Manitoba Hansard — Sitting 41B (40th Legislature, 3rd Session)

40-3-41b

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Third Session - Fortieth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Daryl Reid Speaker Vol. LXVI No. 41B - 1:30 p.m., Thursday, April 10, 2014 ISSN 0542-5492

MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Fortieth Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALLAN, Nancy St. Vital NDP ALLUM, James, Hon. Fort Garry-Riverview NDP ALTEMEYER, Rob Wolseley NDP ASHTON, Steve, Hon. Thompson NDP BJORNSON, Peter, Hon. Gimli NDP BLADY, Sharon, Hon. Kirkfield Park NDP BRAUN, Erna, Hon. Rossmere NDP BRIESE, Stuart Agassiz PC CALDWELL, Drew Brandon East NDP CHIEF, Kevin, Hon. Point Douglas NDP CHOMIAK, Dave, Hon. Kildonan NDP CROTHERS, Deanne St.

James NDP CULLEN, Cliff Spruce Woods PC DEWAR, Gregory Selkirk NDP DRIEDGER, Myrna Charleswood PC EICHLER, Ralph Lakeside PC EWASKO, Wayne Lac du Bonnet PC FRIESEN, Cameron Morden-Winkler PC GAUDREAU, Dave St. Norbert NDP GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Liberal GOERTZEN, Kelvin Steinbach PC GRAYDON, Cliff Emerson PC HELWER, Reg Brandon West PC HOWARD, Jennifer, Hon. Fort Rouge NDP IRVIN-ROSS, Kerri, Hon. Fort Richmond NDP JHA, Bidhu Radisson NDP KOSTYSHYN, Ron, Hon. Swan River NDP LEMIEUX, Ron, Hon. Dawson Trail NDP MACKINTOSH, Gord, Hon. St. Johns NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Flor, Hon.

Logan NDP MARCELINO, Ted Tyndall Park NDP MARTIN, Shannon Morris PC MELNICK, Christine Riel Ind. MITCHELSON, Bonnie River East PC NEVAKSHONOFF, Tom Interlake NDP OSWALD, Theresa, Hon. Seine River NDP PALLISTER, Brian Fort Whyte PC PEDERSEN, Blaine Midland PC PETTERSEN, Clarence Flin Flon NDP PIWNIUK, Doyle Arthur-Virden PC REID, Daryl, Hon. Transcona NDP ROBINSON, Eric, Hon. Kewatinook NDP RONDEAU, Jim Assiniboia NDP ROWAT, Leanne Riding Mountain PC SARAN, Mohinder The Maples NDP SCHULER, Ron St. Paul PC SELBY, Erin, Hon. Southdale NDP SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St.

Boniface NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Verendrye PC STEFANSON, Heather Tuxedo PC STRUTHERS, Stan, Hon. Dauphin NDP SWAN, Andrew, Hon. Minto NDP WHITEHEAD, Frank The Pas NDP WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WIGHT, Melanie Burrows NDP WISHART, Ian Portage la Prairie PC

1809 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, April 10, 2014 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Mr. Speaker: Good afternoon, everyone. Please be seated. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Bill 49–The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Amendment Act Hon. Andrew Swan (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act): I move, seconded by the Minister of Health (Ms. Selby), that Bill 49, The Manitoba Public Insurance Cor poration Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la Société d'assurance publique du Manitoba, be now read a first time. Motion presented. Mr. Swan : Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Manitoba Public Insurance act in order to strengthen the personal injury protection plan, protect ratepayers against fraudulent claims and allows for the creation of a low -interest winter tire loan program. The pro- posed amendments will also expand coverage for catastrophically injured Manitobans, as well as increase death benefits for collision fatalities and extend coverage to temporary workers.

The legislation will allow Manitoba Public Insurance to continue to provide excellent service, strengthen road safety initiatives and keep Manitobans' car insurance rates the lowest in Canada. Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] Any further introduction of bills? Bill 206–The Cyberbullying Prevention Act Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): I move, seconded by the member from Steinbach, that Bill 206, The Cyberbullying Prevention Act;

Loi sur la prévention de la cyberintimidation, now be read for the first time. Motion presented. Mr. Ewasko: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to reintroduce Bill 206, The Cyberbullying Prevention Act. This act is a step in returning power to young people and others who have lost power as a result of cyberbullying. Under the legislation, those who are victims of cyberbullying would be able to obtain protection orders against those who are bullying them. Youth as young as 16 would be able to apply for this pro - tection without parental involvement.

