Province of Alberta The 28th Legislature First Session Alberta Hansard Thursday, April 11, 2013 Issue 44 The Honourable Gene Zwozdesky, Speaker

Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 28th Legislature First Session Zwozdesky, Hon. Gene, Edmonton-Mill Creek (PC), Speaker Rogers, George, Leduc-Beaumont (PC), Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees Jablonski, Mary Anne, Red Deer-North (PC), Deputy Chair of Committees Allen, Mike, Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo (PC) Amery, Moe, Calgary-East (PC) Anderson, Rob, Airdrie (W), Official Opposition House Leader Anglin, Joe, Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre (W), Official Opposition Whip Barnes, Drew, Cypress-Medicine Hat (

W) Bhardwaj, Naresh, Edmonton-Ellerslie (PC) Bhullar, Hon. Manmeet Singh, Calgary-Greenway (PC) Bikman, Gary, Cardston-Taber-Warner (

W) Bilous, Deron, Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview (ND) Blakeman, Laurie, Edmonton-Centre (AL), Liberal Opposition House Leader Brown, Dr. Neil, QC, Calgary-Mackay-Nose Hill (PC) Calahasen, Pearl, Lesser Slave Lake (PC) Campbell, Hon. Robin, West Yellowhead (PC), Deputy Government House Leader Cao, Wayne C.N., Calgary-Fort (PC) Casey, Ron, Banff-Cochrane (PC) Cusanelli, Christine, Calgary-Currie (PC) Dallas, Hon. Cal, Red Deer-South (PC) DeLong, Alana, Calgary-Bow (PC) Denis, Hon. Jonathan, QC, Calgary-Acadia (PC), Deputy Government House Leader Donovan, Ian, Little Bow (

W) Dorward, David C., Edmonton-Gold Bar (PC) Drysdale, Hon. Wayne, Grande Prairie-Wapiti (PC) Eggen, David, Edmonton-Calder (ND), New Democrat Opposition Whip Fawcett, Hon. Kyle, Calgary-Klein (PC) Fenske, Jacquie, Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville (PC) Forsyth, Heather, Calgary-Fish Creek (

W) Fox, Rodney M., Lacombe-Ponoka (

W) Fraser, Rick, Calgary-South East (PC) Fritz, Yvonne, Calgary-Cross (PC) Goudreau, Hector G., Dunvegan-Central Peace-Notley (PC) Griffiths, Hon. Doug, Battle River-Wainwright (PC) Hale, Jason W., Strathmore-Brooks (

W) Hancock, Hon. Dave, QC, Edmonton-Whitemud (PC), Government House Leader Hehr, Kent, Calgary-Buffalo (AL) Horne, Hon. Fred, Edmonton-Rutherford (PC) Horner, Hon. Doug, Spruce Grove-St. Albert (PC) Hughes, Hon. Ken, Calgary-West (PC) Jansen, Sandra, Calgary-North West (PC) Jeneroux, Matt, Edmonton-South West (PC) Johnson, Hon. Jeff, Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater (PC) Johnson, Linda, Calgary-Glenmore (PC) Kang, Darshan S., Calgary-McCall (AL), Liberal Opposition Whip Kennedy-Glans, Donna, Calgary-Varsity (PC) Khan, Stephen, St. Albert (PC) Klimchuk, Hon.

Heather, Edmonton-Glenora (PC) Kubinec, Maureen, Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock (PC) Lemke, Ken, Stony Plain (PC) Leskiw, Genia, Bonnyville-Cold Lake (PC) Luan, Jason, Calgary-Hawkwood (PC) Lukaszuk, Hon. Thomas A., Edmonton-Castle Downs (PC) Mason, Brian, Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood (ND), Leader of the New Democrat Opposition McAllister, Bruce, Chestermere-Rocky View (

W) McDonald, Everett, Grande Prairie-Smoky (PC) McIver, Hon. Ric, Calgary-Hays (PC), Deputy Government House Leader McQueen, Hon. Diana, Drayton Valley-Devon (PC) Notley, Rachel, Edmonton-Strathcona (ND), New Democrat Opposition House Leader Oberle, Hon. Frank, Peace River (PC) Olesen, Cathy, Sherwood Park (PC) Olson, Hon. Verlyn, QC, Wetaskiwin-Camrose (PC) Pastoor, Bridget Brennan, Lethbridge-East (PC) Pedersen, Blake, Medicine Hat (

W) Quadri, Sohail, Edmonton-Mill Woods (PC) Quest, Dave, Strathcona-Sherwood Park (PC) Redford, Hon. Alison M., QC, Calgary-Elbow (PC), Premier Rodney, Hon. Dave, Calgary-Lougheed (PC) Rowe, Bruce, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills (

W) Sandhu, Peter, Edmonton-Manning (PC) Sarich, Janice, Edmonton-Decore (PC) Saskiw, Shayne, Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills (W), Official Opposition Deputy House Leader Scott, Hon. Donald, QC, Fort McMurray-Conklin (PC) Sherman, Dr. Raj, Edmonton-Meadowlark (AL), Leader of the Liberal Opposition Smith, Danielle, Highwood (W), Leader of the Official Opposition Starke, Hon. Dr. Richard, Vermilion-Lloydminster (PC) Stier, Pat, Livingstone-Macleod (

W) Strankman, Rick, Drumheller-Stettler (

W) Swann, Dr. David, Calgary-Mountain View (AL) Towle, Kerry, Innisfail-Sylvan Lake (W), Official Opposition Deputy Whip VanderBurg, Hon. George, Whitecourt-Ste. Anne (PC) Weadick, Hon. Greg, Lethbridge-West (PC) Webber, Len, Calgary-Foothills (PC) Wilson, Jeff, Calgary-Shaw (

W) Woo-Paw, Hon. Teresa, Calgary-Northern Hills (PC) Xiao, David H., Edmonton-McClung (PC) Young, Steve, Edmonton-Riverview (PC), Government Whip Party standings: Progressive Conservative: 61 Wildrose: 17 Alberta Liberal: 5 New Democrat: 4 Officers and Officials of the Legislative Assembly W.J. David McNeil, Clerk Robert H.

Reynolds, QC, Law Clerk/ Director of Interparliamentary Relations Shannon Dean, Senior Parliamentary Counsel/Director of House Services Stephanie LeBlanc, Parliamentary Counsel and Legal Research Officer Fiona Vance, Sessional Parliamentary Counsel Nancy Robert, Research Officer Philip Massolin, Manager of Research Services Brian G. Hodgson, Sergeant-at-Arms Chris Caughell, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Gordon H. Munk, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Liz Sim, Managing Editor of Alberta Hansard

Executive Council Alison Redford Premier, Pres ident of Executive Council Thomas Lukaszuk Deputy Premier, Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education, Ministerial Liaison to the Canadian Forces Manmeet Singh Bhullar Minist er of Service Alberta Robin Campbell Minister of Aboriginal Relations Cal Dallas Minister of Internationa l and Intergovernmental Relations Jonathan Denis Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Wayne Drysdale Minister of Infrastructure Kyle Fawcett Associate Minister of Finance Doug Griffiths Minister of Municipal Affairs Dave Hancock Minister of Human Services Fred Horne Minister of Health Doug Horner President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance Ken Hughes Minister of Energy Jeff Johnson Minister of Education Heather Klimchuk Minister of Culture Ric McIver Minister of Transportation Diana McQueen Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Frank Oberle Associate Minister of Services for Persons with Disabilities Verlyn Olson Minister of Agri culture and Rural Development Dave Rodney Associate Minister of Wellness Donald Scott Associate Minister of Account ability, Transparency and Transformation Richard Starke Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation George VanderBurg Associate Minister of Seniors Greg Weadick Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs Teresa Woo-Paw Associate Minister of Inte rnational and Intergovernmental Relations

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future Chair: Mr. Amery Deputy Chair: Mr. Fox Bhardwaj Cao Donovan Dorward Eggen Hehr Luan McDonald Olesen Pastoor Quadri Rogers Rowe Sarich Strankman Xiao Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Chair: Mr. Khan Deputy Chair: Mrs. Jablonski Anderson Casey Dorward Eggen Kubinec Sandhu Sherman Select Special Conflicts of Interest Act Review Committee Chair: Mr. Allen Deputy Chair: Mr. Luan Blakeman Dorward Fenske Johnson, L.

McDonald Notley Saskiw Wilson Young Standing Committee on Families and Communities Chair: Mr. Quest Deputy Chair: Mrs. Forsyth Brown Cusanelli DeLong Fraser Fritz Goudreau Jablonski Jansen Jeneroux Leskiw Notley Pedersen Swann Towle Wilson Young Standing Committee on Legislative Offices Chair: Mr. Cao Deputy Chair: Mr. McDonald Bikman Blakeman Brown DeLong Eggen Leskiw Quadri Rogers Wilson Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services Chair: Mr. Zwozdesky Deputy Chair: Mr. Rogers Casey Forsyth Fraser Kennedy- Glans Mason McDonald Quest Sherman Smith Standing Committee on Private Bills Chair: Mr.

Xiao Deputy Chair: Ms L. Johnson Barnes Bhardwaj Brown Cusanelli DeLong Fox Fritz Goudreau Jablonski Leskiw Notley Olesen Rowe Strankman Swann Webber Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing Chair: Ms Olesen Deputy Chair: Mr. Lemke Calahasen Cao Casey Hehr Jansen Kennedy-Glans Kubinec Luan McAllister Notley Pedersen Rogers Sandhu Saskiw Towle Young Standing Committee on Public Accounts Chair: Mr. Anderson Deputy Chair: Mr.

Dorward Allen Amery Anglin Bilous Donovan Fenske Goudreau Hale Hehr Jeneroux Khan Pastoor Quadri Quest Sarich Stier Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship Chair: Ms Kennedy-Glans Deputy Chair: Mr. Anglin Allen Barnes Bikman Bilous Blakeman Calahasen Casey Fenske Hale Johnson, L. Khan Kubinec Lemke Sandhu Stier Webber

April 11, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1767 Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Thursday, April 11, 2013 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, 2013 [The Speaker in the chair] head: Prayers The Speaker: Good afternoon. Let us pray. Dear Lord, help us to fulfill our duties and our obligations as respectfully as we are able, help us to be mindful of the pressing needs of others who may not be able to advocate for themselves, and help us to be lead ers and role models that others will truly want to emulate. Amen.

Please be seated. head: Statement by the Speaker Longest Serving Opposition Member The Speaker: Hon. members, before we begin our Routine for the day and get on with introductions , I have a very significant milestone to which I would like to draw your attention. We have among us a very special individua l indeed, who is the longest serving member to serve exclusively in opposition in Alberta’s history.

The hon. member was first elected to this Legislature on March 11, 1997, and has served con tinuously since that time for a total of 5,876 days, including today. [Standing ovation] Hon. members, there are many things that the Speaker can interrupt, but thunder is not one of them. As I was saying, she has continu ously served us for 5,876 days, and recently she surpassed Mr. David Duggan, Member for Edmonton, who served in opposition from June 28, 1926, to May 4, 1942, for a total of 5,790 days.

I would like to thank this hon. member for her dedication, her loyalty, her service to what she always refers to as her fabulous constituency of Edmonton-Centre, and also for her persevering work on behalf of all Albertans. Now will you please join me in thanking and congratulating the very honourable Member for Edm onton-Centre. Congratulations. [Standing ovation] head: Introduction of Guests The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Culture. Mrs. Klimchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Today I’m very pleased to introduce to you and through you a group of students from NorQuest College seated in the members’ gallery who are in the LINC program, which is the language instruction for newcomers to Canada program. NorQuest College has a campus in my constituency, and I’m so thrilled they could come here to the House today. Of course, they’re learning great skills at NorQuest College. I would ask that they rise and receive the warm welcome of the Assembly. Ms Smith: Mr.

