud the fact that we have the very first woman premier in this province's history right here in this House. This is a woman leader who has worked tirelessly, not just for her own com munity, but for all Manitobans.

This is a woman who has brought unpre- cedented economic relief to busi nesses suffering through the pandemic. This is a woman who has brought unpre cedented relief to families who need early learning and child care by enhancing the subsidy and making more affordable child care available for all Manitobans. I could go on about this. Members– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Education System K-to-12 Funding Mr. Nello Altomare (Transcona): Madam Speaker, this government isn't funding K-to-12 schools to keep up with these everyday costs. This has been the case now for five years, since 2016.

The proposed base funding for K-to-12 schools includes an increase of just 1.34 per cent. Inflation is now 5 per cent. This government is out of touch with the rapidly increasing everyday costs facing our public schools. Why can't this gov ernment be a reliable funding partner and properly fund K-to-12 education? Hon. Wayne Ewasko (Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning): I'd like to thank the member across the way for the question.

I would just like to repeat to Manitobans, Madam Speaker, and assure Manitobans that we, on this side of the House, are working hard and diligently with our education partners, and this year alone we're in - creasing funding by over $120 million. I know folks on that side of the House have slipped in their numeracy, Madam Speaker, but more is not less.

March 7, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 467 Madam Speaker: The honour able member for Transcona, on a supplementary question. Mr. Altomare: I'll give the minister a real -world example. Prov incial funding is cut to Seven Oaks School Division this year. As a result, they a re permanently cutting eight teaching positions and 20 support staff. Layoffs have already been issued. This government's cuts hurt our kids and they hurt the ability of our schools helping kids emerge from two years of disruption. It's time to get it right.

Will the minister, then, move up this review of funding to ensure schools get what they need in the coming year, not at some distant date? Mr. Ewasko: Again, Madam Speaker, I appre ciate the question coming from the member opposite on anything in regards to education, anything in regards to funding. We on this side of the House have absolutely listened to Manitobans for years and years and years, Madam Speaker. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Ewasko: I know that our education par tners all across this great province of ours have asked for a funding review and I'm glad the member brought it up.

We, on this side of the House, are listening to our education partners. We are and have launched a funding review, which has been antiquated and old and tired, and even the member across the way, I know of the–his numeracy skills, can't figure it out, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The honour able member for Transcona, on a final supplementary. Mr. Altomare: I'll just repeat it again. Base funding for schools has just gone up 1.34 per cent, and the inflation is 5 per cent. They don't have what they need to meet rising costs. Seven Oaks have permanently cut eight teaching positions and 20 support staff.

Other divisions, such as Borderland, Kelsey, Lakeshore, Swan Valley are reducing funding for teachers right now. We need to invest and recover what was lost during the pandemic and, more im portantly, have a reliable funding part - ner, in this government, for public education. Will they move up this review and ensure schools get the funding they need now? * (14:30) Mr. Ewasko: Again, to the member opposite, I'm going to repeat for the member and all those NDP members across the way with the small -boat- with-no-motor party over ther e, Madam Speaker: $120 million, in addition, funding this year alone.

Madam Speaker, over the last two years we're talking well over $320 million invested into our edu- cation. That's a 17.2 per cent increase to our school divisions. I am encouraged by the–all–everything– [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Ewasko: –that we're listening to and hearing from our education partners, Madam Speaker. I look forward to the review coming to fruition and getting things– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. [interjection] Order. Order.

I know that debate can get passionate, but just because people don't like the answer or don't like the question, that does not really give you any author ity to heckle the way it is going on here right now. Be passionate, but do it respectfully, please. I know that, you know, it's a partisan arena in here, but there's no reason for the kind of behaviour that is–been escalating since last week. If you don't like the question, you don't like the answer, respect - fully listen to it anyway, because that's what demo - cracy is all about.

Internationally Educated Nurses Eligibility Assessments MLA Malaya Marcelino (Notre Dame): Madam Speaker, in January the minister and the Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) said that there were over 1,300 internationally educated nurses who, quote, met the basic eligibility, unquote, to become nurses in Manitoba. Unfortunately, it turns out that the minister de - fines this eligibility as anyone who fills out an online form. That's not an assessment. A spokesperson later explained that 1,300 had made an inquiry online, not completed an actual assessment of eligibility.

Madam Speaker, it's these kinds of misleading statements that under mine this gov ernment's credibility. Why is the minis ter and the Premier misleading Manitobans?

468 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 7, 2022 Hon. Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): I thank the member opposite for the question. I want to thank all our nurses –whether they are internationally educated or educated right here in our province, in our country –for the in credible efforts they have made during the pandemic. I want to thank the 23 nurses that completed their 12- week critical- care nursing–nurse training program this month. Over the last year, I also want to thank the 150 nurses that completed the critical-care orientation program to be able to help support our ICUs, Madam Speaker.

The next 12-week program started February 7th, and I want to welcome and thank the 30 nurses that have signed up for this program. Thank you. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Notre Dame, on a supplementary question. MLA Marcelino: Madam Speaker, on January 13th the Premier ( Mrs. Stefanson) directly challenged the college of nurses, saying, of those 1,300, I want to see as many of those in the next week or two working in the front lines. Madam Speaker, neither the Premier nor the minister did any assessment or evaluation of any kind. That 1,300 number were inquiries made to an online form.

The college of nurses says that, in fact, there were only seven eligible applicants that met provincial eligibility, with a few dozen in the process. This is the kind of misleading tactics that under - mines this government's credibility. Why is the minister and the Premier misleading Manitobans? Ms. Gordon: Madam Speaker, our gov ernment has invested $19.5 million to add 259 nurse-training seats this year at five post -secondary institutions, and it's part of our larger plan to add close to 400 new nursing education seats.

We will continue to make Manitoba a welcoming province for nurses that are educated abroad and nurses that are educated here, Madam Speaker, and we'll continue to work without colleges to ensure individuals get licensure as soon as possible, so that they can go into our health-care system and help us to provide the care to Manitobans that they need. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Notre Dame, on a final supplementary.

MLA Marcelino: Madam Speaker, we know there are many internationally educated nurses who want to work in Manitoba, but this gov ernment harms their trust when they make misleading statements. The college of nurses says that they have no idea where the 1,300 figure came from. They had only seven applicants that met prov incial requirements. A spokesperson for the Province clarified that there were 1,300 inquiries made, not eligible applicants. The minister's and the Premier's misleading ap - proach creates false hope that this gov ernment might do something to enhance this process.