It would also allow law enforcement officials to seize computers, cellphones and other instruments that are being used in the act of cyberbullying. The legislation also establishes a separate civil tort to allow damages to be awarded to an individual who suffers damages as a result of cyberbullying. It also places an onus on parents and those in care of minors to act when they are aware of a minor in their care is engaging in cyberbullying. This legislation brings together parental in - volvement, police ability and power for youth. It's a significant problem, cyberbullying is. It requires a significant response.

The NDP have failed to provide that response, so we have done so on behalf of all Manitobans and youth– Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Order, please. I understand the honourable member's interest in providing an explanation, but we're to be very brief when we provide that. There'll be plenty of time, I'm sure, in the House for a debate on the bill itself. So I thank the honourable member for the introduction. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] Any further introduction of bills? PETITIONS Mr. Speaker: Seeing none, we'll move on to petitions.

Provincial Sales Tax Increase– Cross-Border Shopping Mr. Cameron Friesen (Morden -Winkler): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. And the reasons for this petition are as follows:

(1) Manitoba has a thriving and competitive retail environment in communities near its borders,

1810 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 10, 2014 including Bowsman, Swan River, Minitonas, Benito, Russell, Binscarth, St -Lazare, Birtle, Elkhorn, Virden, Melita, Waskada, Boissevain, Deloraine, Cartwright, Pilot Mound, Crystal City, Manitou, Morden, Winkler, Plum Coulee, Altona, Gretna, Emerson, Morden–Morris, Killarney, Sprague, Vita, Reston, Pierson, Miniota, McAuley, St. Malo, Foxwarren, Roblin and many others.

(2) Both the Saskatchewan PST rate and the North Dakota retail sales tax are 5 per cent, and in Minnesota retail sales tax is 6 per cent.

(3) The retail sales tax is 40 per cent cheaper in North Dakota and Saskatchewan and 25 per cent cheaper in Minnesota as compared to Manitoba.

(4) The differential in tax rates creates a disincentive for Manitoba consumers to shop locally to purchase their goods and services. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To acknowledge that the increase in the PST significantly encourages cross -border shopping and puts additional strain on the retail sector, especially for those businesses located close to Manitoba's provincial borders. And (2) to urge the provincial government to reverse its PST increase to ensure Manitoba consumers can shop affordably in Manitoba and support local businesses. And this petition is signed by M. Friesen, S. Wiens, D. Harder and many other fine Manitobans. Mr. Speaker: In keeping with our rule 132(6), when petitions are read they're deemed to have been received by the House.

Provincial Sales Tax Increase– Reversal and Referendum Rights Mr. Cliff Graydon (Emerson): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. And this is the background to this petition.

(1) The Balanced Budget, Fiscal Management and Taxpayer Accountability Act is a law that guarantees Manitobans the right to vote in a referendum to either approve or reject increases to the PST and other taxes. Despite the fact that the right to vote is enshrined in this legislation, the pro vincial government hiked the PST to 8 per cent as of July 1, 2013. The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba has asked the courts to rule on whether or not the government broke the law failing to address the referendum require ment before imposing the PST increase on Manitoban families.

We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to reverse the PST increase.

(2) To urge the provincial government to restore the right of Manitobans to vote in a referendum on increases to the PST. And this petition has been signed by C. Kehler, M. Shellenberg, T. Nathren and many, many more fine Manitobans. Provincial Sales Tax Increase– Effects on Manitoba Economy Mr. Blaine Pedersen (Midland): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to the petition is as follows:

(1) The Premier of Manitoba is on record calling the idea of a hike in the PST ridiculous.

(2) Economists calculate that the PST hike has cost the average family $437 more in taxes after only six months.

(3) Seventy -five per cent of all–of small businesses in Manitoba agree that the provincial taxes are discouraging them from growing their businesses.

(4) The Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association estimates that a 1 per cent increase in the PST will result in a loss of –to the economy of $42 million and threaten hundreds of jobs in that sector.