Speaker, it is with pleasure that I rise to introduce to you and through you five hard-working pharmacists who are here today to let the government know their concerns about the changes to pricing of generic drugs. I encourage the members opposite to note their constituencies. Welcome Aileen Jang of Redwater, Terry Fernandes of Redwater, Suhas Thaleshvai of Sherwood Park, and Darrin and Gaylene Erickson of Tofield. Please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Legislature. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills. Mr. Saskiw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two introductions.

First, it is my pleasure to rise and introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly 60 grade 6 students from Glen Avon school in St. Paul. These students are joined by Mrs. O’Neill, Mrs. Kendel, Mr. Boyko, Mrs. Piquette, and Ms Rak. A parent from this class is also with us here today. Ms Brandi Whelen is the Lieutenant Governor’s great-granddaughter. I would ask that my guests rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. My second introduction.

It is my pleasure to rise and introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly four very concerned pharmacists dedicated to advocating for the best care for their patients. I’d like to introduce Maria Richard, Cameron Needham, Graham Anderson, and Monica Statchuk. They came to Edmonton today to protest the government’s ill-advised changes to drug costs in Alberta. I’d ask these dedicated pharmacists to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Drumheller-Stettler. Mr. Strankman: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to introduce to you and through you to all hon. members a group of grade 6 students visiting from my diverse constituency. The nine students from Morrin school are sitting in the gallery along with their teacher, Mr. Harvey Saltys, and parent supervisors Danielle Burrows, Laura Cawiezel, Cam Chapin, Jacqueline Watts, and Megan Fortna. I hope they enjoy thei r time at the Legislature, and I’ll ask them to please stand as my hon. colleagues provide them the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Minister of E nvironment and Sustainable Resource Development. Mrs.

McQueen: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is indeed my pleasure to rise today to welcome a wonderful group of students from Calmar elementary school from my spectacular constituency of Drayton Valley-Devon. These 34 bright grade 6 students along with parent helpers and their teacher, Mrs. Janet Wilson, have toured our Legislature – and I’m looking forward to the picture with them later – and have learne d a great deal about the building and our provincial government. I would ask them to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for St. Albert. Mr.

Khan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’m very pleased to introduce to you and through you Dr. Rod and Marilyn Oishi and family. They are shared constituents between Minister Campbell’s riding of West Yellowhead and St. Albert. Marilyn is a nurse, mother to three children, and a tireless advocate for universal newborn hearing and testing in Al berta. The Oishi family started their personal experience with h earing loss with daughter Alexis, who was born with profound hearing loss six years ago.

Through early intervention, therapy, and cochlear implants as well as a lot of love Alexis is a vibrant, beautiful, young girl enrolled in French immersion kindergarten who is succeeding and achieving in all areas of her life today. Marilyn and Dr. Oishi’s third child, Annalise, was also born with hearing loss and is also thriving in the same fashion as her big sister. Marilyn came to my constituency last fall explaining the persistent need for early interv ention and screening for hearing loss that Alexis required as an infant.

Simply because there was no family history of hearing loss, baby Alexis was not identified as a high risk. Universal testing woul d have immediately screened Alexis, saving precious time. Marilyn advocates for future

1768 Alberta Hansard April 11, 2013 families, which could save de lays that impede undetected newborns. We’re grateful for her work. With Marilyn today – she’s seated in the members’ gallery – are many people who have supported her along her journey. Pl ease rise as I call your name: Dr. Rod Oishi; Marilyn Oishi; their children, daughters Alexis and Annalise Oishi and son Braden Oishi; Geraldine Wolff; John Wolff; Lisa Oishi; and Marilyn-Ma len Eustaquio. Please join me in welcoming them. 1:40 The Speaker: The hon. Associate Minister of Wellness. Mr. Rodney: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

It is indeed a pleasure to rise today to introduce an inspirational group of health care providers who are here today in support of the Oishi family and who are advocates of universal newborn screening detection. Each of these hard-working professionals either works with individuals who are affected by hearing loss or are actively involved in its prevention.

Seated in the members’ gallery today are Kathryn Ritter, educator of the deaf and a listening and spoken language specialist who works at the Glenrose hospital; Kathy Holinski, an early interventio n program manager at Connect Society; Cheryl Redhead, program manager with early childhood services at Connect Society; Joe McLaughlin, interim executive director at Connect Society; and Tracy Hetman, who is Mr. McLaughlin’s interpreter. I would ask each of these fine Albertans to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood and leader of the ND opposition. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to rise today to introduce to you and through you my guests Harpreet Singh Sandhu, Harpreet Singh Gill, and Kashmir Singh. Harpreet Singh Sandhu is the managing editor of the Asian Vision newspaper and a renowned journa list in the Punjabi community. He has written many books and also hosts a weekly radio show on Radio Sur Sangam. Harpreet Singh Gill came to Canada as a young student and finished his degree in business management.

He is fluent in five languages a nd works as the political editor at Asian Vision. Kashmir Singh is accompanying both of them as an elder and respected member of the community. I would now ask my guests to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Mill Woods, followed by Cardston-Taber-Warner. Mr. Quadri: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to rise today and introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly two groups of people.

One is the action group of Congolese, and the friends of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are here today with us. I will be making a member’s statement about the Congo. I will ask that as I say your name, please rise and wait until the end to receive the warm welcome of this Assembly: Pierre Mwamba, Oscar Ngoie-Kadila, Constantin Kibambe, Kipenge Kishala, Dr. Itachi Falanga, Arsene Mwamba, Nshole Modeste, Patrick Mukule, Luc Lukano, Charles Balenga, Justine Kachungunu, Dicky Dikamba, Georges Bahaya. I know my accent may be a little difficult, but those are the names I have. Sorry.

They’re here today, and as I mentioned, I’ll be making a statement about the Congo and what these groups are doing in Alberta. I would request all me mbers to please give them the warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Cardston-Taber-Warner, followed by Banff-Cochrane. Mr. Bikman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to introduce to you and through you to this Assembly my friend Katie Clark, a U of L grad with a bachelor of fine arts now living here in Edmonton. Two of her roommates happen to be pharmacists, and she’s here today to see how secure their jobs are.

Katie, please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Banff-Cochrane, followed by Innisfail-Sylvan Lake. Mr. Casey: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a privilege today to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly two members of my constituency that truly make a difference in their community. Ian Wilson is the CAO of the Bow Valley Regional Housing authority. The Bow Valley Regional Housing authority assesses and addresses seniors’ and social housing in the Bow Valley region.

This authority is a regional management body serving the citizens of five me mber municipalities, including the town of Banff. Accompanying Ian today is Councillor Grant Canning, who was elected to his fi rst term on Banff town council in 2010 and sits as the town’s representative on the Bow Valley Regional Housing authority. He is also a small-business owner in the town of Banff. I would ask the Assembly to give them their traditional welcome. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, followed by Edmonton-South West. Mrs. Towle: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly three pharmacists who are among thos e today rallying against government changes that lead to drug shortages and higher out-of- pocket costs for patients. We ha ve here today Jason Pon, Ian Lakhram, and Basel Alsaadi. All three are from right here in Edmonton, and although they’re not constituents of any member of the Wildrose Official Opposition, we felt as a caucus that their voices needed to be heard. Please stand and receive the warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Edmonton-South West, followed by the Associate Minister of Services for Persons with Disabilities. Mr. Jeneroux: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to introduce to you and through you my dear friend Mr. Charles Balenga. He’s a dedicated and hard-working constituent in Edmonton-South West. He’s involved in th e community, and he has always provided me with an ear for advi ce and support. I ask that Mr. Balenga please rise and receive the traditional welcome of the Assembly. Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to also introduce to you and through you another friend, Mr. Kit Poon. Mr.

Poon is a tireless advocate and dedicated pharmacist who gi ves back time and time again to his profession. I’d ask that Mr. Poon please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Associate Minister of Services for Persons with Disabilities.

April 11, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1769 Mr. Oberle: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I see we’re joined in the gallery today by a councillor; in fact, the deputy mayor, of the town of Peace River, Mr. North Darling. He’s in Edmonton to observe the legislative process. Hopefully, he’ll be able to sleep after watching this today. Mr. Darling also serves on the executive of the AUMA. Now, I forget his title. I think it’s vice -president of small spectacular towns on the banks of beautiful rivers, something like that. I’d a sk Mr.

Darling to rise and receive the warm welcome of the Assembly. head: Members’ Statements The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Mill Woods. Democratic Republic of the Congo Mr. Quadri: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to expand on my introduction this afternoon by recognizing the groups which my guests belong to, the members of the action group of Congolese and friends of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, made up of Canadians of Congolese birth and friends of the Congo, who are dedicated to raising awareness and improving relations among our two countries.

These guests are active within our province, bringing awareness and betterment to the people of their original homeland, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Not to be confused with its smaller central African neighbour Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second-largest country in Africa and by area the 11th largest in the world. This country also bo asts an estimated population of over 75 million and contains one of Africa’s most biodiverse areas, with rainforests home to many rare, endemic animal species. Five of the country’s national parks are even listed as world heritage sites.

The Democratic Rep ublic of the Congo possesses nearly 50 per cent of Africa’s forests and a river system, according to a report by the United Nations, which could provide hydroelectric power to the entire continent. It is similar to Alberta in that it is incredibly rich in natural resources and minerals and has the potential to one day become an economic power in central Africa.

While there are many difficulties and struggles still to be overcome for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is through the efforts of those organizations such as the action group of Congolese and friends of the Democratic Republic of the Congo that inroads can be made. Those groups are very passionate about their homeland, and their work is undeniable. Their efforts to bring awareness to the pl ight of the people will only bring about a positive response and reaction from those who hear their words.

Once again, thank you very much as Canadians for doing the work and for your concern about the international global village. Thank you very much for providing this opportunity to me. head: Oral Question Period The Speaker: The hon. Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. Prescription Drug Coverage Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, across Alberta today and here on the steps of the Legislature pharmacists demo nstrated against the Minister of Health and his ill-conceived changes to drug pricing.

His last-minute Hail Mary attempt yesterday to get out in front of the protest by tweaking the plan didn’t work, and his repeated insistence that all of this will benefit Albertans just isn’t believable. We’ve asked dozens of questions in the Legislature. There have been two large protests, including today’s province - wide demonstrations. Why won’t this minister just start over and get it right? The Speaker: The hon. Premier. Ms Redford: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There’s no doubt that change involves some adjustment, but we are committed in this government to ensuring that Alberta patients, the Alberta health care system, and Alberta taxpayers are able to pay some of the lowest prices in the country for drugs. That’s one of the reasons these policies were introduced. You know, Mr.

Speaker, I had the opportunity about three weeks ago to meet with a number of pharmacy students at the University of Alberta, and one of the things that the y were excited about was the fact that this government has expanded the services that pharmacists are able to provide so that we can see a much more vibrant partnership in health care. This minister has built a plan that allows for transition, which is wha t pharmacists asked for, and we’re doing well. 1:50 Ms Smith: Those pharmacy students were sure excited this afternoon when they were demonstrating as well.

The minister defends this mess by pointing to other jurisdictions doing the same thing, but those other jurisdictions restricted pricing on just six specific agreed-upon generic drugs. Alberta didn’t do that. Alberta dictated prices for everything, a staggering, unprecedented intervention. One commentator aptly called it a, quote, clueless bureaucratic overreach. Why doesn’t the minister see this? Mr. Horne: Well, Mr. Speaker, the hon. member again demonstrates that she doesn’t know what side of this issue she’s on.

In fact, I just had the opportunity to meet for about 40 minutes with a representative g roup of eight people who were part of the demonstration earlier today, and we talked about the issues that the hon. Premier already raised. We talked about the fact that Alberta is leading the country in designing a pharmacy services framework that pays pharmacists for the services they are trained to provide, services they are not paid to provide in other jurisdictions. We also talked about the importance of getting the best price that we can for generic drugs and about transitional support. We have done all of those.