Why is the minister and the Premier misleading Manitobans? Ms. Gordon: Madam Speaker, for 17 years members opposite did nothing to help Manitobans or in- dividuals who were internationally educated nurses. It took our gov ernment to esta blish the program for licensure, and to be able to provide $23,000 of financial aid–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Gordon: –for internationally educated nurses to get licensed. Last week, members opposite wanted to send three Red Cross nurses home. This week, they're asking why we're not assisting 1,300 int ernationally educated nurses.

Do you want nurses in Manitoba, or do you want them to go home? PC Election Campaign Staffer Employment Concerns Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): In June 2020, we found that the newly hired director of stakeholder relations for the Progressive Conservatives charged Conservative Member of Parliament Marty Morantz for running his 2019 campaign while working full - time on the provincial payroll. The current Premier was probably aware of it, because she was at a Morantz campaign event where this individual was emcee.

I table emails showing that just days after being hired in the spring of 2019, he was directing Executive Council staff, at public expense, to work on the 2019 PC Party election pre - parations in Flin Flon and The Pas, including door knocking and travel. It looks like both of these individuals have now been rewarded with promotions. Can the Premier confirm that Jordan Sisson is currently her chief of staff, and that Michael

March 7, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 469 Kowalson is curre ntly the CEO of the PC Party of Manitoba? Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): You know, Madam Speaker, just when I think that the member opposite has found the lowest road he can find, he finds an off-ramp and goes to an even lower road. I recognize that the leader of, well, the third party or the fourth party or whatever they're looking to be, is des perately trying to get another seat in this Assembly, Madam Speaker. I know that they're on a 20-year struggle to even reach party status.

But that is no excuse and that is no reason to try to besmirch good candidates, businesspeople, people who are working in political parties. I recognize he'll try anything to try to get another seat. I would encourage him to try to bri ng forward ideas that might actually resonate with Manitobans, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Boniface, on a supplementary question. Taxpayer Funding Concerns Mr. Lamont: There's no question what happened. The emails are all between Conservative staffers. And let's put this in context.

Instead of the PC Party and PC donors paying for people to organize their 2019 campaign, they hired people into gov ern- ment to do it. Knocking on doors, ID'ing votes is supposed to be paid for by a political party, not the government. The PCs were dipping into the public treasury to finance their campaign the same month they proposed the total elimination of public support for parties and the electoral process. When we filed this complaint with the Auditor General, the Deputy Premier said the Executive Council has now stopped this practice. In our view, this amounts to a confession. When did this stop?

How many staff on the gov- ernment payroll were being paid to work on the Premier's leadership campaign? Mr. Goertzen: Madam Speaker, I know the member opposite likes to attack political party staff or can - didates. I wouldn't stoop to that level. I certainly won't mention what happened with their staff last week, where they had to apologize on behalf of the Liberal staff. * (14:40) I would say, though, that the member opposite revealed within his question what his real concern is, and his concern is that there was political funding– taxpayer funding removed and reduced for politi cal parties.

I recognize this is a fight that the Liberal Party has been engaged in for decades, Madam Speaker; that they want more money from taxpayers. I would en - courage him that if he's having a trouble–if he's having trouble raising money for his p olitical party, it's maybe because of questions like this. Invasion of Ukraine Request for All-Party Committee Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): What is happening in Ukraine today is absolutely horrific, and by the end of this week there will be over 2 million Ukraine refugees.

Now, Canada has opened our doors to help displaced Ukrainians, and my question to the Premier is: Will she agree to esta blish an all-party committee to look at how Manitoba can play a role in receiving refugees from Ukraine by supporting both temporary residents in the short term and for many permanent residents in the long term? Hon. Heather Stefanson (Premier): I thank the member for the question.

It gives me an oppor tunity to say that we are working, you know, closely with the federal government to ensure–and calling on them to ensure that we expedite those who have–already in the queue for immigration status from Ukraine, Madam Speaker. So, we're working closely on that, Madam Speaker. We're also–we've called on them to say that we will take refugees here in Manitoba. I've said that at both the rallies that I've had the opportunity to speak at, and we'll continue to work diligently. We have set up an Immigration Advisory Council spearheaded by Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, who I know is working on this.

He have a–has extensive experience in the refugee area and in immigration, Madam Speaker. And we rely on him for advice and we look forward to working with he and the co- chair, who is also the minister, on this very important matter. MMIWG and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People Violence Prevention Initiatives Mr. Bob Lagassé (Dawson Trail): Madam Speaker, since taking office, our Premier has demonstrated – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order.

470 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 7, 2022 Mr. Lagassé: –our govern ment's commit ment to moving forward on imple menting many of the calls for justice of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. What financial resources has the gov ernment of Manitoban taken to address the calls of action as outlined in Bill 4, The Path to Reconciliation Amend- ment Act? Hon. Alan Lagimodiere (Minister of Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations): I would like to thank my colleague from Dawson Trail for that very important question.

I would also like to acknowledge and honour the women, girls, families and Indigenous com munities who have shared their personal tragedies and grief as part of the national inquiry. We are committed to working together to keep women, girls and 2- S-L-I- G-B-T-Q-Q-I-A+ people safe and to support families who have been impacted by these tragedies. We re- cognize the enormity of the work that remains to be advanced to end violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people and the role that Manitobans must play in addressing these harms.

Our gov ernment recently announced a part ner- ship with Ma Mawi– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. New RCMP Collective Agreement Ability to Pay for Municipalities Mr. Matt Wiebe (Concordia): Madam Speaker, on August 6th, 2021, the National Police Federation and the Government of Canada signed the first -ever col- lective agreement for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Police, of course, deserve a fair deal. However, back pay going back t o 2017 means a very large bill coming to munici palities. It means an increase of 23 per cent.

This is a shock to Manitoba communities and it is beyond their ability to pay. Will the minister fill this sig nificant gap and ensure that com munities can pay their bills for their policing services? Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Well, it took a question period, but a question that I can agree with, Madam Speaker. Indeed, the previous minister of Justice and I have reached out to the federal government on this signifi- cant issue.

Last week, I had the oppor tunity to speak with Minister Lametti, the federal Justice Minister, and Minister Mendicino, the federal Public Safety Minister, about a number of issues, a nd one of the issues spe cifically was regarding the back pay –the increase for the RCMP and the signi ficant effects it has on the association for Manitoba municipalities and all of their members, Madam Speaker. We've asked the federal gov ernment to address this. We joined with other prov incial colleagues – justice ministers–across the provinces. We're united in this.