(5) Partly due to the PST, overall taxes on new investment in Manitoba recently stood at 26.3 per cent

whereas th e Alberta rate was 16.2 per cent and the Ontario rate was 17.9 per cent, according to the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. The–(6) t he Manitoba Chambers of Commerce are concerned that the PST hike will make an already uncompetitive tax framework even more unattractive to job creators in the province. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

April 10, 2014 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1811 To urge the provincial government to reverse the job-killing PST increase. To urge the provincial government to restore the right of Manitobans to reject or approve any increases to the PST through a referendum. And this petition is signed by M. Foster, C. Westphal, G. Simpson and many more fine Manitobans. Beausejour District Hospital– Weekend and Holiday Physician Availability Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. And these are the reasons for this petition:

(1) The Beausejour District Hospital is a 30 -bed, acute-care facility that serves the communities of Beausejour and Brokenhead.

(2) The hospital and the primary-care centre have had no doctor available on weekends and holidays for many months, jeopardizing the health and livelihoods of those in northeast region of the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority.

(3) During the 2011 election, the provincial government promised to provide every Manitoban with access to a family doctor by 2015.

(4) This promise is far from being realized, and Manitobans are witnessing many emergency rooms limiting services or closing temporarily, with the majority of these reductions taking place in rural Manitoba. * (13:40)

(5) According to the Health Council of Canada, only 25 per cent of doctors in Manitoba reported that their patients had access to care on evenings and weekends. We petition the Leg islative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government and the Minister of Health to ensure that the Beausejour District Hospital and primary -care centre have a primary-care physician available on weekends and holidays to better provide area residents with this essential service. This petition is signed by C. Holigroski, J. Lloyd, S. Fiola and many, many more fine Manitobans, Mr. Speaker.

Provincial Sales Tax Increase– Reversal and Referendum Rights Mr. Dennis Smook (La Verendrye) : I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. The background to the petition is as follows:

(1) The Balanced Budget, Fiscal Management and Taxpayer Accountability Act is a law that guarantees Manitobans the right to vote in a referendum to either approve or reject increases to the PST and other taxes.

(2) Despite the fact that the right to vote is enshrined in this legislation, the provincial government hiked the P ST to 8 per cent as of July 1st, 2013.

(3) The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba has asked the courts to rule on whether or not the government broke the law failing to address the referendum requirement before imposing the PST tax increase on Manitoba families. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the provincial government to reverse the PST increase.

(2) To urge the provincial government to restore the right of Manitobans to vote in a referendum on increases on the PST. This petition is signed by T. Ripcik, K. Yaschyshyn, K. Dubé and many more fine Manitobans. Mr. Speaker: Any further petitions? Seeing none, committee reports? Tabling of reports? Ministerial statements? Introduction of Guests Mr. Speaker: Prior to oral questions, I'd like to draw the attention of honourable members to the loge to my left where we have Mr. Marcel Laurendeau, who is a former member for St. Norbert. On behalf of all honourable members, we welcome you here this afternoon.

And also, seated in the public gallery we have with us today recipients of the 2013-2014 Celebration of Excellence in Teaching Awards, who are the guests of the honourable Minister of Education and Advanced Learning (Mr. Allum).

1812 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 10, 2014 On behalf of all honourable members, we welcome you here this afternoon. ORAL QUESTIONS Employment Rate Manitoba Numbers Mrs. Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo): Just a short time ago we were shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of former Finance minister Jim Flaherty, and we just wanted to, on behalf of all members of this House, pass on our sincere condolences to his friends and family on this tragic loss. Mr.

Speaker, I–there is a culture within this NDP government of playing fast and loose with the facts, and, in fact, just three days ago in this House, the Premier said, and I quote, "the number of people working in Manitoba is at a historic high," end quote. Yet the facts tell a very different story. In fact, according to the government's own report, the number of people working in Manitoba has declined 2,100 since February of this year. Why does the minister continue to mislead Manitobans when it comes to jobs in Manitoba? And will he apologize for misleading Manitobans again? Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Mr.

Spe aker, I do want to acknowledge the untimely passing of Minister Flaherty, former minister of Finance both at the federal level as well as at the provincial level in Ontario. I did have a relationship with Jim. I worked with him when he was minister of Finance in Ontario, and we worked around the table together. I also worked with him when he was minister of Finance at the federal level. I want to acknowledge that he pioneered a special plan to put resources aside for persons with disabilities in trust funds and savings funds.