Ms Smith: The 300 protestors sure would have liked to have seen the minister on the steps of the Legislature addressing them directly. We in the Official Opposition have been pointing out for weeks that the minister’s plan will increase prices, create drug shortages, and force pharmacy closures, yet he insists everything will be fine if we just trust him. Fat chance. We don’t trust him. Albertans don’t trust him. Pharmacists don’t trust him. Why does this Premier trust him? Mr. Horne: Well, Mr .

Speaker, quite clearly, what Albertans should not trust is the misinformation, inaccurate information the opposition continues to spread. The fact of the matter is, as I said the other day, that the hon. Leader of the Opposition can’t have it both ways. She can’t be standing in front of Albertans day after day claiming to own the purview of taxpayers of this province and then when the government makes a move to save $91 million by moving to a benchmark of 18 per cent, that the rest of the country will surely follow, pretend to defend the interests of pharmacists and pharmacy businesses. We have done both.

We will continue to support both.

1770 Alberta Hansard April 11, 2013 The Speaker: The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition. Second main set of questions. Ms Smith: It’s about the transit ion, and the Health minister should know that. Hospital Parking for Veterans Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, this week Alberta Health Services in a callous and disrespectful way eliminated parking passes that the Calgary poppy fund has been purchasing for use by veterans. The minister’s response was equally callous. He dismissed our concerns and said that compassionate parking passes are available. It’s not the same thing at all.

Veterans used to be able to get a pass at their local Legion. Now they have to plead poverty to a hospital bureaucrat each time they want to go to the hospital. It’s a demeaning, belittling affront to veterans. Did the minister ask any veterans what they think of this new arrangement? Mr. Horne: Mr. Speaker, first of all, I have said and I will say again that the way in which this issue was dealt with by Alberta Health Services was not to par. I have asked Alberta Health Services to sit down . . . Some Hon. Members: That’s not what you said yesterday. Mr. Horne: What I said yesterday, Mr.

Speaker, was that we must continue to offer compassionate parking passes to health facili ties for all Albertans who are in need, most importantly, including veterans. I’ve asked Alberta Health Services to sit down with the poppy fund to talk about this program, which was only available in Calgary, and see what can be done. Ms Smith: Well, we await that review. Yesterday this minister also told us he’d be looking into the shocking statement made by the AHS vice-president who questioned the worthiness of veterans to receive this tiny demonstration of respect and gratitude.

What did he find out, and what is he going to do about that? Mr. Horne: Mr. Speaker, as I said, this government needs no help in standing up for the interests of veterans and people who serve this country. We also don’t need any help in the form of trying to politicize a local issue in Calgary that, as I have said, was poorly handled by Alberta Health Services. [interjections] My direction to AHS was to sit down with the poppy fund in Calgary and work this out, and that’s what they’re doing. Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, I doubt very much he would be doing that if he wasn’t getting pressure from this side.

We asked yesterday that the minister use his vast power and influence in setting health policy and reinstate the discounted veterans’ hospital parking plan. Will he issue a ministerial order to reinstate the plan and show veterans the respect they deserve? Mr. Horne: Mr. Speaker, as I have said, this matter was not handled well by Alberta Health Services. I believe Alberta Health Services would be willing to admit that. [interjections] This is a local issue with respect to Calgary. It is not a national or provincial issue with respect to veterans.

It is about a particular benefit that was made available by the former Calgary health region. [interjections] AHS needs to make this right with veterans in Calgary, they need to make it right with the poppy fund, and they are in the process of doing that now. Speaker’s Ruling Decorum The Speaker: Hon. members, I advised you yesterday that I would not be prepared to recognize someone who consistently and persistently heckles, and that applies to this side of the House as well as that side. I’m not going to give you any warning on it. I’m just not going to recognize you.

And if you’re not on the list today to not be re cognized, then I won’t recognize you on Monday or Tuesday or when you are. So, please, let’s keep this down to a good level of decorum and a high level of debate. The hon. Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. Ms Smith: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The way to make it right is to reinstate the plan. Ministerial Oversight of Health Services Ms Smith: Speaking of vast influence and health policy, Mr.

Speaker, let’s discuss the interview published in the Edmonton Journal today with the chair of Alberta Health Services and his complaints about interference in the day -to-day operations by the minister. Now, this interview is troubling on so many levels, but let’s start with the minister’s role. Does he just set broad policy, then dodge questions about it question period, or does he maintain ministerial responsibility for the delivery of health care in this province? Ms Redford: Mr.

Speaker, this is a fabulous illustration of a complete 50-50 and a hypocritical approach to what they expect the Minister of Health to do. My recollection is that we just had a question where the Leader of the Official Opposition asked the minister to fix a parking problem in Calgary and now stands up and accuses the minister of political interference with respect to health policy. I think the opposition had better figure out what they think their role is. Ms Smith: That’s not what I asked. I encourage the Premier to check out Hansard to see what I actually asked.

Over at AHS they seem to feel that the relationship between government and themselves has been too politicized. The chair complains that the minister damages their operations and undermines their work and that if the minister wants to direct the board on any matter, he should put it in writing in a ministerial order. What does the minister have to say about this? Mr. Horne: Well, Mr.

Speaker, if the opposition wants to understand the source of political interference in health care in this province, they should take a good look in the mirror because they beg for it on a daily basi s in question period in this House, they beg for it in their so -called advocacy in the media, and on top of that, they continue to undermine the work of Alberta Health Services on a daily basis and, in doing so, undermine confidence in the system. This is the behaviour that should be criticized in the media. Ms Smith: I think they’re misunderstanding.

We want more ministerial oversight because, on the one hand, we have a minister who has lost trust with doctors, pharmacists, nurses, teachers, and now the organization actually charged with delivering health care; on the other hand, we have a superboard whose chair agrees it has a “terrible reputation” because of lavish expenses, excessive salaries, hefty bonuses, and ballooning wait times that now seems to want to function without direct ministerial oversight. How did this government put us into such a mess?

April 11, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1771 Mr. Horne: Mr. Speaker, the great irony of this is that the opposition loves to ask us to fix health care over and over each day until, of course, we try to change something. The board of Alberta Health Services does, in my opinion, have a very good understanding of their accountability under the Regional Health Authorities Act. The authority to operate the delivery system is a delegated authority – and the hon. leader might want to read up on this – under the RHA Act. The responsibility and the oversight for health care, of course, remains with government.

Albertans expect their elected representatives in government to be accountable for health care. They are. And when it’s necessary to provide direction, we do. The Speaker: The hon. leader of the Liberal opposition. 2:00 Taxation Policy Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The latest employment numbers from StatsCan are good news for Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, that darling of Canadian conservatism and Canada’s most popular Premier with an enviable approval rating of 64 per cent.

Interestingly, these numbers show that Saskatchewan now has the lowest jobless numbe rs despite having a corporate tax of 12 per cent and progressive personal income tax. To the Premier. Tax fairness, sustainable, predictable funding for vital public services, balanced budgets, and low jobless rates go hand in hand in Saskatchewan. Why not here in Alberta, Premier? Why not, Premier? Ms Redford: Well, Mr.

Speaker, we’re very proud of the fact that on an annual basis there are over a hundred thousand people moving to this province because of the competitive economic environment that we have, the social programs that we’re able to support, and the fact that we are planning for the future, that we are investing in hospitals, in schools, and in roads. We are the economic engine of this country, as we have heard the Prime Minister and many Premier s say over the past 10 months.

We know that the budget that we have tabled allows us to balance exactly what we need to provide the services that are needed for Albertans, that can continue to draw people to this province, and we’re proud of that. Dr. Sherman: Mr. Speaker, not from Saskatchewan, they’re not. Mr. Speaker, the U.S. Congressional Research Service, the equivalent of Canada’s Parliamentary Budget Office, did a com - prehensive 65-year study which clearly demonstrates that tax cuts don’t lead to e conomic growth.

To the Premier: why, other than ideological pigheadedness, do you refuse to make just some small tweaks to our tax system so Alberta can have sustainable funding for seniors’ care, K to 12, postsecondary, health care, and maybe even some free hospital parking for our veterans? Why, Premier? Ms Redford: Well, Mr. Speaker, what we’ve seen in Alberta is that the commitment that this Progressive Conservative government has taken to tax policy has allowed for a competitive and a successful econom y. I’m going to put that up against the Parliamentary Budget Officer any day.

What I will say is that without increasing taxes and actually keeping spending to zero, which is more than any party in the opposition suggested, we’ve been able to provide susta inable funding to build infrastructure and to build an economy that continues to attract people to this province every year. Dr. Sherman: Mr. Speaker, it’s time this government had its own parliamentary budget officer to keep them honest. Mr. Speaker, let ’s have a quick review of the Premier’s promises. Stable funding for municipalities: broken. Stable funding for health care: broken. Stable funding for seniors: broken.

Stable funding for K to 12: broken. Stable funding for postsecondary: broken. Every promise broken because this Premier absolutely refuses to address the province’s revenue problem. Premier, I have to ask you why. Why do you care more about pleasing your big corporate donors and clinging to power for your leadership review than doing what’s right for Albertans? Ms Redford: You know, Mr. Speaker, simply because the opposition stands up and says something, as I say over and over again, doesn’t make it true. We are committed to sustainable funding for those programs.

We have ensured that we are not only committed to sustainable funding but continuing to build the infrastructure that’s going to allow those programs to be delivered in the facilities that they need to be. That’s what long-term growth looks like in a Progressive Conservative governme nt. It works, and that’s why we’re on this side of the House. The Speaker: The hon. leader of the New Democrat opposition, followed by Strathmore-Brooks. Alberta Health Services Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Well, I was going to ask a quest ion about political interference in the AHS to the Energy minister, but I think he’d just duck it. Yesterday the Alberta Health Services Board chair said that he’s tired of too much political interference in the health system. The minister interferes when it suits him and hides behind the AHS when that suits him. With the Ministry of Health and Alberta Health Services we get double the bureaucracy and no accountability. My question is to the Health minister: will he reduce waste, confusion, duplication, and mismanagement and abolish Alberta Health Services? Mr. Horne: Well, Mr.

Speaker, we will not abolish Alberta Health Services. We will not abandon what is a model that is in fact leading the country, where we have assembled all of the health resources in the province under a single authority and are receiving savings and improvements in quality of care that are unparalleled across this country. Mr. Speaker, the role of a delegated regional health authority is very clear. It is to operate the delivery syst em under the super - vision of government. The Alberta Health Services Board chair understands the accountability of the board to government.

We have an excellent working relationship, and I commend him for being willing to take risks and exercise leadership to improve health care. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. This PC government told Albertans that Alberta Health Services would reduce administrative costs, but administrative costs continue to skyrocket, another 21 per cent in the AHS budget for this fiscal year. The AHS Board has said: I believe that, quote, administratively we have a terrible reputation. With outrageous executive salaries, expense scandals, and bureaucratic duplication it’s no wonder.

Will the min ister please stop creating confusion and wasting money and abolish AHS? Mr. Horne: Mr. Speaker, this question around administrative expenses was asked and answered earlier in the week. As Alberta

1772 Alberta Hansard April 11, 2013 Health Services has said and I will reiterate, they have changed the categorization of administrative services in their budget. They have added additional line items to administration that were not formerly there for the purpose of allowing Alberta to be compared directly with other provinces according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information. That’s transparency, and that should be commended. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Well, this Tory government has time and again organized and reorganized and reorganized our health system. Administrative chaos, escalating operational costs, and systematic inefficiencies have plagued AHS from the beginning, and it’s far from being transparent because we don’t have adequate oversight in this Legislature over $14 billion that is spent by AHS. Even the AHS Board chair admits that a major managerial overhaul is needed. What will it take for the minister to f inally admit that the creation of AHS was a failure and get rid of it? Ms Redford: Mr.