I appreciate the member's comments on this and we hope that the Liberal caucus members would join us in this as well. Madam Speak er: The time for oral questions has expired. PETITIONS Foot-Care Services Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Madam Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background of this petition is as follows:

(1) The population of those aged 55- plus has grown to approximately 2,500 in the city of Thompson.

(2) A large percentage of people in this age group require necessary medical foot care and treatment.

(3) A large percentage of those who are elder ly and/or diabetic are also living on low incomes.

(4) The northern regional health author ity, N-R- H-A, previously provided essential medical foot-care services to seniors and those living with diabetes until 2019, then, subsequently, cut the program af ter the last two nurses filling those positions retired.

(5) The number of seniors and those with diabetes has only continued to grow in Thompson and surrounding areas.

(6) There is no adequate medical care available in the city and region,

whereas the city of Winnipeg has 14 medical foot-care centres.

(7) The implications of inadequate or lack of podiatric care can lead to amputations.

(8) The city of Thompson also serves as a regional health-care service provider, and the need for foot care extends beyond just those served in the capital city of our province.

March 7, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 471 We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to provide the services of two nurses to restore essential medical foot care treatment to the city of Thompson effective April 1, 2022. This petition has been signed by Monica Menard, Julia Bighorn [phonetic], Niccole Goulet [phonetic] and many other Manitobans. Madam Speaker: In accordance with our rule 132(6), when petitions are read they are deemed to be received by the House. Mr.

Ian Bushie (Keewatinook): Madam Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. The background of this petition is as follows:

(1) The population of those aged 55- plus has grown to approximately 2,500 in the city of Thompson.

(2) A large percentage of people in this age group require necessary medical foot care and treatment.

(3) A large percentage of those who are elderly and/or diabetic are also living on low incomes.

(4) The northern regional health author ity, N-R-H-A, previously provided essential medical foot- care services to seniors and those living with diabetes until 2019, then, subsequently, cut the program after the last two nurses filling those positions retired.

(5) The number of seniors and those with diabetes has only continued to grow in Thompson and surrounding areas.

(6) There is no adequate medical care available in the city and region, and

whereas the city of Winnipeg has 14 medical foot-care centres.

(7) The implication of inadequate or lack of podiatric care can lead to amputations.

(8) The city of Thompson also serves as a regional health-care service provider and the need for foot care extends beyond just those served in the capital city of the province. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to provide the necessary services of two nurses to restore essential medical foot care treatment to the city of Thompson effective April 1, 2022. This petition has been signed by many Manitobans. Abortion Services Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): I wish to – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Fontaine: –present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Manitoba women, girls, two -spirit, genderqueer, non-binary and trans persons deserve to be safe and supported when accessing abortion services.

(2) Limited access to effective and safe abortion services contributes to the detrimental outcomes and consequences for those seeking an abortion, as an esti- mated 25 million unsafe abortions occur worldwide each year.

(3) The provincial government's reckless health- care cuts have created inequity within the health-care system whereby access to the abortion pill, Mifegymiso, and surgical abortions are less accessible for northern and rural individuals than individuals in southern Manitoba, as they face travel barriers to access the handful of non- urban health-care pro fes- sionals who are trained to provide medical abortions.

For over five years, and over the admin istration of three failed Health ministers, the prov incial government operated under the pretense that reproductive health was not the responsi bility of the minister of Health and seniors care and shifted the responsibility to a secretariat with no policy, program or financial authority within the health-care system.

(5) For over four years–five –for over four years the prov incial gov ernment has refu sed to support Bill 200, The Safe Access to Abortion Services Act, which will ensure the safety of Manitoba women, girls, two -spirit, genderqueer, non- binary and trans persons accessing abortion services, and the staff who provide such services, by establishing buffer zones for anti-choice Manitobans around clinics. * (14:50) We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the prov incial gov ernment to imme - diately ensure effective and safe access to abortion services for individu als, regardless of where they

472 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 7, 2022 reside in Manitoba, and to ensure that buffer zones are immediately legislated. Signed by many Manitobans. Personal-Care Homes–Quality of Care Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows: Manitoba elders and seniors built this country and province and should receive the highest level of support, having earned the right to be treated with due respect, dignity, understanding and compassion as a fundamental human right.

Residents of personal-care homes deserve to have the best quality of life in their last few days, weeks, months or years. Yet family members are regularly left angry, frustrated, disappointed and shocked at the care their loved ones receive in Manitoba's personal - care homes. Seniors who reside in personal -care homes have the right to visitation by family members, especially those who provide day -to-day assistance in augmenting the care of their loved ones as designated family caregivers.

These individuals are essential partners in care, actively and regularly participating in providing care, and may support feeding, mobility, personal hygiene, cognitive stimulation, com - munication, meaningful connection, relational con- tinuity and assistance in decision-making.

Legal representation, such as lawyers, powers of attorney and health- care proxies, should always be allowed unlimited and unobstructed access to the residents for whom they are re sponsible, as they depend on their designated legal representative to ensure proper and adequate care and act as legal designate for care decisions on their behalf. Most personal -care homes do not have enough health-care aides to adequately provide the af ore- mentioned basic care for seniors with high and complex levels of physical and mental issues, such as those with dementia coupled with multiple chronic conditions.

Residents who often require assistance in communicating their needs to overworked health-care aides, and most often this is accomplished with the assistance of designated family caregivers. Because of the insufficient number of health-care aides, especially full-time staff, available to personal- care homes, residents often lack the most basic care, such as feeding, toileting, hydration, dental care, personal grooming, exercise and socialization.

The lack of such basic care often leads to health issues such as periodontal disease, dehydration, urinary tract infections, sepsis, pressure ulcers–that's bedsores–and more, which often lead to hospital - ization when left unreported. Family members who advocate for improvements of such basic care can be dismissed or are met with resistance because there is not enough staff or funding to provide proper essential care.

Family members who repeatedly put significant pressure on personal -care-home staff and manage- ment for the required basic care, according to the personal-care homes' own published standards, are often labelled as troublemakers and barred from entry into the home and/or contact with their loved one. Care-home management will utilize The Petty Trespasses Act to justify their actions, rather than improve the level of care. Under such circumstances, the additional stress and worry serves to i ncrease the difficulty in the relationship between the resident, the–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr.