He also moved on the working income tax benefit program in Manitoba to give more support for working families that needed extra income. And he also was very involved in addressing the income trust issue and preserving the tax base for the benefit of all Canadians. So it is very unfortunate that he passed. He provided a great public service, and I only wish he had more time with his family since his retirement so very recently. I'm going to suggest that we take a moment of silence for the passing of Minister Flaherty. Mr. Speaker: Is there leave of the House to observe a moment of silence? [Agreed] Please rise.

A moment of silence was observed. Mr. Speaker: Thank honourable members. The honourable First Minister, to conclude. Mr. Selinger: I thank the member for the question. Manitoba retains the third lowest unemployment rate in Canada. It has been consistently second or third since the recession started in 2008. Last year, whil e the rest of Canada lost manufacturing jobs, we saw a gain in manufacturing jobs in Manitoba. It went up 1.1 per cent while it went down 2.9 in the rest of Canada.

We have a solid program in front of us for jobs and economic growth going forward: 58,900 jobs over the next five years, a $6 -billion lift in the economy, very significant investment in infra - structure which will increase the productivity of the Manitoba economy, and every dollar we invest will generate $1.16 in benefits. So jobs and economy is very important, and we do want to retain and continue to expand the labour force in Manitoba. Mrs. Stefanson: Well, Mr. Speaker, it's nothing to celebrate when the unemployment rate in this province is up almost 12 per cent over last year. It's nothing to celebrate. Mr.

Speaker, the Premier said just three days ago in this House, and I quote, "the number of people working in Manitoba is at a historic high." Well, it's just false information. Not only have the numbers declined by 2,100 since Februar y, but they've also declined by almost 8,300 since last year. A decline since last year cannot mean that we are at a historic high. The Premier has misled Manitobans. Will he apologize for doing that today? Mr. Selinger: In 2013 we had more people in Manitoba working ever in the history of the province, and we continue to attract more people to Manitoba.

Our immigration story is very strong. We're attracting over 13,000 people to the province. We are exceeding –we are seeing expansion in job opportunitie s for Boeing, for New Flyer, for Canada Goose, for B ehlen Industries and Winpak,

April 10, 2014 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1813 and we have other announcements coming forward with other industries expanding or increasing their jobs in Manitoba. Good jobs are important. Good infrastructure jobs are important. Young people need opportunities in Manitoba. That's why we're strengthening our skills agenda. We're committing towards 75,000 more skilled workers in the province over the next eight years, and we're retooling all our apprenticeship credits to provide for that and, for the first time ever, providing an additional bonus for anybody that hires a new apprentice. Mrs. Stefanson: Mr.

Speaker, these are the Province's own numbers. In fact, they come from a document called –and an organization called the Manitoba Bureau of Statistics, the government's own numbers. This is not a right-wing think tank. Now, either the Premier doesn't know what his own numbers are in the province of Manitoba –and if that's the case he should just admit that today and take the meetin g–take the question as notice –or he's misleading Manitobans again. * (13:50) So will he admit that he put false information on the record in this House, and will he apologize to the Manitobans that he misled? Mr.

Selinger: As I said, in 2013 we had a historic number of people working in Manitoba. We have a historic number of people living in Manitoba, Mr. Speaker, and we continue to attract more people to live and work in Manitoba, and as we do that we will continue to grow our economy. Our skills agenda will skill up another 75,000 people. Our infrastructure agenda will lift the economy by $6 billion over the next five years. It'll provide 58,900 new jobs. Recently, New Flyer Industries signed a new contract with the Cit y of Atlanta to build 89 new buses. It is the largest bus manufacturer in North America.

We have very solid plans to continue to expand our economy for steady economic growth to continue to provide job opportunities for people. And, Mr. Speaker, I do appreciate the work the Manitoba Bureau of Statistics has done, because it's them that has said we lost 18,000 people on the last census, and that needs to be corrected at the federal level. High School Teachers Employment Levels Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bon net): Mr. Speaker, all across our province school boards are being forced to hike taxes on already overtaxed Manitoba families.