Speaker, one of the opportunities that we have as elected officials is to travel the province and talk to people that work in our health care system whether they’re doctors, nurses, or perhaps even partnering with pharmacists. One of the things that I certainly have heard and learned in the last three years as I talked to health care professionals across this province is: whatever you do, please, don’t dismantle Alberta H ealth Services because Alberta Health Services is a model that is cutting edge in this country. It was innovative. It brought change.

It is now delivering the health services that not only Albertans need but that health care providers want to provide in the context that they do. That’s why we won’t abolish Alberta Health Services. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Strathmore-Brooks, followed by Dunvegan-Central Peace-Notley. Strathmore Hospital Long-term Care Mr. Hale: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Allow me to quote a memo from the Health minister regarding how AHS botched the closure of the Little Bow continuing care centre. Quote: there needed to be clear, concise communication planned with care residents, their families, and the community at large.

It goes on: AHS has learned considerably from this experience, and it is utilizing these lessons to inform future decision-making. Unquote. Why, then, Minister, were the residents of the long -term care wing of Strathmore hospital, their families, members, and staff co mpletely blindsided by yesterday’s announcement to close the beds? Didn’t you learn anything from Carmangay? Mr. Horne: Mr. Speaker, first of all, let’s be clear.

The long -term care services that are currently provided in the hospital in Strathmore are bei ng moved to a brand new facility in the community that will provide a much better, more respectable and amenable environment for those residents. In addition, 82 additional spaces are being added in that new facility. I think the residents of Strathmore fe el very well served by the new facility, by the services that they’re going to be able to offer. And I know they were consulted. Mr. Hale: Obviously, you haven’t talked to the staff or the seniors.

Given that the 23 seniors who live in the Strathmore faci lity, many of them with high needs, will be transitioned to beds with lower care levels and given the Health minister’s own memo stating that they had learned from the mistakes at Carmangay, what is the minister’s explanation for botching yet another long-term care centre closure and throwing the lives of vulnerable seniors, families, and staff into total chaos? 2:10 Mr. Horne: Well, Mr.

Speaker, if this hon. member wants to stand in front of this House and make an argument that residents receiving long-term care in his constituency should remain in the hospital instead of moving into a brand new facility, then I think he’s got some explaining to do. Mr. Hale: The costs are up, and they’re not going to get the same care.

Given that the residents, their families, and staff found out about the closure by mistake, given that they were supposed to be kept in the dark until May 1 and given that the minister’s memo states that AHS and his ministry are, quote, making progress in the community engagement process, can you explain to this Legislature and to the community of Strathmore how blindsiding vulnerable seniors with yet another long -term care centre closure is making progress and learning from your mistakes? Mr. Horne: Mr.

Speaker, Alberta Health Services has done a great deal to improve community consultation since the incident that the hon. member referred to. The thing is that the constituents, I’m sure, in Strathmore -Brooks expect advocacy and expect representation from their MLA, and their MLA is standing in front of this House today, for all I can see, making an argument as to why his constituents don’t deserve to move to a bra nd new facility. Their needs will be met. More people in the community will be served. I can’t see what’s not to like about that. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Dunvegan -Central Peace- Notley, followed by Innisfail-Sylvan Lake. Market Access for Energy Resources Mr. Goudreau: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Albertans have had a great deal at stake in what was called the other day the most famous pipeline in the history of the world, even without being built yet. This has been a polarized debate in the U.S., where some have said that y ou either stand against the oil sands or you write off the environment. My questions are to the Premier.

Can you explain the importance of being again in Washington to tell Alberta’s story and to advocate for market access? [interjections] Ms Redford: Well, Mr. Speaker, contrary to the opposition, we actually think this is an important issue. The reason it’s important is because we know there’s going to be an imminent decision made with respect to Keystone.

I have to say that whether it’s been our ministers on this side of the House, whether it’s been federal ministers, whether it’s been the Premier of Saskatchewan, although perhaps not the leader of the federal NDP, we have been there to advocate for what Canada and Alberta’s environmental record has been, what pipeline safety has meant, and why the importance of building those trade relationships to create and sustain a North American energy economy will matter. People are making decisions, and they’re listening to what we have to say. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Goudreau: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Given the broad range of influential congressmen and congresswomen and senators from both parties along with important state department officials that

April 11, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1773 the Premier met, can you tell us more about these meetings and the messages they may have had for you? What are you hearing? Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, one of the things that people in the United States are asking us right now is to make sure that we’re clear with respect to what our environmental record has been. You know, just this week there were confirmation hearings in Washington for a new Secretary of Energy, and some of the questions that were being asked were: “Are you going to put a price on carbon? Are you going to invest in carbon capture and storage?

Are you going to be able to invest in energy innovation?” Those are all programs that we have in Alberta that we are very proudly talking about to ensure that decision-makers understand what our record has been so that Keystone can be approved. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Goudreau: Thank you again, Mr. Speaker. My last question is also to the Premier.

Given that our federal Conservative colleagues have said that they, too, are working closely with the energy industry and with the provinces on greenhouse gas reduction and given that the federal Minister of the Environment said that he is on the same wavelength, going in the same direction as our government, can you explain why this collaboration is so important and critical to market access for our province? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. McQueen: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. What a great question that is.

It really is about the sector -by-sector work that the federal government and the provincial government are doing because market access is importan t for Alberta, it’s important for Canadians, and it’s important for all of us to be able to reach those markets and to be able to do our part as Canadians and Albertans to reduce our environmental GHG emissions. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Innisfail-S ylvan Lake, followed by St. Albert. Lacombe Hospital Phone Service Mrs. Towle: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Another indication today that the bureaucracy of Alberta Health Services is failing Albertans.

We’ve been told that the phone line between the emergency department and ambulance dispatch at the Lacombe hospital was disconnected. That meant ambulances could not talk to the emergency department, nor could emergency talk to ambulances. The reason? We’re told it’s because Alberta Health Services couldn’t pay the phone bill. Shocking. How can it be that Alberta Health Services gets $480 million in administration money, but it can’t pay the phone bills? Mr. Horne: Well, Mr.

Speaker, I’m not saying that the hon. member may or may not be correct, but I have no way to validate the payment of a phone bill in Lacombe. Mrs. Towle: I would suggest you make a call to the Lacombe hospital.

Given that we keep hearing that Alberta Health Services takes months and months to pay their bills, and this isn’t the first time this has come to our attention – unless, of course, it’s executive bonuses; they seem to be able to get that out in time – and given that this has a direct effect on the delivery of health services, like ambulances being able to talk to emergency, maybe the m inister could pick up the phone, call Lacombe hospital, talk to the health services staff there, and see if it actually happened. Mr. Horne: Mr.

Speaker, if the hon. member wants to spend her House time asking questions about accounts payable issues at the Lacombe hospital, that’s entirely up to her. I have no knowledge of the situation she’s talking about. Alberta Health Services is monitored by my department, and they’re audited by the Auditor General of Alberta. I’m sure that they have their accounts payable in hand. Mrs. Towle: I absolutely do feel the need to stand up for Albertans not receiving emergency care.

Given that I heard about this scary situation directly from a health care professional who works at the Lacombe hospital and who was there the day that it happened but is afraid to come forward because of repercussions and fear of firing – yet we have whistle-blower legislation that’s supposed to protect them – I’m just wondering if you can help me understand why health professionals today continue to fear your ministry, your Alberta Health Services, and are terrified to come forward. Help me understand. Mr. Horne: Mr.

Speaker, what the hon. member needs to understand is that you don’t take an unsubstantiated allegation around an unpaid phone bill and turn it into a generalization about fear and trepidation on behalf of the employees. Alberta Health Services and this department, overs eeing Alberta Health Services, are very proud of the employee concerns process that is available to all employees, whether they are health professionals or support staff in the organization. The answer is for the hon. member to learn about the process, understand it, and explain it to her constituents. The Speaker: The hon. Member for St.

Albert, followed by Edmonton-Centre. Hearing Tests for Newborns Mr. Khan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hearing impairment or loss is one of the most common anomalies found in newborns. It can lead to developmental delays in speech, language, cognition, and learning. Early identification and intervention can minimize these effects. Making hearing tests for newborns universal can make a profound difference in the lives of so many Alberta families. My question is to a very busy gentleman today, the Minister of Health. Will Alberta Health Services be providing universal newborn hearing screening tests? Mr. Horne: Mr.

Speaker, the answer is yes. A big part of the reason we can do that is because of the efforts of people such as the Oishi family, who were introduced by my colleague earlier today. This is a relatively small program in terms of dollar costs, but it is going to have a huge impact on the quality of life for newborn Albertans for generations to come. We’re very proud of this. It’s an important program. It goes to health care, but it goes to early childhood development and education. It’s the right thing. Mr.

Khan: To the same minister – and thank you, Minister – given the size of our health care system and the necessity of thoughtfully rolling out the new technology and programs, when can Alberta families expect their babies to un dergo newborn hearing tests across this entire province? Mr. Horne: Mr. Speaker, we will be implementing the program in a phased approach. The first focus will be on newborns in neonatal intensive care units across the province. Over time it will be expanded to include all newborn babies. Today two hospitals,

1774 Alberta Hansard April 11, 2013 one in Grande Prairie and one in Medicine Hat, offer newborn screening services. We’re going to build on that success and, as I said, extend it province-wide. The Speaker: The hon. member. 2:20 Mr. Khan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that programs like universal newborn hearing screeni ng have a cost, can you tell us what outcomes we can expect to improve by implementing this new service, whether for newbor ns and their families or for taxpayers? That question again is for the Minister of Health. Mr. Horne: Well, Mr.

Speaker, in the scheme of the budget for health care in this province, over $17 billion, the $8 million that it’s going to cost to provide this program is a relatively small amount. The impact, we think, will be huge. I think that for many parents who have children with hearing impairment, the opportunity to have that identified early is going to mean a great deal. I think the impact on qualit y of life, personal success is something that we are going to have to wait decades to see the benefits of, but it is one of those things that will make a huge difference.

It’s an investment today in future generations of Albertans, and we’re very proud to respond to the advocacy of people such as the Oishi family. Municipal Assessment and Taxation Ms Blakeman: Mr. Speaker, Alberta citi es and towns get 2 per cent of the CLEA or industrial revenues, but the counties and MDs get over 98 per cent. The MD of Bonnyville and the county of St. Paul: 50 per cent of the people, 98 per cent of industrial revenues. Ditto in the southern Alberta county of Newell: under 30 per cent of the people but almost 98 per cent of the industrial revenues.

To the Minister of Municipal Affairs: why is this minister colluding to starve our cities and towns with crumbs while allowing MDs and counties to get not the whole pie but the whole bakery? Mr. Griffiths: Mr. Speaker, we work very hard to support every single one of the 349 municipalities and all of the 422 official and unofficial municipalities, communities in this province. It’s evidenced by the MGA review, by the MSI support, by all of the other programs that we have.

We ’re undertaking some extensive reviews, and we’ve committed that after the next municipal election we will be reviewing the roles and responsibilities and the revenue sources that we share because they’re all coming from the same taxpayer. Ms Blakeman: Okay. Thanks very much. Back to the same minister, then. I’ve given north examples and south examples. Can the minister explain why in central Alberta the MD of Wainwright rakes in $24.5 million, but the town of Wainwright and the villages of Edgerton, Chauvin, and Irma have to share a meagre $320,000? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr.

Griffiths: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That’s my constituency, and the community is actually pronounced ‘shawvin,’ not ‘showvin.’ Mr. Speaker, every single municipality has different sources of tax bases. Some have a very strong industrial base. Some use linear assessment. Some have an agricultural base. Some will rake in more money, and some will have less money. We’ve always encouraged municipalities to find regional solutions. But we are, as I already said, having a review about revenue sources and how we can make sure that all communities have the revenue they need to deliver services to Albertans.