Gerrard: –family member and the personal-care home, resulting in increased tensions and fear of reprisals. Concerns related to the above situat ion escalate when the barred family member receives information that their loved one's basic needs are not being met, further exacerbating the issue. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the provincial government to establish an independent, non- partisan seniors advocate to ensure the care standards are being met in all Manitoba personal -care homes, and to resolve disputes before harm comes to residents of personal - care homes.

(2) To urge the provincial government to ensure residents of personal -care homes receive adequate hands-on care to provide for their basic needs and ongoing physical care based on their individual requirements.

(3) To urge the provincial government to ensure that the mental health needs of com munication and socialization of personal-care-home residents are met

March 7, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 473 through a combination of facilitated programs, suf - ficient staff on hand to provide these services, and adequate access to family members, designated family caregivers and other visitors, under all reasonable circumstances.

(4) To urge the provincial government to enforce mechanisms that mandate operators to proactively and collaboratively work with designated family caregivers who augment care by ensuring they are allowed to –access to th eir loved ones under all reasonable circumstances, to provide active care and support to the residents' emotional well-being, health and quality of life. This petition is signed by Rosemary Park, Keith Park, Brenda Farncombe and many, many other Manitobans. Foot-Care Services MLA Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) The population of those aged 55- plus has grown to approximately 2,500 in the city of Thompson.

(2) A large percentage of people in this age group require necessary medical foot care and treatment.

(3) A large percentage of those who are elderly and/or diabetic are also living on low incomes.

(4) The northern regional health author ity, N-R-H-A, previously provided essential medical foot- care services to seniors and those living with diabetes until 2019, then, subsequently, cut the program after the last two nurses filling those positions retired.

(5) The number of seniors and those with diabetes has only continued to grow in Thompson and surrounding areas.

(6) There is no adequate medical care available in the city and region,

whereas the city of Winnipeg has 14 medical foot-care centres.

(7) The implications of i nadequate or lack of podiatric care can lead to amputations.

(8) The city of Thompson also serves as a regional health-care service provider, and the need for foot care extends beyond just those served in the capital city of the province. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to provide the services of two nurses and restore essential medical foot care to the city of Thompson effective April 1, 2022. And this petition, Madam Speaker, has been signed by Conrad Hywarki [phonetic] , Joelinn Reid, Jaidyn Reid and many other Manitobans. Diagnostic Testing Accessibility Mr.

Jim Maloway (Elmwood): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background of the–this petition is as follows:

(1) Until recently, diagnostic medical tests, including for blood and fluid samples, were available and accessible in most medical clinics.

(2) Dynacare blood test labs have consolidated their blood and fluid testing services by closing 25 of its labs.

(3) The provincial government has cut diagnostic testing at many clinic sites, and residents now have to travel to different locations to get their testing done, even for a simple blood test or urine sample.

(4) Further, travel chall enges for vulnerable and elderly residents of northeast Winnipeg may result in fewer tests being done or delays in testing, with the attendant effects of increased health -care costs and poorer individual patient outcomes.

(5) COVID-19 emergency rules hav e resulted in long outdoor lineups, putting vulnerable residents at further risk in extreme weather, be it hot or cold. Moreover, these long lineups have resulted in longer wait times for services and poorer service in general.

(6) Manitoba residents value the convenience and efficiency of the health -care system when they are able to give their samples at the time of their doctor visit. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to immedi - ately deman d Dynacare maintain all of the phlebotomy blood sample sites existing prior to the COVID-19 public health emergency, and allow all Manitobans to get their blood and urine tests done when visiting their doctor, thereby facilitating local access to blood testing services. * (15:00)

474 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 7, 2022 Lead in Soils MLA Malaya Marcelino (Notre Dame): Madam Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background of this petition is as follows: In December of 2019, the provincial government's commissioned report on lead concentrations in soil in Winnipeg was completed. The report found that 10 neighbourhoods had concerning levels of lead concentration in their soil, including Centennial, Daniel McIntyre, Glenelm - Chalmers, north Point Dougl as, River Osborne, Sargent Park, St.

Boniface, the West End, Weston and Wolseley-Minto. In particular, the predicted blood lead levels for children in north Point Douglas, Weston and Daniel McIntyre were above the level of concern. The Weston Elementary School field has been forced to close down many times because of concerns of lead in soil and the provincial government's inaction to improve the situation. Lead exposure especially affects children aged seven years and under, as their nervous system is still developing. The effects of lead exposure are irreversible and include impacts on learning, behaviour and intelligence.

For adults, long- term lead exposure can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney problems and reproductive effects. The provincial government currently has no comprehensive plan to deal with lead in soil, nor is there a broad advertising campaign educating residents on how they can reduce their risks of lead exposure. Instead, people in these areas continue to garden and work in the soil, and children continue to play in the dirt, often without any knowledge of the associated risks.

We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to take action to reduce people' s exposure to lead in Winnipeg, and to implement the recommendations proposed by the provincial government's independent review, including the creation of an action plan for the Weston neighbourhood, developing a lead awareness communications and outreach program, requisition- ing a more in -depth study and creating a tracking program for those tested for blood lead levels so that medical professionals can follow up with them.

This has been signed by Alvin Vargas, Cuong Pham, Joseph Inocencio and many other Manitobans. Eating Disorders Awareness Week Ms. Lisa Naylor (Wolseley): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. To the Legis lative Assembly of Manitoba, the background of this petition is as follows: An estimated 1 million people suffer from eating disorders in Canada. Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses affecting one's physical, psychological and social function, and have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.

The dev elopment and treatment of eating disorders are influenced by the social determinants of health, including food and income security, access to housing, health care and mental health supports. It is important to share the diverse experiences of people with eating disorders across all ages, genders and identities, including Indigenous, Black and racialized people; queer and gender -diverse people; people with dis abilities; people with chronic illness; and people with co- occurring mental health con di- tions or addictions.

It is necessary to increase awareness and edu ca- tion about the impact of those living with, or affected by, eating disorders in order to dispel dangerous stereotypes and myths about these illnesses. Setting aside one week each year to focus attention on eating disorders will heighten public understanding, increase awareness of culturally relevant resources and supports for those impacted by eating disorders and encourage Manitobans to develop healthier relationships with their bodies.

We petition the Legis lative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the prov incial government to support a declaration that the first week in February of each year be known as eating disorders awareness week. This has been signed by Jasmine Rusu, Shaun Mott, Christine Martin and many other Manitobans.