These tax hikes are happening because this Minister of Education is underfunding education. This Minister of Education likes to give credit to himself whenever things are good, which is quite rarely, but then when something goes wrong he tends to blame other people. Mr. Speaker, will this new Minister of Education do the right thing today and apologizing for firing at least 11 teachers and blaming school divisions for his shortfalls? Hon. James Allum (Minister of Education and Advanced Learning): I thank the member for the question.

Of course, our government is committed to adding 75,000 new jobs to the labour force by 2020. We've endeavoured to develop a skills agenda, and at the core of that agenda is education. That's why we continue to fund education at the rate of economic growth or better every year since we were elected. That constitutes multiple millions, hundreds of millions of dollars since we were first elected. We're putting money into classrooms and we hire teachers. We've hired 213 more teachers in the small-class-size initiative alone. When it comes to our government, we believe in education and we invest in it.

Minister of Education and Advanced Learning Government Record Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): So there again, Mr. Speaker, he's taking the credit for hiring teachers but yet not taking the blame for firing teachers. In Advanced Education Estimates in 2012, the former minister of Advanced Education and Literacy said that the initial budget for the new Student Aid online system which started at $12 million was then $14.3 million. Not long after, she admitted it would be actually around $15 million.

This new Minister of Education hasn't done any better and isn't able to get the program up and running either, and Manitoba taxpayers are out $15.5 million with nothing in return. The Minister of Education has lost control.

1814 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 10, 2014 Well, Mr. Speaker, when will th is minister apologize for losing control of his new portfolio and disrespecting hard-working Manitoba families? Hon. James Allum (Minister of Education and Advanced Learning): Again, I thank the member for the question. The inalienable fact of the matter is that were the member to apply for a student loan today, he would be well served by that and he would be able to go on, invest in his education and complete his degree. Mr. Speaker, our record on post -secondary education is second to none in the country.

We've increased funding by 2.5 per cent to universities this year. We've increased funding to colleges by 2 per cent this year. It's among the best in the country, and in addition we have among the lowest tuition rates in Canada as well. Mr. Ewasko: Mr. Speaker, trust is very important to all Manitobans. This new Education Minister ran in the last election promising to his constituents he would not raise taxes. He has now fired at least 11 teachers, spent $15.5 million on a student financial aid program which isn't working. He is in charge of our education system. How can Manitobans trust this Education Minister?

Mr. Allum: Well, Mr. Speaker, Manitobans can trust our government because our record speaks for itself. We invest in classrooms. We hire teachers. We make sure that our students are safe and secure in their environments. And once they're done the K -to-12 system, then they go on to a post -secondary system that is well financed with great quality education that accessible and affordable for all Manitobans. I don't need to remind the member that when his leader was a member of the leader –in the government in the 1990s, he cut funding to education almost every year and they laid off 700 teachers. Mr.

Speaker, Manitobans understand whe re we stand. They have no idea where they stand. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Just one moment. The level is starting to go up in the Chamber here. I understand all the members have passionately held views; I appreciate that, but please keep the noise level down a little bit, please. EMS Helicopter Services Helipad Access Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): A helicopter EMS is an important service in saving lives. It's just too bad the NDP botched the introduction of this service by rushing into the progra m before the last election and didn't get all their ducks in a row. Dr.

Wheeler was very critical of this government for the lack of heliports, which is an important part of patient safety. I'd like to ask the Minister of Health to tell Manitobans how the absence of helipads is affecting safe patient care. Hon. Erin Selby (Minister of Health): The member is right; air ambulance service is front- line service for many Manitobans and particularly in rural Manitoba. We know that having a highly skilled team that can get to a patient as quickly as possible can make all the difference in that patient's life.

We certainly saw in 2009 and 2011 the good work that STARS did when they were here helping us during the floods. They were able to get to places where there were no roads, where there was no other way to reach someone, where you couldn't drive an ambulance, where you couldn't land a jet. They were 'aver' to transport just over 50 patients in the floods of 2011 alone, some very serious cases. It's why we decided to go with STARS; it's why we decided to move forward with this life-saving service. And it's also why we're working now to bring STARS back to full service, Mr. Speaker.

As you know, right now they are there for scene service, for emergency service– Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The minister's time has expired. Mrs. Driedger: Mr. Speaker, this Minister of Health seems to have a lot of trouble answering basic questions. She didn't even touch on the answer to the question that was posed. Dr. Wheeler po inted out the dangers caused by having to move patients from hospital to ambulance to helicopter to ambulance to hospital. It's a known fact that the more times a critically ill patient is moved, the greater the danger of something going wrong.