Ms Blakeman: I am really interested to know why this government is willingly looking the other way while a large-scale rip-off is happening to municipal assessments, which affect 80 per cent of Albertans. Eighty per cent of us. Why are you looking the other way? Mr. Griffiths: One more time, Mr. Speaker. I announced that after the next election we will be doing a review. Right now we’re going over roles and responsibilities, and we’ll be talking about the revenue sources and what we can do to ensure that every community has the tools and resources available to make sure they serve Albertans.

We’re not looking the other way. We’re engaging municipalities to find solutions and are not planning, as the opposition probably would, to dictate a solution that doesn’t work for everybody. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder, followed by Airdrie. Michener Centre Closure Mr. Eggen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today marks one month since this PC government decided to evict 125 Albertans from Michener Centre. Yesterday the associate minister said that he would save $110,000 on the backs of these individuals.

The Premier of this province is forc ing the most vulnerable Albertans to pay for her broken promises. Th is is totally unacceptable. To the Associate Minister of Services for Persons with Disabilities: is providing the highest quality of care to Albertans with disabilities too much to ask of this PC government? Mr. Oberle: Why, thank you, for that question. No, it’s not too much to ask at all.

If the hon. member would prefer that I don’t implement the body of best practices in evidence and experience that have been developed in Al berta, across Canada, across North America for the care of those indivi duals, then he should say so in this House. Furthermore, if he’d prefer that I didn’t seize upon potential savings so that I can offer excell ent care to more individuals, h e should probably say that in this House as well, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Eggen: Well, that’s funny, Mr.

Speaker, because given that the closure of Michener forces these vulnerable Albertans to compete for family-based care and given that this PC government budget slashes funding by 45 per cent for everything from attending doctors’ appointments to skills training right now, how can this minister possibly defend his illogical decision to evict vulnerable Albertans from their homes at the exact same time that he slashes the very funding that would transition people out of Michener? Mr. Oberle: Well, it’s not funny, Mr. Speaker. I find nothing funny about that member’s approach at all.

As a matter of fact, he can contest, if he would like, the body of evidence that we’re working upon. Then to suggest that we’re going to throw people on the street and have them compete for spaces is ridiculous. It doesn’t deserve comment. Mr. Eggen: Mr. Speaker, given that local ATA Catholic teachers, the Red Deer public school division, the Red Deer city council, not to mention most Albertans st ate their opposition to the closure

April 11, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1775 of this Michener facility, will the minister admit that these cruel budget cuts on the backs of residents are going to leave vulnerable Albertans paying for this government’s never -ending list of broken promises? Mr. Oberle: What I will a dmit is that I’m very proud of the mandate of this department, the mandate the Premier has given me to ensure that persons with disabilities in our province can contribute, lead inclusive lives, and have their contributions valued and that we will provide the care, the housing, and the supports for them to do that.

We’re going to continue to do that, Mr. Speaker. We’re on the leading edge. That’s my mission, and that’s what I’m going to carry on with. Servants Anonymous Society of Calgary Mr. Anderson: Mr. Speaker, Servants Anonymous is a nonprofit organization in Calgary that helps women escape the dangerous world of prostitution. Over the last four years this group has operated SAFE house, which has helped 176 women flee from these terrible situations without their former pimps being able to locate them. It is the only safe house of its kind in the province for women over 16 and their children.

It saves lives and has the secondary benefit of saving taxpayers millions in health and policing costs. To the Mi nister of Justice or whoever can answer this. This group has had their funding for SAFE house eliminated. How can we justify this either financially or morally? Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, this member will not find any argument that any and all of those programs that deliver this kind of valuable service anywhere in Alberta, anywhere in Canada for that matter, are not invaluable.

There are a number of these programs where I know the minister had to make some very difficult decisions, but all decisions that have been made were always with one goal in mind, to make sure that services exist but are delivered otherwise. So I can assure this member that as important as it is – and we ’ll share in that – these women and victims of these crimes will not be left without any support. They will be receiving services just as well but perhaps through different means. Mr. Anderson: That’s not what Servants Anonymous says. They say that these w omen will have nowhere else to go. Please look into it.

Minister, given that this safe house regularly saves the lives of women and children and only costs government $200,000 each year to run, can you not cut, say, the multimillion-dollar rooftop garden you are about to put on top of the Taj Mahal, that $350 million monstrosity that’s going up over there, or cut a fraction of the $750 million you plan on giving Shell Canada for CCS? In other words, will you start putting the needs of abused and exploited women and children in front of new MLA offices and corporate welfare? Mr. Lukaszuk: Well, Mr.

Speaker, unfortunately, this is where that member and I have to part ways and not because we disagree that those services are important. But politicizing issues a nd cherry-picking an issue of the day against some building – well, they have already funded all of health care, all of my ministry and everybody else’s ministry on the back of that one particular building. You can’t do that. The only difference between government and opposition is that we have to make very difficult decisions that often keep us awake at night. We have to make those decisions.

They can cherry -pick programs and tug at emotional strings and never be responsible for what they say. 2:30 Mr. Anderson: The decisions that are made affect lives, and bad decisions affect lives in bad ways. You should know that.

Given the ministry that cut this $200,000 safe house for endangered women and children is the same ministry that just finished throwing away over $69 million on a new communica - tions system that has just been entirely turfed and also burned up tens of millions in a police college that will never be built, Minister, can you understand why so many Albertans are upset with this PC government’s cut to front-line services when so much waste, bureaucracy, and corporate welfare continues to slurp up Albertans’ hard-earned tax dollars? Mr. Lukaszuk: Well, Mr. Speaker, very disappointing rhetoric.

These members have the option of going through every budget every day, and they have been complaining about my budget in advanced education, yet yesterday all they found that I should cut in my budget was one communications staffer from of my office. So this rhetoric for public display doesn’t quite add up with their numbers, with the budget, and with what they actually find within budgets that should be eliminated. Mental Health Capacity Building Initiative Mr. Dorward: Mr.

Speaker, yesterday I was pleased to stand with my colleagues on both sides of the House against bullying and discrimination of any kind anywhere on International Day of Pink. There was a mental health capacity building initiative pilot started in 2006 -2007 across 53 communities and 153 schools. The purpose of the initiative is to establish p rojects that will provide the staffing and support required to implement an integrated school-based community mental health promotion, prevention, and early intervention program. To the Health minister: what outcomes has your ministry seen from this pilot project? Mr.

Horne: Well, Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question. The mental health capacity building initiative is alive and well in Alberta. We have completed an external evaluation, and we’re seeing some very positive results. Most importantly, we are connecting mental health and wellness capacity in our schools with the capacity that exists in the community. The review found that as a result of the initiative we’re seeing improved resiliency and coping skills in children and youth and that, most importantly, people are talking about mental health issues. Mr. Dorward: Mr.

Speaker, will the government be working on the sustainability of this initiative going forward? Mr. Horne: Mr. Speaker, we certainly will, and we’re continuing to provide the necessary funding. The review, as a matter of fact, found that 93 per cent of school administrators reported that they have observed healthier behaviour in students, including better family relations and an increase in prosocial behaviour among students. More than 90 per cent of the youth reported that the program staff assisted them in their ability to cope with problems, so it’s a very successful program.

We will continue to support it and do our best to expand it. Mr. Dorward: Can you discuss how you measure the success of the program in more detail? Mr. Horne: Well, Mr. Speaker, there are performance indicators, and in my last answer I mentioned a couple of the results that we have seen. Obviously, continuing to provide the $60 million for the program is going to be important. We’ve continued to do that

1776 Alberta Hansard April 11, 2013 since 2005. Also, the ability to tailor the programs to the specific communities and schools they serve to provide services like mentoring, counselling, parent supports, and addiction counselling is critical. Most importantly, we will continue to support the work of the initiative in normalizing the discourse around mental health and addictions issues in our society. If 13-year -olds can talk about it, the rest of us can as well. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary -Shaw, followed by Bonnyville-Cold Lake. Accountability of Government MLAs Mr. Wilson: Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. On Wednesday hundreds of family members, residents, and caregivers rallied in Red Deer, telling this government to save the homes at the Michener Centre. Residents are rightly confused about why this government would want to scrap this facility while opposition MLAs, Red Deer city council, and public schools are all urging the government to keep Michener open. Many folks from Red Deer are wondering where their representation is and why their two MLAs aren’t publicly protesting this decision.

Has the government imposed a gag order on its own MLAs, preventing them from speaking out and representing the views of their constituents? The Speaker: To whom were you addressing the question? Oh, the associate minister. Thank you. Mr. Oberle: I’m not sure that question is to anybody, Mr. Speaker. It’s a ridiculous question.

I don’t know if he was listening to the question from the member of the fourth party over there, but, you know, if that member would have it so that I don’t move to implement best practices and research and some fine work that’s been done in Alberta and across Canada and North America, he should also say that on the record. If he doesn’t think that we should move to implement savings so that we can give more care to more individuals in our province, he should also say that on the record. If he had been at the meetings, he would have noticed at least that the hon.

Member for Red Deer-North was at the meeting while the hon. Member for Red Deer-South I believe was in Washington. Mr. Wilson: This is not the first time PC MLAs have been quiet on decisions that harm their constituents. Given that this government raised education taxes for communities across Alberta, including a 47 per cent increase in Wood Buffalo and double -digit hikes in Banff-Cochrane yet local PC MLAs were silent on another broken promise made by this government not to raise taxes, to the Associate Minister of AT and T: is muzzling government MLAs a part of your vision of transformational change? Mr.

Bhullar: Mr. Speaker, I find it very amusing that the party that had the thousand- dollar good-conduct bonds or the thousand- dollar bozo eruption prevention fund is talking about muzzling MLAs. On this side of the House we have MLAs that are strong representatives of their constituencies. They have one standard for all people of Alberta. The Speaker: A point of order has been noted from Lac La Biche-St. Paul -Two Hills – I’m sure all of us can imagine what it’s about – at 2:37 p.m. Let us carry on. Calgary-Shaw, you have a final question. Mr. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Given that many PC MLAs seem unable or unwilling to speak out when their constituents are directly impacted by this government’s decision -making, will the minister at the very least commit to adopting the Wildrose policy of voter recall so that MLAs who break their promises after elections stay accountable to their real bosses, Alberta voters? Mr. Oberle: Mr.

Speaker, the good members from Red Deer have been advocating on behalf of their constituents at the community level, at the municipal level, and through many years of good service in the Legislature while that MLA was still in Pull-Ups, and they’re going to continue to do that. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Bonnyville -Cold Lake , followed by Cardston-Taber-Warner. School Transportation Funding Mrs. Leskiw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a rural MLA one of the main issues for my constituents is the cost and hassle of transporting their kids to school on the bus.

It can be expensive, and often kids have to stay on the bus for over an hour each way as school jurisdictions are not working together to develop joint transportation strategies to maximize efficiencies. My question is to the Minister of Education. Has there been a reduction in funding allocated to school jurisdictions to provide transportation for their students? Mr. J. Johnson: Mr. Speaker, it’s true that we are holding the line on transportation funding.

There was one small envelope of transportation funding, the fuel price contingency program, that wasn’t scheduled to continue past April 1, and because of the fiscal climate we’re in, we can’t continue that one. But we still have $272 million of transportation funding. It’s a slight decrease. It’s a 5.8 per cent decrease. The funding is just one aspect. The member is right. If we want to decrease ride times and make transportation more efficient, one of the ways is to make sure the school boards a re co-operating and looking at all of the strategies they can to make those ride times shorter. Mrs.

Leskiw: My next question: why aren’t school jurisdictions required to work together to ensure that kids are being transported in the most efficient way? Mr. J. Johnson: Mr. Speaker, we flow the transportation dollars through to school boards and allow them to be – well, they are in the best position to make decisions that make sense for their local communities. We do expect and we do encourage them to co - operate, and we have many boards that are co -operating. As a matter of fact, 32 of our 62 boards are co -operating.