March 7, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 475 Health-Care Coverage Mr. Jamie Moses (St. Vital): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. To the Legis lative Assembly of Manitoba, the background for this petition is as follows:

(1) Health care is a basic human right and a fundamental part of responsible public health. Many people in Manitoba are not covered by provincial health care: migrant workers with work permits of less than one year, international students and those undocumented residents who have lost their status for a variety of reasons.

(2) Racialized people and communities are disproportionately affected by the pandemic mainly due to the social and economic fact of conditions which leave them vulnerable while performing essential work in a variety of industries in Manitoba.

(3) Without adequate health- care coverage, if they are ill, many of the uninsured will avoid seeking health care due to the fear of being charged for the care, and some will fear possible detention and deportation if their immigration status is reported to the authorities.

(4) According to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, denying essential health care to undocumented irregular migrants is a violation of their rights.

(5) Jurisdictions across Canada and the world have adopted access -without-fear policies to prevent sharing personal health information or immigration status with immigration authorities and to give uninsured residents the confidence to access health care.

(6) The pandemic has clearly i dentified the need for everyone in Manitoba to have access to health care to protect the health and safety of all who live in the province. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the provincial government to immediately provide comprehensive and free health - care coverage to all residents of Manitoba regardless of immigration status, including refugee claimants, migrant workers, international students, dependant children of temporary residents and undocumented residents.

(2) To urge the Minister of Health and Seniors Care to undertake a multilingual communication campaign to provide information on expanded coverage to all affected residents.

(3) To urge the Minister of Health and Seniors Care to inform all health -care i nstitutions and providers of expanded coverage for those without health insurance and the details on how necessary policy and protocol changes will be implemented.

(4) To urge the Minister of Health and Seniors Care to create and enforce strict confidenti ality policies and provide staff with training to protect the safety of residents with precarious immigration status and ensure that they can access health care without jeopardizing their ability to remain in Canada. This petition has been signed by many Manitobans. Foot-Care Services Mrs. Bernadette Smith (Point Douglas): Madam Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. To the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. The background of this petition is as follows:

(1) Th e population of those aged 55- plus has grown approximately 2,500 in the city of Thompson.

(2) A large percentage of people in this age group require necessary medical foot care and treatment.

(3) A large percentage of those who are elderly or–and/or diabetic are also living on low incomes.

(4) The northern regional health authority previously provided essential medical foot -care services to seniors and those living with diabetes until 2019, then, subsequently, cut the program after the last two nurses filling those positions retired.

(5) The number of seniors and those with diabetes have only continued to grow in Thompson and surrounding areas.

(6) There is no adequate medical care available in the city and region,

whereas the city of Winnipeg has 14 medical foot-care centres.

(7) The implications of inadequate or lack of podiatric care can lead to amputation.

(8) The city of Thompson also serves as a regional health-care service provider, and the need for foot care extends beyond just those served in this capital city of the province.

476 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 7, 2022 We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to provide the services of two nurses to restore essential medical foot care treatment to the city of Thompson effective April 1, 2020. * (15:10) And this is signed by Tara Little, Irene Munroe, Carol Sanoffsky and many other Manitobans. Road Closures Mr. Matt Wiebe (Concordia): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. And the background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Manitoba Infra structure has under taken the closure of all farm -access roads along the North Perimeter Highway, forcing rural residents to drive up to six miles out of their way to leave or return to their property.

(2) The prov incial gov ernment's own consul ta- tions showed that closing the access of some of these roads, including Sturgeon Road, was an emerging concern to residents and busi ness owners, yet the North Perimeter plan does nothing to address thi s issue.

(3) Residents and business owners were assured that their concerns about access closures, including safety issues cited by engineers, would be taken into account and that access at Sturgeon Road would be maintained. However, weeks later, the med ian was nonetheless torn up, leaving local residents and busi - nesses scrambling.

(4) Closing all access to the Perimeter puts more people in danger, as it emboldens speeders and forces farmers to take large equip ment into heavy traffic, putting road users at risk.

(5) Local traffic, commuter traffic, school buses, emergency vehicles and commercial traffic, including 200 gravel trucks per day from the Lilyfield Quarry, will all be expected to merge and travel out of their way in order to cross the Perimeter, causing increased traffic and longer response times to emergencies.

(6) Small businesses located along the Perimeter and Sturgeon Road are expected to lose busi ness, as customers will give up on finding a way into their premises.

(7) Residents, business owners and those who use these roads have been left behind by the provincial government's refusal to listen to their concerns that closures will only result in worsened safety and major inconveniences for users of the North Perimeter. We petition the Legis lative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the Minister of Infra structure to leave residents access to the Perimeter Highway and –at least every two miles along its length, especially at intersections such as Sturgeon Road, which ar e vital to local businesses.

(2) To urge the Minister of Infra structure to listen to the needs and the opinions of the local residents and busi ness owners who took the time to complete the Perimeter safety survey while working with engineers and the te chnicians to ensure their concerns are addressed. Madam Speaker, this petition is signed by many Manitobans. Madam Speaker: Grievances? ORDERS OF THE DAY GOVERNMENT BUSINESS Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Government House Leader): Could you please call for secon d reading debate Bill 10, Bill 11, Bill 4 and Bill 5.

Madam Speaker: It has been announced that the House will consider second reading of Bill 10, second reading of Bill 11, debate on second reading of Bill 4 and second reading of Bill 5 this afternoon. SECOND READINGS Bill 10–An Act respecting Amendments to The Health Services Insurance Act, The Pharmaceutical Act and Various Corporate Statutes Madam Speaker: I will therefore call second reading of Bill 10,

An Act respecting Amendments to The Health Ser vices Insurance Act, The Pharmaceutical Act and Various Corporate Statutes. Hon. Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): I move, seconded by the Minister of Labour, Consumer Pro- tection and Gov ernment Services (Mr. Helwer), that Bill 10,

an act respect ing amendments to The Health Services Insurance Act, The Pharmaceutical Act and various corporate act statutes, be now read a second time and be referred to a committee of this House. Madam Speaker: It has been moved by the honour - able Minister of H ealth, seconded by the honour able

March 7, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 477 Minister of Labour, Consumer Pro tection and Gov - ernment Services (Mr. Helwer), that Bill 10,

An Act respecting Amendments to The Health Services Insurance Act, The Pharmaceutical Act and Various Corporate Statutes, be now read a second time and be referred to a committee of this House. Ms. Gordon: Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to rise to provide comments on Bill 10,

An Act respecting Amendments to The Health Services Insurance Act, The Pharmaceutical Act and Various Cor porate Statutes. This bill will enable im portant measures implemented through emergency orders to respond to the COVID -19 pandemic to continue in the longer tem. The bill would enable the continued accessibility to the public of COVID -19 point-of-care testing and enable virtual cor porate meetings to continue when the emergency orders enabling these activities expire.