So I'd like to ask the Minister of Health to tell us: Is there a plan in place to build helipads in all southern Manitoba hospitals?

April 10, 2014 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1815 Ms. Selby: I will like to remind the member that, of course, STARS themselves have said they accept all the recommendations on the Wheeler report and have been very eager to get to work to address patient safety to make sure we're providing the best care we possibly can. It's why we've brought together the Clinical Oversight Panel under the direction of Dr. Brian Postl.

That panel is looking at a patient- guided focus on how we can do a number of things to improve our service to make sure we are providing the best service for all Manitobans, but particularly knowing that rural Manitoba counts on it. They are looking at things like training, accreditation and dispatch, and that is why STARS is at the table, it's why EMS is at the table, it's why Manitoba Health is there, to bring together experts in the field, to talk about how we can do the best service we can right across Manitoba. Mrs.

Driedger: The minister again didn't even touch on the question, and we're really beginning to have a serious questioning of her ability to handle this file and these questions and understand what is even going on in her own department. Mr. Speaker, without helipads at St. Boniface and Health Sciences Centre, valuable time is lost in a patient transfer. We'd like to ask the Minister of Health today to tell us when the Health Sciences Centre helipad will be ready and if a helipad is in the w orks for St. Boniface hospital. Those are really simple and basic questions, Mr.

Speaker, and I would ask her to focus her answers on those questions. * (14:00) Ms. Selby: I think the member knows full well that we are building a helipad at Health Sciences Centre. It will have direct access to pediatric and trauma care. And the member may not be aware that there was a fire there not long ago, and that did slow down construction, but it is back on track. We didn't want to wait to bid helipads before we brought this life -serving service into Manitoba. It's why we continued the service with STARS.

We know many, many families have benefited from being able to have this quick access to the highly trained medical team that they have. And we will be relying on the Clinical Oversight Panel under the leadership of Dr. Brian Postl to tell us exactly what we can do to not only return to full service of STARS but to make sure we are providing the best emergency -care service right across the province. ER Services (Virden) Physician Departure Mr. Doyle Piwniuk (Arthur- Virden): This week I found out that Virden has lost one of its doctors back in February. It's going to lose another doctor later this month.

Virden and area has been booming thanks to the hard-working people of the oil and agriculture industries. How is this minister going to ensure the safety of my constituents in this growing community keeps losing its doctors under her watch? Hon. Erin Selby (Minister of Health): We know that Manitobans want and deserve high- quality care close to home. And, certainly, the people of Virden, we know they have a busy ER and they definitely need to have the doctors there. And it's why we're going to continue working with the region, working with the community. The funding is there. We're always working on recruiting.

We do have two physicians who have moved to another region of the province. We know that does only leave three physicians to cover the Virden ER. We do need to make sure that we're putting patient safety first, but we know that that is a busy area. We know those doctors are committed to Virden and that is why that they have committed to keeping the ER open during the busiest times over the weekend. We will be working with the community to make sure that they know exactly when that is, and that's being worked out right now.

But we will definitely keep working to continue to bring more doctors, 'af' we have been doing since we've been in government. Mr. Piwniuk: I also was told that we're losing our doctor later this month. The local emergency room could be closed in two weeks for two days per week. I have the–as we have the high -risk industries in our riding, the emergency room's being closed for two days, the safety of our people in our community could be at risk. We're also heading to the summer months, and all the traffic that's happen–that flows

1816 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 10, 2014 on the Trans -Canada Highway, that's a really big concern for us and for the doctors in the hospital. How is this minister going to ensure the safety of our constituents? Ms. Selby : The member is right. It is concerning to be down two doctors in this pa rticular area. We know it is a busy area. Two doctors in Virden have decided to relocate to another area of Manitoba and that's why we are working to make sure we find support for those three remaining doctors. Those doctors are very committed to the area.

They know how important it is to have emergency room service. Because of patient safety, we are not going to be able to keep it open at all times, but the doctors have recommended that we keep it open during the time that is the busiest over the weekend. They're working that out right now. And, of course, we are still recruiting. It's why we're training more doctors. It's why we're recruiting more doctors. And we've had a good track record on bringing more doctors to Manitoba, and we'll keep doing that for Virden too. Mr. Piwniuk: But we're losing 2,200 doctors to other provinces. Mr.