We put an element in the new Education Act allowing the minister to direct boards to co-operate on transportation. Mrs. Leskiw: My final question: what will you be doing to encourage school boards to work together so that the funds that they save can be redirected to students and classrooms, where they belong? 2:40 Mr. J. Johnson: Mr.

Speaker, we do think there’s the opportunity to save about 2 and a half million dollars in rural Alberta by transportation co-operation and another $2 million in urban centres, and we’re very encouraged by some of the most recent announcements from Edmonton public and Edmonton Catholic about doing a study on transportation co- operation. So we’re encouraging them. We’re looking at incentives. We’ve got some incentives in place, and like I said, we’ve got the new element in the Education Act that will give us the ultimate ability to step in and give them more direction.

But the regulatory review is coming up as well, and that’ll be a great place for Albertans to have that discussion.

April 11, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1777 head: Statements by the Speaker Decorum Mr. Speaker’s MLA for a Day Program The Speaker: Hon. members, in a moment the Clerk will call for Members’ Statements, but before that and while I have your attention and a few things are fresh, I want to take a couple of minutes to just address a number of notes that I’ve received, and they’ve come fr om both sides of the House. It’s with regard to interruptions, interjections, disturbances, distractions. You name it; we’ve had a little bit of it from all standpoints today.

On the one hand, I have some government members who are asking that the opposit ion members stop interrupting answers when they are being given. On the other hand, I have members in the opposition asking government members to stop interrupting them when they’re asking their questions and so on. There were a number of examples of this going both ways. When the hon. Member for Strathmore-Brooks asked his question, we had members of the government try to answer the question, and we had disruptions over here from the opposition members. They didn’t like the answer, perhaps.

We have the s ame thing going on over there. We had questions from Dunvegan-Central Peace-Notley. We had questions from St. Albert being asked. The Premier started to answer the question, and in the middle of it all the government side started pounding away because they liked the answer. It’s a form of disruption either way. The Speaker is often called to adjudicate in moments like that, but you can’t have it both ways, hon. members. Either you’re going to sit there and interrupt each other all the time or you’re not.

W hether it’s pounding and applauding somebody for a great answer or heckling them for an answer that you don’t like, it’s still a disruption, and it still leads to some form of disorder. What it really does, which really irks me, is that it prevents one or two other members from asking their questions because we’ve taken up the time with the disruptions. So could we please remember that and particularly remember it on Thursdays, when we’re all so anxious to get home to our constituents?

You know, we sit her e and we listen to allegations being levelled against each other, against government members, against opposition members, the government’s policy, the opposition’s policy, and so on instead of getting on with the real debate, and that’s to hold the government accountable by all members, private members on both sides of the House. You can’t stand there and accuse members and accuse ministers and accuse government or, for that matter, accuse opposition members of certain allegations and not expect some kind of a response from them.

If it’s your purpose to come in here and evoke those kind of responses, then there’s no point in me trying to enforce any rules around it regarding decorum, which we’ve talked about at length, regarding civility of debate or respect or whatever else you want to call it. So please take that home over the weekend and study it because we have an opportunity here to help future MLAs, and I’m going to ask for your help in this regard. The Legislative Assembly is again hosting Mr. Speak er’s MLA for a Day, which many of you should now be familiar with. That is going to occur on Monday and Tuesday, May 6 and 7.

It’s a great opportunity for 87 high school students, one from each of your constituencies, from all across the province to come i nto this Assembly and into the Annex and learn more about what we do. We want them to gain this better understanding of our parliamentary democracy and how it works. We want them to meet you as their MLA, to meet other MLAs, and we want them to become real ly good citizens in the process. Your student, if you’re able to help identify one, will come here and even participate in a debate right in this Chamber.

Please let your high school students know about this because we have to get on with the program as quickly as possible. It is sponsored by the Royal Canadian Legion, and there is no cost to the students whatsoever – none – and visitor services does all of the arranging. Now, the deadline for MLA for a Day was supposed to be this coming Monday, but we hav e very few students identified by you so far. In fact, it’s such a low number, I won’t even quote it.

So I would ask you to please over this weekend try and connect with some high school teachers in your area, some high school students that you know in your communities and to encourage them to take up this opportunity. I will be extending the deadline officially to Friday, April 19, so that we can get more students into this very important program. I would hate for us to lose it. Your constituency assistants have all of the information. Just remind them. When you finish here, send them a quick e -mail and see if we can get on with it.

MLA for a Day really needs your help, and we’d appreciate any that you can give us. In 30 seconds we’ll call for the Clerk to announce Members’ Statements. head: Members’ Statements (continued) Taxation Policy Mr. Hehr: I’m dedicating this to the province of Saskatchewan, home of Brad Wall, the darling of conservative politics and Canada’s most popular Premier, home of budget s urpluses, and the province that now has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada.

This must be befuddling to members of the PCs and their estranged cousins, the Wildrose, who despite all evidence to the contrary seem to hold steadfastly to the belief that our fiscal structure or, if that is too cryptic, our tax code is what drives our economy. In coming to this conclusion, both of these parties seem to forget that our province is located on 25 per cent of the world’s proven oil resources. Let’s look closer at our neighbour. Saskatchewan is the second lowest taxed jurisdiction in Canada. Saskatchewan: home to a PST. Saskatchewan: home to progressive income taxes.

Saskatchewan: home to higher corporate tax rates. In fact, if Alberta adopted Saskatchewan’s tax code, this province would bring in an additional $11 billion a year. With that revenue, we could have full -day kindergarten. There would be no cuts to universities and colleges. The government could build the 50 new schools and 140 family care clinics they promised. Alberta could also avoid going into debt some $17 billion, and we could grow our heritage savings trust fund. Saskatchewan proves that a reasonable tax structure does not lead to business leaving the province or unemployment sky - rocketing.

Inste ad, the Saskatchewan tax code has not only allowed for a budget surplus, but it’s allowed them to grow their economy and have the ability to do what is necessary to ensure a civil society. Mr. Speaker, it’s time for both the PCs and their estranged cousins, the Wildrose, to get real regarding this issue. As Saskatchewan shows, there’s no need to be the lowest tax jurisdiction by a country mile to have economic and social success. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Fort McMurray -Wood Buffalo, followed by Calgary-Currie.

1778 Alberta Hansard April 11, 2013 Market Access for Energy Resources Mr. Allen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier’s mission to Washington along with the hon. Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development and the hon. Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations earlier this week exemplified our government’s unwavering commitment to broadening access to international markets for Alberta’s energy resources.

The citizens of our province entrusted us to be leaders and responsible stewards of our most valuable natural resources, and the Premier’s mission further solidifies this position by delivering our message to officials on both sides of the Keystone debate. The approval of the Keystone pipeline would not only strengthen our strong, long -standing bond with our southern ally, further bolstering Alberta’s ro le as a responsible supplier of energy to America, but it would also lead to economic benefits for both Canada and the U.S., something the opposition is quick to conveniently ignore.

It’s easy for members across the aisle to blindly critique and politicize every single policy decision that this government makes, but baseless musings bereft of any substance do not benefit Albertans or help to establish a responsible Canada - U.S. energy partnership, one guided by our government’s strong environmental track record on both sides of the border.

While the opposition promises to cut Alberta jobs and establish backward-looking socioeconomic provincial firewalls, our Premier, Alberta’s Premier, is busy debunking myths and highlighting our position to Washington’s dec ision-makers and concerned citizens alike. The last time I checked, revenue generated from irresponsible opposition smear campaigns and get - out-of-jail cards currently total zero, did not add to Alberta’s environmental track record or future, and did not o pen inter - national markets, especially since the opposition is so adamantly against our forward-thinking environmental policies.

Good economic leadership is derived through the fostering of strong international bonds, and I am proud of our Premier for bringing Alberta’s message to our American friends. Thank you. The Speaker: Hon. members, I’ll comment on this again at a later time, but we don’t traditionally allow points of order during private members’ statements, and we’ll review that matter. The hon. Member for Calgary-Currie, followed by Cypress - Medicine Hat. 2:50 Calgary Meals on Wheels Ms Cusanelli: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to rise today to recognize an important nonprofit organization in Calgary, Meals on Wheels.

For 48 years Calgary Meals on Wheels has given Calgarians in need healthy meals regardless of age or circumstance. Some clients include schoolchildren, the working homeless, single parents, seniors, and veterans. When Calgary Meals on Wheels first opened its doors, it had eight clients and operated from a church basement. Today the picture is very different. In 2012 alone they de livered over 371,000 meals. Demand for their services grows every day. Meals on Wheels will be moving into a brand new production facility in June equipped with 16,000 square feet of kitchen.

Meals on Wheels will be able to produce over 5,000 meals daily i n this new facility. As you can imagine, any nonprofit organization that serves as many clients as Meals on Wheels does requires a great deal of volunteers. Each day 60 volunteers are needed to make home meal deliveries. I have the honour to be one of those who delivers meals within my constituency of Calgary-Currie. Meals on Wheels gives me the opportunity to listen and to be present for those in need. I once delivered a meal to a soft -spoken woman in my constituency who seemed particularly quiet one afternoon.

When I asked her how she was, she had just learned that morning that her son had passed on suddenly. I could tell she was alone and in shock over the news. We simply listened to her, let her cry, and promised to follow up and see how she was doing. In that moment she needed someone to be present, and the Meals on Wheels driver and I were there to care. Mr. Speaker, this is why I ran to be an MLA. I served families as an educator for almost 20 years by caring and listening. The truth is that sometim es we don’t know the strength of the simple things we do as politicians.

I thank Meals on Wheels for being the conduit, the hand that has helped me do what matters for Albertans and for my families that I feel so privileged to serve in Calgary-Currie. Prescription Drug Coverage Mr. Barnes: This government’s negligence in health care has caused ongoing grief for doctors, patients, and pharmacists. To complicate matters, the government now is attempting to create a smokescreen, hoping to distract Albertans f rom the real impact that recent government changes will have on Alberta pharmacies.

Yesterday in another attempt to change the channel, the government issued a press release promoting numerous myths about the situation facing pharmacists. The Alberta Phar macists’ Association was quick to issue a response to this out -of-touch government. For instance, the government’s release reannounced $10.6 million in funding through the remote access grant, Mr. Speaker, but the money was already committed to in past announcements. Surely this government can do better than rehashing old announcements to try to distract Albertans from the facts.

The government says that a $1 per prescription transaction fee will help, but the facts state otherwise. Pharmacists have repeatedly said that $1 is insufficient, but this government has refused to listen. This government also makes the claim that the reduction of generic drug prices won’t hurt pharmacies. However, the set prices will result in a $600,000 hit to every pharmacy’s revenue line. That’s a tough hit for anybody to take, Mr. Speaker.

What it comes down to is this: these types of Soviet-style price controls will actually drive up the out- of-pocket cost of medicine and result in shortages across the province. That means fe wer Albertans getting access to the medicines they need to stay healthy. This type of government -knows-best approach is ridiculous bureaucratic overreach of the highest order. Mr. Speaker, this has gone on long enough. It’s time for this government to admit it was wrong, backtrack on these backwards and regressive policies, and preserve pharmacy services for all Albertans. Get Outdoors Weekend Ms Pastoor: Mr.

Speaker, Alberta has some of the most beautiful outdoor places in the world. Following a winter hibernation in our homes we Albertans are ready to get out and enjoy the outdoors, and that’s exactly what the Alberta Get Outdoors Weekend is all about. The second annual Alberta Get Outdoors, or GO, Weekend takes place this year from April 12 to 14. GO Weekend encourages Albertans of all ages and abilities to get out and enjoy their favourite activities or, in fact, try some new ones. We know the benefits of being active and that even small

April 11, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1779 amounts of activity help us to be healthier and happier. GO Weekend is for individuals to get fresh air and be active. It’s an opportunity for entire communities to have fun together. For this year’s GO Weekend our partners at the Be Fit for Life network are hosting free public events in nine communities across this province. The website getoutdoorsalberta.ca has more information about these events as well as ideas on getting out and how to be active.