With respect to COVID -19 point -of-care testing, laboratories and specimen collection centres must be approved under The Health Services In surance Act and accredited. The current standards and laboratory approval requirements do not allow for COVID -19 point -of- care testing and present an un necessary barrier to service providers that wish to offer this testing. An order was issued under The Emergency Measures Act to suspend the laboratory approval provisions included in The Health Services Insurance Act in relation to COVID -19 point -of-care testing in pharmacies.

This order expires on April 18th, 2022 and cannot be extended beyond that date, as the state of emergency is no longer in effect. Proposed amendments will exempt premises where COVID-19 point-of-care tests are administered from the accreditation and approval require ments, as long as specimens are collected only for the purpose of administering the test. In addition, pharmacists have been authorized to administer COVID-19 testing by order of the minister issued under The Regulated Health Pro fessions Act, as they do not have the author ity to administer this testing under The Pharmaceutical Act. Mr.

Andrew Micklefield, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair In offering this testing, pharmacists play a key role in responding to the threat to the health of Manitobans presented by COVID -19. However, this authority is only applicable during a public health emergency. This bill will amend The Pharmaceutical Act to permit pharmacists to administer and interpret COVID-19 point-of-care tests to continue to protect the health of Manitobans as we move past the pan- demic as we learn to live with COVID-19.

Changes presented in this bill will also ensure that Manitoba corporations can continue to offer the safety and flexibility of electronic meetings after the ex - piration of Manitoba's emergency orders provision that enable electronic meetings on March 31st, 2022. In line with other Canadian provinces, these changes will mean that cor porations incorporated under Manitoba's Cor porations Act, Cooperatives Act, Condominium Act and Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Act will be able to hold meetings partially or fully electronically unless they're pro - hibited in the corporation's bylaws.

In so doing, the changes will provide clarity on requirements affecting electronic partici pation in meetings, electronic voting in meetings and electronic notification for such meetings. Not only will these changes keep Manitobans safe by continuing to enable social distancing, but it will offer Manitoba cor por- ations more flexibility and reduce red tape while keeping Manitoba's cor porate statutes h armonized with other Canadian provinces. Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Questions Mr.

Deputy Speaker: A question period of up to 10 minutes will–[interjection]–15 minutes will now happen, and I'm looking for a script, but I don't have one, so we'll just go w ith 15 minutes question period for the bill under hand, I believe. MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): I'd like to ask the minister, what will the gov ernment do to ensure that organizations running online annual gen- eral meetings proactively ensure Manitobans living in rural and Indigenous com munities are able to access their meetings over the Internet? Hon.

Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): I thank the member for Union Station for that question. The cor poration is required to provide the individual with the right to attend a meeting with a notice of meeting. So if the individual did not provide a corporation with an email address, then it's up to the corporation to find a way to provide the notice of meeting to the individual. * (15:20)

478 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 7, 2022 So the bill is focused on provi ding options and flexibility, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and the de partment has not heard any concerns regarding provisions to continue allowing notice of meetings to be sent electronically after the expiration of the emergency order. So we would look to cor porations to ensure that, even if a member lives in a rural community, that they're provided with the appropriate notice. Hon.

Jon Gerrard (River Heights): I would ask the minister, in view of a number of instances recently in which pharmacists don't appear to be receiving up-to- date infor mation from Manitoba Health and Health Links, what mechanisms, or what methods, ap - proaches the minister is taking with bills like this to make sure that there is really good com munication between Manitoba Health, Health Links and pharmacists in terms of what they should be doing. Ms. Gordon: I thank the member for River Heights for the question.

The bill is extending the work that pharmacies are currently doing during this diffi cult time of COVID. Pharmacies are aware of their ability to provide point- of-care testing. We are extending the –over a long term, the opportunity for pharmacies and pharmacists to continue to support Manitobans during the pan- demic, and as numbers decr ease and trend down- wards, my de partment will work closely with the College of Pharmacists to ensure that information that goes to the college is being disseminated to their members in a timely and efficient manner.

MLA Asagwara: Can the minister prov ide some clarity–so my last question was around, essentially, accessibility for Manitobans living in rural and Indigenous communities, and she made mention of, you know, corporations shouldering the responsibility of finding other means, other than email, if that was a barrier for folks–but she can provide clarity around, and can she explicitly clarify, if that is embedded in the bill, if it's made very clear in the bill that those provisions must be made? Or is it simply they're just hoping corporations will do their due diligence? Ms.

Gordon: I thank the member for Union Station for the question. So that is embedded in the bill. There is a require- ment for corporations to make their members aware of meetings, and how the meetings will be he ld, and how they can sign up to be part of that meeting, how they can log in to the meeting, how they can vote. So that is all part of the bill, and we want to ensure that the access that Manitobans have had to virtual meetings. And, Mr.

Deputy Speaker, w hat we have noted is that by making these virtual meetings available over the past two years, the numbers of individuals participating in meetings actually went up was the report from the cor porations using this method for their meetings. So we want to ensure that the bill does lay out the requirement for corporations to improve access for their members. Mr.

Gerrard: If I understood the minister's answer a moment ago to my question, the minister is indicating that com munication with pharmacists is from the minister's office to the college of pharmacy, and then from the college to the members to those –to pharm- acists. And so if there's a breakdown, the minister is, it seems to me, blaming the college for not adequately communicating with the pharmacists. Is that what the minister is implying? Ms. Gordon: I thank the member for River Heights for the question, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

It is our gov ernment's job to ensure all Manitobans–and not just pharmacists, because phar - macists are provi ding a s ervice to Manitobans –are aware of the care that they can receive close to home. That is why we put out bulletins and have been for the past two years. That's why we issue news releases. We have a very com prehensive communication strategy where we're using social media. MLAs and their constituencies are also getting information out to their con stituents.

And we work very closely with our colleges and have a very, very good working relationship with them because they have databases that they also want to use to make their members aware of changes– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The minister's time has expired. MLA Asagwara: How will the gov ernment ensure that Manitobans who, for reasons related to age, socio-economic status or dis ability, are also able to access and navigate the electronic platforms on which annual general meetings might be conducted? Ms.