Speaker, Virden is the last full -time ER in our Arthur -Virden riding. Every other hospital in the region is now sharing ER services between communities. This ministe r has pledged to Manitobans all access to health care regardless of where they live, yet many of my constituents are almost hour and a half from Brandon who will be having to be transported on dangerous roads like we talked about yesterday. Why is this M inister of Health breaking the promise to providing access to family doctors in my constituents and in–for Manitobans? Ms.

Selby: I'll say again, the funding is there and we will keep recruiting for those doctors. We believe that ERs should be open, and we're going to keep working to get it open as we have done in other communities. But I do have to be very clear. We have a net gain in Manitoba of 562 more doctors working in the province than there were in 1999, including 120 more doctors working in rural Manitoba. We know Manitobans want more doctors. It's why we're training more doctors. It's why we're committed to hiring 200 m ore doctors and 50 more physician's assistants.

This year alone we've already brought in more than 61 additional doctors, and we are committed to having everyone who wants one in Manitoba to have a family doctor by 2015. Provincial Parks Cottage Fee Increases Mr. Shannon Martin (Morris): This NDP government continues to spin its fairy tale that the tens of thousands of Manitobans who access cottages on Crown lands are freeloaders diverting scarce tax dollars from health and education so that we can subsidize their Lotto 6/49 lifestyles. Actually, it sounds more like today's NDP and their tax vote subsidy, but I don't mean to digress.

Can the minister explain why he continues to be selective in his use of numbers by ignoring cottage park passes–something that this NDP government imposed on them, by the way, just to access their property–chief-place-of-residence levies and the like to when he arrives at his $1.7- million cottage revenue numbers as opposed to the more accurate number of $6.3 million? Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Minister of Conservation and Water Stewardship): Well, Mr. Speaker, I heard a lot of numbers there. I did see some numbers, as well, on the weekend in the paper, and unfortunately the service -fee number was double counted.

But, Mr. Speaker, I know the members opposite. They worship Uncle Stephen in Ottawa and what they do there, and I know they want to emulate and duplicate what Ottawa does and they want to bring that message back here. I'll just remind the member, as I sit down, that Riding Mountain National Park, a cottager there at the lakefront is paying $5,000 in fees each year. At Falcon Lake it's $800, in Manitoba in a provincial park. In Nopiming last year they paid $375. Does that member think that that is fair, and is it fair for taxpayers to be subsidizing those park cottages? Mr. Martin: Mr.

Speaker, is it fair for taxpayers to be subsidizing today's NDP? The NDP tells cottagers that if they can't afford the tax increases–which in itself is an admission that the 750 per cent increase is unaffordable for many of those on fixed incomes–that they can simply delay it as long as they turn the keys over to the government.

April 10, 2014 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1817 Perhaps the member of Flin Flon didn't misspeak when he suggested, and I quote, we need to take those cabins out of our parks. Can the minister for this –can the minister table for this House a list of, quote, those cabins his government has publicly stated need to be removed from our provincial parks so at least they can contact a moving company as opposed to fi nding the MLA from Flin Flon throwing their goods on the sidewalk? Mr. Mackintosh: Well, Mr. Speaker, I won't deal with the member's vivid imagination.

But to the very contrary, this side of the House is actually making it possible for even more Manitobans to have cottaging opportunities in our parks and, in fact, more cottaging opportunities overall. I think 1,300 cottage lots have been made available to Manitobans for the great opportunity to cottage. But, Mr. Speaker, it's important that we continue to support cottaging in Manitoba inside parks and outside of parks. It's a great dream of Manitobans. It's part of the soul of families.

It's part of the soul of our parks, and we have to make sure that it' s both financially and environmentally sustainable, and that's why we have to move towards fair funding. Mr. Martin: That dream that the minister talks about is quickly becoming a pipe dream for many cottage owners. Mr. Speaker, the minister and the NDP point to an information dump on the Conservation website, and from what I hear from cottage owners, dump is an appropriate term given the value of the information.