The Associate Minister of Wellness will be involved in many events over this weekend, and I’m looking forward to being a part of the Get Outdoors events that are happening in Lethbridge on April 13. We have a day of games, yoga, road bicycle races, and other healthy outdoor activities. I encourage all Albertans to be a part of the excitement during Alberta Get Outdoors We ekend. Where is the event in your area? Visit healthyalberta.com, and you’ll find out. For now, you GO: get outside, Alberta. head: Notices of Motions The Speaker: The hon. Deputy Government House Leader. Mr. Campbell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise pursuant to Standing Order 34(3) to advise the House that on Monday, April 15, 2013, written questions 28, 29, 31, and 33 will be accepted, and written questions 30 and 32 will be dealt with. head: Introduction of Bills The Speaker: The hon. Member for Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock. Bill 17 Municipal Government Amendment Act, 2013 Ms Kubinec: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to introduce Bill 17, which amends the Municipal Government Act, the MGA, to implement the municipal sustainability strategy.

The MSS, the municipal sustainability strategy, was developed by a working group composed of representatives from the key municipal stakeholder groups such as AUMA, AAMDC, et cetera, and has received strong stakeholder support. These changes will result in a more proactive approach to identifying challenges, more community engagement and involvement in the long -term future of Alberta’s municipalities, and more sustainable communities for our residents. I look forward to discussing this bill as it moves forward.

Thank you. [Motion carried; Bill 17 read a first time] The Speaker: I just want to congratulate and thank the member for that first reading, which was less than one minute. That’s very much in keeping with the trad ition of this House. The reason I know that is because I once violated that rule significantly. So I thank you very much for setting a good example for the rest of us, who at some point may make first readings. The hon. Deputy Government House Leader. Mr. Campbell: Yes, Mr. Speaker.

I move that Bill 17, the Munic - ipal Government Amendment Act, 2013, be moved onto the Order Paper under Government Bills and Orders. [Motion carried] head: Tabling Returns and Reports The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Meadowlark or someone on behalf of. Ms Blakeman: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of my colleague the leader of the third party and the MLA for Edmonton-Meadowlark I have two tablings that he referred to in his questions today. The first i s copies of the report from the Congressional Research Service on Taxes and the Economy: An Economic Analysis of the Top Tax Rates Since 1945.

This was released in September of 2012. The second is the labour force survey from March 2013. It shows that our employment is above the level of 12 months earlier. Thank you. May I continue with my own? 3:00 The Speaker: Just before you do, hon. member, I notice that it is 3 o’clock and that the Deputy Government House Leader wishes to pose a question. Mr. Campbell: Yes, Mr. Speaker. I’d ask that we ask for unanimous consent to delay Standing Order 7(7). The Speaker: Hon. members, the Routine is not quite concluded, and the Deputy Government House Leader has asked that we be allowed time to complete that.

It requir es unanimous consent. Does anyone object to giving that unanimous consent? Please say so now. [Unanimous consent granted] The Speaker: Hearing no objection, hon. Member for Edmonton- Centre, please proceed. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to continue with the tablings that are from people that have communicated with me, generally constituents from the fabulous constituency of Edmonton-Centre . The first one is from Anneta Alexandrovich around the funding of fertility treatments for Albertans.

She strongly supports the inclusion of financial assistance and raises the issue of Albertans who are financially unable to pursue this and how difficult it is. She believes it should be covered by the public purse. The second tabling is from Peter Koziarz. He is a diagnostic radiologist working in Edmonton. He’s very disappointed with the government’s position and what he feels are heavy -handed negotiation tactics with the physicians. He raises a number of other points, a very strong letter.

Next is an e-mail from Alim Nagji, who is working as a medical resident for Alberta Health Services, also not keen on the government’s approach to negotiating with the doctors. He thinks it’s going to have an effect down the line on being able to recruit prospective new physicians. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Thank you. No other tablings, Edmonton-Centre , on behalf of any other colleagues? All done? Hon. Member for Strathmore-Brooks, you had a tabling. Mr. Hale: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to table the recommended number of copies of the memorandum I quoted from during my question to the hon. Health minister regarding the communication protocol for Alberta Health Services and the closure of the seniors’ care centre. The Speaker: Hon. Member for Little Bow, you had a tabling, followed by Edmonton-Calder. Mr. Donovan: Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two things to table today with the requisite copies. One is to Minister Horne,

1780 Alberta Hansard April 11, 2013 the Health minister, from a doctor in Alberta about the cuts. I’ll be tabling that. The other tabling is from a constituent of mine, Dorothy Seiller from Nobleford, who is not very happy with the health care system, especially when she went in in Lethbridge. The Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. Please be reminded that we don’t mention names of our hon. members. Hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder , did you have a tabling as well? Mr. Eggen: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks for coming back to me. I have two tablings he re.

One, 50 or more copies of some of the e-mail submissions that we’ve been getting, is talking about the Michener Centre and people who would wish to keep the Michener Centre open. The second tabling is the appropriate number of copies of some samples f rom the people that we met and received submissions from on our budget tour, that we did back in February, people saying things such as that they would like to see the government reduce their wasting of scarce resources on propaganda-style advertising and another one about health care as well. I would like to submit those, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

The Speaker: Thank you. Are there any others or anyone on behalf of anyone else? Lacombe-Ponoka. Mr. Fox: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have five letters here out of the litany of letters that I’ve received on the pharmacare issue here in the province that I would like to table. The Speaker: Thank you. Thank you for demonstrating a tidy way of doing a tabling. Congratulations. Well done. Are there others? If not, then I have a tabling today.

Hon. members, I’m going to table something that I hope will catch your attention because I’m going to present here five copies of biographies with respect to our pages, who serve us so faithfully. Please take a moment to have a look at it. We have no tablings to the Clerk. Can we, then, proceed with the points of order? I think I have only one, and I think it’s from Lac La Biche-St. Paul -Two Hills. Please give us the citation and proceed. Point of Order Referring to Party Matters Mr. Saskiw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today under Standing Order 23(h), (i), and (j), and it’s with respect to a comment made by the Minister of Service Alberta. During the debate today it was very clear that he deliberately and purposely went out of his way to answer the question. The question wasn’t directed at him, but instead he decided to take the question and recite an answer that definitely did cause disruption in this Chamber. Mr. Speaker, it is very clear – and you have been very clear – that party matters that do not relate to policy or legislation cannot be discussed in this Legislature.

In fact, I recall even getting interrupted midway through a question I was asking on a specific party matter, and I wasn’t even able to finish the answer b ecause you made it very clear that if it’s a purely internal party matter that doesn’t relate to a policy or doesn’t relate to specific legislation or what the government is doing, it cannot be discussed in this Chamber. In this instance the Minister of S ervice Alberta referred to an internal party matter of the Wildrose Party.

It has no bearing whatsoever on government policy, on legislation, on, for example, ongoing investigations by our Chief Electoral Officer or any other officers of this Legislature. In this case, just to be clear, he was talking about bonds that our candidates have to put forward when they’re running for the Wildrose Party. These bonds are simply paid back, Mr. Speaker, and it’s just to ensure that the rules in the nomination are foll owed. The question that the hon.

Member for Calgary-Shaw was putting forward was simply whether or not backbench government MLAs have an opportunity to speak up and stand up for their constituents, and he was referring to the education property tax, he was referring to the medevac situation, and he was referring to the Michener case. I’ll be very brief here. The Minister of Service Alberta knows the rules. He very deliberately and purposely answered the question. It specifically related to a purely internal party matter, that you, Mr. Speaker, have been unequivocal on in the past.

I would ask that you absolutely and unequivocally admonish the Minister of Service Alberta for this comment. The subsequent result if people continue to ignore your rulings: it wi ll just continue again and again and again from our side and their side. As this was an internal party matter deliberately and purposely put forward by the Minister of Service Alberta, I’d ask that you admonish this member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Are there others? The Deputy Government House Leader. Mr. Campbell: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t want to waste a lot of the House’s time but just a couple of points.

First of all, any minister of the Crown can get up and answer any questions asked in this House, whether it’s directed at him or not, and the fact t hat the Minister of Service Alberta got up to answer the question is neither here nor there. Also, Mr. Speaker, you’ve made it quite clear in this House – and you talked about it again today – that we seem to get a little rambunctious in here and that the jabs go back and forth.

Sometimes – I don’t know; maybe it’s Thursday afternoon – the opposition seems to be getting a little thin skinned when members of the government react to them on issues that have been raised. I mean, if you follow the arguments of the deputy House leader for the opposition, they wouldn’t be able to ask any questions in question period because they’re coming at the government on a number of different issues at all times. You know, Mr. Speaker, I feel that the answer from the Minister of Service Alberta was a public fact. It was well documented in the media. Mr. Wilson: So was the $430,000 donation. Mr.

Campbell: We’re not talking about that. [interjections] 3:10 The Speaker: Hon. members, please. The chair is up here. Thank you. Mr. Campbell: I appreciate that, Mr. Speaker. There’s a prime example of what I’m getting at. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to follow the rules that you’ve set. I want to see some decorum in this House, but the rules have to be both ways. The opposition has to be more careful in the questions they ask, and I would suggest that the government be more responsible in the answers they give. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

April 11, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1781 The Speaker: Edmonton-Centre, did you wish to chime in on this as well? I saw you rise. Ms Blakeman: You know, I can’t much beat that. I think we all need to be careful of how we’re addressing other caucuses’ party business. Thank you. The Speaker: Thank you, hon. members on both sides of the House. You know, this is a very interesting situation and an opport une time to make a couple of brief comments. The issue at hand here is with respect to an answer given by the Minister of Service Alberta in which he said, “Mr.

Speaker, I find it very amusing that the party that had one -thousand-dollar good-conduct bonds or the thousand-dollar bozo eruption prevention fund is talking about muzzling MLAs,” and he went on. Now, I listened very intently, in particular, to what the Member for Lac La Biche-St. Paul -Two Hills said in his comments. He’s absolutely right, hon. members. We can’t come into this Assembly and raise party matters.

I have mentioned this on numerous occasions, on several occasions in this House, wherein I’ve asked you to please remember certain rules that exist in Beauchesne’s and House of Commons Proced ure and Practice and elsewhere. I won’t go through them all. But it is explicitly against the rules to raise matters that pertain to party policies or party fundraising or party donations or party finances of whatever kind. In fact, in this case the hon. M ember for Lac La Biche-St. Paul -Two Hills went on to say that this is a Wildrose internal party matter, or words to that effect, and it may well be the case.

By the same token, it is very much in order to ask questions of the government’s policy, of the g overnment’s budgeting, or the government’s procedures and practices. However, you can’t have it both ways again here, hon. members. On the one hand, I have a member of the opposition saying that we can’t raise questions to do with party matters pertaining to the Wildrose, and on the other hand we can’t have the Wildrose asking questions about the government’s party, which is the Progressive Conservatives, and their policies because that has no business in here either.

So neither one of them has any applicab ility here because it’s a party matter. I have been, as was stated, very unequivocal about this matter, and I will continue to be unequivocal about it. I have tried to be as consistent as possible in applying that rule, and I’m going to have to tighten it up a little bit more, I can see. I think the Deputy Government House Leader has commented that it is not unusual for us to get rambunctious particularly on Thursdays or when issues of a sensitive nature get raised.