Gordon: So the changes in this bill will enable corporations to be able to continue to have virtual meetings, but that does not preclude the organi zation from establishing bylaws to ensure that their members have full access, and we would continue to encourage that. So if there are individuals who may not have access to electronic means to join a meeting, I do know that right now many cor porations mail out

March 7, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 479 ballots before their AGMs and request that they're filled out and sent back before their meeting is held. A good example is the credit unions; they do that often. And so we would of–be encouraging corporations to ensure full access to individuals in different– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable minister's time has expired. Mr. Gerrard: I want to address one of the issues that came up in the briefing and that was it–when there is voting virtually, that it can be held by ballot, which I understand the legal

interpretation is that it's by secret ballot. There are dif ficulties and challenges in doing secret ballots virtually. You can't always predict what will come up in a vote ahead of time to be able to mail out ballots ahead of time. So I would ask the minister just to confirm that when it says ballots that that refers to secret ballots and that the– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member's time has expired. Ms. Gordon: I thank the member for River Heights for the question, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

The proposed changes do allow for ballots to be conducted where demanded so long as the vote is conducted in a manner that allows votes to be in - dividually counted, and the specific format of the ballot is left up to the corporation to decide. There are plenty of tools available to enable secret voting in virtual meetings. There are websites there, corporations have used them. I mentioned as an example the credit unions. Right now, they mail out on a regular basis, many times, ballots befor e their AGMs to ensure that their members have full access to private and secret voting.

And we would continue as a government to encourage corporations to do that. MLA Asagwara: Last December, the minister of government services promised a probe into the abuses of rapid tests by business owners. We all saw some of those reports in the media. Can the gov ernment provide an update on how this probe is going and when we can expect a conclusion? * (15:30) Ms. Gordon: What I would like to share with t he House today, Mr. Deputy Speaker, is that this bill is

An Act respecting A mendments to The Health Services Insurance Act, The Pharmaceutical Act and Various Corporate Statutes, and it will allow for the continuation of point-of-care testing by pharmacists to continue in the longer term and to enable others to conduct this testing.

As well, to allow corporations to continue to hold virtual meetings, provi ding access to Manitobans during this difficult time; I know there are a lot of members that ap preciated this option because they wanted to maintain social distancing, they wanted to feel safe in their homes and we're pleased as a govern- ment to bring this bill forward. MLA Asagwara: I didn't hear an answer to my question, so I'll try that one more time. Last December, the minister of gov ernment services promises a probe into the abuses of rapid tests by business owners.

Can the gov ernment provide an update on how this probe is going and when we can expect a conclusion? Ms. Gordon: Mr. Deputy Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House to talk about what our government is doing, making rapid antigen tests available to Manitobans close to home–in grocery stores, libraries. Individuals can walk in without appointment and gain access to those rapid tests, be able to test them selves in the privacy of their home, deter mine what level of care they need, and it's all about access. We're going to continue as a government to do our part to ensure Manitobans are kept safe.

MLA Asagwara: I mean, I've asked the question pretty plainly, twice now, I guess I'll move on. It's disappointing we can't get more infor mation on that matter from the minister, would've been nice to know what the out comes were for those folks who were abusing that system that was put in place. Will the minister promise that Manitobans who suspect they may have COVID and need a test to confirm that they do, in fact, have COVID or do not, can she promise to Manitobans that they'll never have to pay out of pocket for their tests? Ms.

Gordon: Currently, the testing that is being done by our pharmacists are travel testing and it's user pay, but if the test was deemed medically necessarily, that would change to Province pay. And we will continue to monitor what is happening at the federal level, what is happening in other jurisdictions, to ensure we keep pace with the change.

480 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 7, 2022 At this time, I'm pleased to share with the House again that rapid antigen tested –testing–test kits are available throughout the province close t o home in libraries and grocery stores. I encourage Manitobans to access those tests without appointment, and we will continue to do our part to keep Manitobans safe– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable minister's time has expired. MLA Asagwara: I was pretty specific in my question, asking about, you know, what Manitobans can expect.

The minister specifically indicated in her response what's going on currently, so I'll ask it again: Is she able to promise that Manitobans who suspect they may have COVID and need a test to confirm will never have to pay out of pocket for their tests? I'm trying to get a sense here of what this govern- ment is going to do to ensure that the testing system remains in place for Manitobans who need it. Ms. Gordon: I thank the member for Union Station for the question. The rapid antigen tests –test kits are free to Manitobans. They can access them very close to home–libraries, grocery stores.

We have partnered with many organizations in our supply chain. We have paid for those tests to make them available to Manitobans. Currently, the tests that are being done by pharmacists that this bill will enable to continue is travel testing that is user pay. If the test that phar - macists are doing is deemed medically necessary, that would change to province pay, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

MLA Asagwara: In late December 2021, as Manitobans were waiting for hours in their vehicles for COVID tests, the Health Minister told the media that, and I quote: We were certainly able to meet the needs of Manitobans at our testing sites. End quote. Does she really think that the government met the testing needs of Manitobans that month? Ms.

Gordon: This bill will allow for the testing needs of Manitobans to continue at their pharmacies through their pharmacists and ensure that virtual meetings continue where individuals who feel they want to participate in those meetings from the safety or the comforts of their home can do so. We look forward to continuing to make tests available to Manitobans –again, libraries, grocery stores, right close to someone's home.

They can go in at any time the organization or the business is open to gain access to those tests free of charge, and we encourage Manitobans to gain access to what we have made available as a government. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Time for questions has expired. Debate Mr. Deputy Speaker: The floor is open for debate. MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): So this bill, Bill 10,

an act respecting amend ments to The Health Services Insurance Act, Phar maceutical Act and various corporate statutes, you know, this is a bill that is going to allow for pharmacies and pharmacists to conduct testing that, you know, many Manitobans are still going to be depending on as we move forward. We are still in a pand emic, despite this government's very, very persistent efforts to try and convince Manitobans that we're not; we're still very much in a global pandemic. And even just today we saw the case numbers, hospitalizations, ICU numbers increasing.

So, I mean, we 're–it's evident that Manitobans are going to continue to need access, free access, barrier- free access, to COVID tests. The amendments to this act make changes permanent and extend where such tests can be administered to anywhere in the province, not j ust a pharmacy. These changes would allow for other medical professionals to administer COVID-19 point- of-care tests in accordance with the regulations under The Regulated Health Professions Act. The perma - nency of this shift, I do understand where that 's coming from.