Nothing is more sensitive than party mat ters, nothing is more political than party matters, and you ought not be bringing them in here. Such matters do not belong here for debate. Those are the rules. I’ll tell you something else that’s very interesting, and that is that there are rules about q uestions with respect to internal party matters or internal party fundraising. It’s on that point that I have mentioned several times that those kinds of questions will be ruled out of order.

What is very strange, however, is that I cannot find anywhere at my fingertips any rules about answers not referring to party matters. It would appear that questions to do with internal fundraising by parties and party matters are out of order, but answers may not be out of order. We’re going to look into this a little bit further.

In the meantime I’m going to ask that the government members who are answering questions please refrain from delving into party matters that pertain to any of the opposition parties or to their own party, for that matter, provided that we ca n get the same co-operation from opposition members. That would be, to me, a fair and balanced approach and one I would hope that you would take under advisement rather immediately because it is those kinds of issues that inflame this House more quickly than a match near a hot stove.

I would ask you to please keep that in mind, and I will admonish anyone who strays from that particular vein of thinking. My final comment is simply that these kinds of matters often require clarification. I think it’s been ad equately clarified. We’re going to move on on the understanding that I have just given. Thank you. head: Orders of the Day head: Government Motions Sitting Times during Main Estimates Debate 29. Mr. Hancock moved: A. On Monday afternoons during the period that the 2013- 14 main estimates stand referred to the legislative policy committees, the Assembly stands adjourned at 6 p.m.; B.

Notwithstanding Standing Order 59.03(4)(b), following completion of consideration of the main estimates by the legislative policy committees (

i) on April 22, 2013, or (ii) on such other date of which the Government House Leader has provided written notice to House leaders and tabled in the Assembly, the Assembly shall reconvene in Committee of Supply at 9:30 p.m., at which time the committees shall report, and voting on the main estimates shall proceed. [Debate adjourned March 21: Mr. Fox speaking] The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Government Motion 29 is essentially the set-up motion around the timing of the estimates debate, estimates being budgets.

This is the one that sets it up so that on Monday night there would be two budget debates running concurrently, which, of course, is very difficult for the opposition members because when there are fewer in the opposition than the number of ministries, obviously, people end up being critic for more than one portfolio. With the third and the fourth parties currently with five and four members, obviously, each member is handling three or four different ministries, so the chances that you’re double-booked are pretty high.

My sympathy goes out to the legislative support individual, House leaders’ services, who has to try and organize the

schedule and make sure that we’re not double-booked. What it does end up doing – I, for example, have spoken many times about the number of seniors that I have in my constituency. I’d like to be able to go into the Human Services debates, where that’s being debated, both to ask some questi ons but also to hear what the current issues are and how the government is dealing with them, and I just can’t do that when I’m in one of the other five portfolios that I’m doing. Then I end up having to raise the issues during second reading and Committee of the Whole and third reading of the appropriation bill for the budget.

It’s okay to do it there, but I don’t get any feedback from the government, so it’s me making statements on the record of where I have concerns about things. I’d like to be able to participate in those budget debates. So it’s not an optimum set-up for us.

1782 Alberta Hansard April 11, 2013 You know, Mr. Speaker, the one area where there is a parliamentary tradition of optimizing the opposition is around finances. Of all of the legislative committees that are all -party select special standing committees of the Assembly, in which every party has a certain number of seats, the one that is always chaired by an opposition member is Public Accounts, and that’s the one that reviews the government’s finances, their books; in other words, after the fact.

Once the books have come out, the opposition chairs that committee and has a significant number of the members on it to be able to scrutinize and hold the government accountable. So there is a parliamentary recognition of that, yet over my years here I have seen a steady erosion not in the ability of opposition members to robustly hold the government to account – they still do that – but the government does everything in its power to make it harder, to make it more difficult. 3:20 I mean, we’re now down to a half -hour dinner break. I know lots of people think: “Oh, suck it up, Princess.

Really, you’re going to be complaining about a half -hour supper break?” Well, yeah. It used to be two and a half hours, and now it’s a half -hour. So you’ve got people rushing from the House. And the break for the afternoon debates: same thing. We’re adjourning here a little after 3 o’clock, and the afternoon debates start at 3:30. So you’re bombing out of here, me with my arms full of stuff because I’m always carrying everything around, to get back, file your stuff, grab the stuff for the debate in the afternoon, and get up the stairs to the committee rooms in the Annex to actually start that debate.

It’s just not very dignified and not very efficient. Another part of what happened with this particular motion is that there were a number of changes that were – I’m not going to say negotiated, Mr. Speaker, because that would be a word that would not adequately describe the process that the House leaders went through. It was much more: this is what we’re going to do, and the rest of you are going to deal with it. Certainly, there are a couple of situations where the opposition House leaders feel very strongly that there was an agreement to carry on some of the debates in a certain way, and that has not happened.

That is leading to a great deal less desire to be totally co -operative in the House. Could I put it that way? Would you all understand the code that I was using if I said it that way? Hon. members opposite, you have to understand that everything you do affects what we do over here. If one of you raises a private party business as part of an answer, that sticks with people, and they are less likely to be willing to do a favour for the government like give unanimous consent to revert to the introduction of people or something. Why would they?

They’re not in a very good mood anymore, and they’re not feeling very friendly towards govern- ment members. That all starts to add up. You know, there are litt le things that are said. There’s the timing of things. A lot of that stuff all works together. We have a lot of new people elected in both the government and in the Official Opposition, and I hope government members are beginning to understand what that does to the willingness of people to co- operate in a friendly manner and how that starts to erode as we go on.

I think we would all agree that by the last day of the three weeks we had before the constituency break, we were ready to inflict bodily harm on e ach other, and that’s just not a good state to work in. One of the other things I want to talk about, that is a direct result of this government motion, is that budgets are now being exclusively debated in these legislative policy committees. I still often wonder if these aren’t make -work projects for the government members.

All of the ministries are divided into one of those three legislative policy committees, and now we have the appropriate department’s budget also going in front of these committees. Th e committees were humongous. They were 25 people. They’ve now been cut down to . . . The Speaker: Hon. member, we’re on Motion 29. Ms Blakeman: Yes. The Speaker: I believe you may have already spoken, but it was a delight listening to you again. Ms Blakeman: I was so entertaining. I got away with it, didn’t I? The Speaker: Well, it’s only because it’s your special day, hon. member. Ms Blakeman: I kind of knew I had.

I almost wrote and asked if I’d already spoken to it, but I’m glad I got the time I did. Tha nk you for being so kind. The Speaker: Yes. Thank you, hon. member. Are there others who wish to speak to Government Motion 29? The hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder. Mr. Eggen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps I can pick up where the hon. Member for Edmonton -Centre left off.

I guess we still have a couple more weeks of this system that we’re using for the estimates, and I have a couple of things that I wanted to bring forward in regard to perhaps a more efficient use of the time and interaction and the depth to which we can debate the estimates. The first thing that I was struck by – of course, I’m coming back after an absence – is that previously we debated the budget estimates here in the Legislature.

When we were doing that in the Legislature, I no ticed that there was distinctly more time and capacity by which we could interact with the ministers on the specific budget line items, and we had an opportunity as well, I think, to ask questions that could be pursued further at a later date through written questions and so forth. You know, with these budget estimates taking place in committee rooms, it just really feels as though we’re somehow squirreling away this important democratic process into smaller and smaller places, where the public is less able to view what’s actually going on.

Of course, number one, Mr. Speaker, there are no cameras in the budget committee rooms, so people are not able to watch the streams of the estimates like they can when things take place here in this Chamber. Quite frankl y, we have at our disposal this wonderful room. I think that there’s a certain level of gravity that lends itself to our budget estimates when we are in fact doing them here in the Chamber. If there are estimates that have a distinct or a special significa nce to the public, then, of course, we have the seating capacity here for several hundred people.

In a budget room we maybe can only put 20 or 30 people, if that, and quickly the air gets sucked right out of the room when they’re packed in there like that, and it becomes a less conducive atmosphere to have the kinds of debates that we need. We know that there are lots of postsecondary students that wanted to see the advanced education debate, for example, last night, and there just simply wasn’t the space or the capacity to deal with it. We have the whole system set up here with lots of seating and with the security set up here – it’s all wonderful – with mikes and cameras and so forth.

The symbolism of our moving from the Chamber here, to which we all have been elected, to these individual committee rooms: I just find that to be a little bit unacceptable.

April 11, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1783 Second of all, I noticed a distinct lack of continuity between the rules of the different chairs running the different ministries in the different committees when we were debating the budget estimates that I’ve participated in so far. There wasn’t the continuity. I didn’t know, when I went in, how the question cycle was going to unfold. Sometimes it was just a first-come, first -served kind of deal with a list, like we usually use in committees, and sometimes there was this rotation with PC, Wildrose, you know, NDP, Liberal. There was no rhyme or reason to it necessarily.

When we challenged that, sometimes some of the chairs got quite snippy about it, quit e frankly. Again, I found that to be a little bit less than conducive to proper debate. I think some continuity and some regularity around that, which can be negotiated in a civilized sort of way between the House leaders, would really help to make our estimates go a lot smoother. Finally, Mr.

Speaker, again, just jamming together all of these estimates in such a concentrated way really makes it difficult for us to be in our top form to make sure that we cover each of the debates or each of the ministries in the best way possible. For example, the week before the break I had quite a lot of estimates. I had 15 hours of budget estimates scheduled to my time. You know, I’m a pretty hale and hearty guy – right? – as most people here know, probably able to deal with those things. It just seemed to be such an incredibly compressed and rushed sort of thing. It was not necessarily the best way to go forward.

As I would like to say again, Mr. Speaker, what goes around comes around. The government members here, what’s left of them after they lose an election and end up as a small minority, will have to deal with that same thing. I promise it will be with much more equanimity and graciousness, allowing a longer space of time so that the debates for budget estimates wil l not tax you in the same way that they did tax me over these last weeks. [interjections] Okay.

Well, you know, there are other voices, though, that I cannot necessarily control that might try to exact revenge and deliver the same sort of inhuman working c onditions for the estimates, so I can’t guarantee being able to do that in the future. 3:30 Anyway, my point, Mr.

Speaker, in three easy pieces, is that I think we should be debating the budget estimates here in the House, where we’ve been elected to do s o, that we should be spacing those debates in a much more equitable sort of way, and that we need to have the continuity and the uniformity of the rules that are allowing the chairs to run those debates so that we all know what to expect when we get there. Thank you very much. The Speaker: Are there others? Seeing none, the hon. Deputy Government House Leader to close debate. Mr. Campbell: I’d just call the question, Mr.

Speaker. [Government Motion 29 carried] Public Interest Commissioner Appointment 30. Mr. Campbell moved on behalf of Mr. Hancock:

Be it resolved that the Legislative Assembly concur in the report of the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices tabled in the Assembly on March 5, 2013, and appoint Mr. Peter Hourihan as Public Interest Com missioner for a term commencing on the coming into force of

section 38 of the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act and expiring October 16, 2016. The Speaker: Hon. members, this motion is debatable. Edmonton- Centre. Ms Blakeman: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. There are just a couple of things that have occurred to me as I studied this government motion. Aside from the fact that I think we’re asking any individual that now will hold the post of Public Interest Commissioner through the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistle - blower Protection) Act

section – we have given them an impossible task. I really feel that the government shepherded through

an act that doesn’t protect whistle-blowers, and I’m being very careful to tell people to not be depending on it to protect them if they do decide to step forward. In putting someone in place as the Public Interest Commissioner for this, we are asking him to take on an impossible task, and for that I thank him. Two other things occurred to me as I looked at this. One, there is a backdating of the appointment.

I don’t know if the current Ombudsman – yeah, that’s the position he has right now – who is this individual that will also take on the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act, was doing the work starting last October, but it’s interesting to me that it’s backdated. It makes it that it expires on October 16, 2016, a four -year term. I think that most of the terms that government appoints people for are three years or five ye