We had a briefing, and that was outlined in understanding that, you know, we're in ever - changing medical times, public health times, and allowing for pharmacists to have that ongoing capa - city and scope is an important thing. We weren't able to get clarity in regards to other folks that would fall into the categories of being able to provide these services. It's fairly broad. I mean, it's speaking to folks who fall under accordance with the regulations health professionals act. But, you know, there was no indication from the minister as to whether or not other folks had expressed an interest in this.

It would be really great to get a sense of if there is an interest from other regulated health-care profes- sionals and what the delivery of that service may look like. We talked a lot during this pandemic about the importance of being proactive, and this is certainly an area where the gov ernment can, you know, do the work of committing to some outreach to these

March 7, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 481 regulated health professionals in developing a strategy should those folks engage and want to pursue this within their own entities. I'm going to speak first to–like, very specifically– to the aspect of the legis lation amend ment that is health-specific, not necessarily the amendments to The Cor porations Act, et cetera.

And I think that's really im portant, because there's been a number of things that have happened during this pandemic that we have to be able to reflect on and assess in terms of this particular amendment and, you know, the breadth of what it encompasses because there are other implications beyond what is specifically laid out in the government's articulation of them. The reality of it here is that there's a lack of clarity around how this gov ernment intends to close some health-care gaps. There's a lack of clarity around whether or not this gov ernment–shows there's a lack of clarity.

My guess here, my suspicion, my concern is, in fact, that the gov ernment is prioritizing the ability of businesses, private entities, to see this as a money-making opportunity,

whereas they're not put - ting so much time and energy into making sure that public access to these incredibly important health-care tools is top of mind. Now, as I said, we're still in this pandemic.

We're actually going to be in this pandemic for, you know, some time to come, and even as we transition out of the COVID -19 pandemic, it is incred ibly im portant that when the gov ernment esta blish different, you know, amendments to acts, et cetera, that give dif - ferent health-care providers and points of access for care a greater scope, that they're doing so in a way that actually bolsters public health care and doesn't diminish the ability of the public health -care system to ensur e that all Manitobans can get access to the health care they need when they need it.

And this act doesn't really provide any clarity whatsoever in terms of what the government's strategy is to meet that. And that's a significant public health consideration, Mr. Deputy Speaker. So, you know, there–we know that there are many jurisdictions that require a test that's been verified by a pharmacist. Here in Manitoba we are seeing and hearing from folks who their workplaces are requiring that they provide, you know, proof of a COVID test. You know, this is likely going to be some thing that doesn't go away.

Government isn't able to talk at any length or in great detail as to how those needs are going to be met. * (15:40) Now, you know, I want t o make clear that, in principle, we're not actually opposed to parts of this legislation. It's obviously important–[interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order, please. MLA Asagwara: –that those travelling inter - nationally can still find a point of care to verify their COVID-19 status when travelling abroad. We see the value of technology bringing people together. The minister just spoke to increased numbers of partici - pation when tech nology is utilized for AGMs, et cetera.

You know, I happen to have c onstituents of my own who do not have access to Internet, and if they do, or if they could, they wouldn't anyhow because that's not how they want to partici pate in certain things. So I think it's really im portant to recog nize that, you know, while some amendments and some adjustments to legislation may make it easier for other folks to participate and engage –may reduce the burden on some folks in order to be involved with cor- porations, AGMs, board meetings, et cetera–there are many other people w ho, in fact, that's an addi tional barrier.

And there's really nothing explicit that addresses that. There are many seniors, people with disabilities, people living in poverty, low income, folks who just geographically don't have access, due to inequities, to Internet. Those are all very serious con siderations and shouldn't be an afterthought. We've all seen what happens when, you know, folks who do face signi fi- cant barriers are treated as an afterthought. Those are the folks who are even more gr eatly disadvantaged when we see a crisis. Those are the folks who, if they're in precarious circum stances, you know, face even more challenges.

So, you know, I talk a lot about being proactive. This bill–sorry–this bill and the amendments in it was an opportunity for the government to be proactive, and I know that the minister is going to hear from different advocates within our communities who are very con- cerned about the lack of attention to the barriers that are likely going to come as a result of cementing some of these amendments. So again, what benefits some people, you know, may unintentionally disadvantage others, and we have to take that into con sideration when we're looking at moving forward.

We don't want to get through this pandemic–we don't want to progress –you know, we

482 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 7, 2022 don't want to progress as a, you know, Manitoba com- munity and knowingly, you know, leave folks behind. That doesn't seem like the right way to approach this. So, you know, we see the value of technolo gy in bringing people together. That's correct. But again, we need to make sure that we're making changements that make it easier for people to participate, not the opposite. Now, I want to, like I said, focus a lot on the health aspect of this legis lation b ecause I think it's really im portant.

You know, I remain, we remain, very concerned that this gov ernment–the intent is actually to roll back access to COVID-19 testing. You know, we saw that when Omicron struck, access to PCR testing was significantly rolled back –and very quickly and abruptly rolled back, quite frankly. And we saw the impacts of that in terms of folks not being able to get a clear diagnosis and make informed decisions.

We're also seeing the impacts of that in terms of folks not having a clear diagnosis and then trying to access health care, or trying to put in work-related claims and not having that piece of docu- mentation that they need to substantiate their reasoning and their process.

So, you know, the –this legislation before us, it's allowing for the minister to define what a COVID-19 point-of-care test is by regulation and it's my under - standing that the current testing sites to get a PCR test–I think we all kind of understand that those testing sites are going to start disap pearing, right, all of the PCR-based COVID -testing sites are going to start disappearing throughout our province in the months and weeks ahead. And, quite frankly, we're pretty concerned that the quality testing that has been used to make those diagnoses is going to be less accessible.

And so, as I've already mentioned, the big con- cern here is that what's really happening, in addition to the points that have been laid out by the ministers is, there's a privatization here. There's a priva tization happening of access to tools, health- care tools, that people need to keep them selves safe and make informed decisions.

One other area that is incredibly concerning to me and is another part of the reason why it's so important that we close these gaps as these, you know, bills and amendments are brought forward and these decisions are made to make permanent the expanding capacity and scope of pharmacists and to give other entities the opportunity to actually perform and provide tests, what I'm really worried about is the lack of any detail from this gov ernment in terms of a plan around therapeutic in

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	42-4-18
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	42nd 4th hansardpdf 18.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	d853ed726938d41c039b07937f431a6e2f36e403

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