So while this government is tripping all over itself in an attempt to overwhelm people wi th data, cottagers are left wondering why previous years' information remains hidden. Mr. Speaker, will the minister advise cottagers why legal action appears to be their only recourse to deal with a government whose fiscal ineptitude has been dumped on cottagers? Mr. Mackintosh: Well, Mr.

Speaker, I want to just say to the member–and I trust that the member came back in here today with some dirt under his fingernails–and I just want to just –I want to maybe ask him if he could explain to farmers who pay f air market value for their Crown land leases why they should pay for their land and for a cottager in the park. Perhaps he could explain to first -time home buyers who are paying for their first home why they're also subsidizing second homes in parks. Mr. Speaker, we have to have fair funding.

And the transparency, the online availability of information is far beyond anything the Conservatives did when they introduced new fees for park cottagers. Outstanding Warrants Driver's Licence Renewals Mr. Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach): Mr. Speaker, according to police, there are 30,000 outstanding warrants in Manitoba. * (14:10) In 2010 we asked the NDP government to remove taxpayer-funded payments and privileges for those who refuse to deal with their outstanding warrants, because why should taxpayers fund those who are avoiding the law?

Reluctantly, after 18 months, the NDP agreed and passed legislation in 2011. Part of the legislation would've prevented those with outstanding warrants from renewing their driver's licence. Can the minister update the House: How many of those with outstanding warrants have not been able to renew their driver's licences? Hon. Andrew Swan (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Certainly, we've taken steps to deal with individuals who don't listen to court orders and who don't show up when they're supposed to in court.

That's why I was very pleased that, working with the Winnipeg Police Service and with the RCMP, we created an integrated Warrant Enforcement Unit consisting of seven officers. So far, that dedicated unit, working in connection with other police services, has been able to execute more than 2,000 warrants and has actually brought 1,400 people into custody. It is a matter of priorities, and I'm very pleased that this unit is priorizing those individuals who pose the greatest risk on our streets to public safety.

They're out there every day, as well as our other officers, doing their things to make our communities safer. Mr. Goertzen: Well, Mr. Speaker, the mini ster clearly doesn't want to answer the question, so let me give the answer for him.

1818 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 10, 2014 This legislation was passed three years ago and it's yet to be proclaimed. That's why there hasn't been one driver's licence that's actually been withheld from an outstanding warrant, Mr. Speaker. For three years, that portion of the legislation has sat on this minister's desk and gathered dusk and gone unproclaimed, despite him saying that it was important. Another part of that legislation was to ensure that taxpayer -funded payments didn't go to those who had outstanding warrants and wouldn't deal with them in court.

How many outstanding–or how many taxpayer - funded payments have been withheld from those who have outstanding warrants in the last three years? Mr. Swan : Certainly, Mr. Speaker, we can talk about priorities. The member for Steinbach can rant and rave about a handful of cases. We have quietly and effectively put into place and we voted for resources to make sure that we have police offices that are out there dedicated to getting the most dangerous offenders off of our streets. Mr.

Speaker, I know the member for Steinbach doesn't like to talk about the fact that he's voted against those additional resources, just as he's voted against every additional police officer. He's voted against every additional Crown attorney. He's voted against every additional correctional officer to keep our streets safe. Our priority, Mr. Speaker, is building safer communities. They are paying results, thanks to the work of our police, the work of our Crown attorneys and the strength of our communities. Mr. Goertzen: Well, I voted for the legislation, then he wouldn't proclaim it. Mr.

Speaker, we've been advised by justice officials that, as of March of this year, there've only been two cases in three years of taxpayer -funded benefits being withheld from those who are avoiding the law with outstanding warrants. There are 30,000 outstanding warrants in Manitoba, yet none have had their driver's licence privileges removed and only two have had taxpayers' benefits withheld. That's an enforcement rate of 0.00006 per cent. When this legislation was passed three years ago, the minister said it was an important part of cracking down on outstanding warrants.

Does the minister consider an enforcement rate of 0.00006 per cent a success? Mr. Swan : Well, I wonder, Mr. Speaker, if the member for Steinbach, who voted against resources for the Warrant Enforcement Unit, considers 1,400 offenders being taken into custody a rate of 100 per cent. I wonder how he can reconcile that with voting against those resources. Again, Mr. Speaker, it's a matter of priorities. The member for Steinbach is very, very good at picking a way at this and picking away at that.

We have invested in police, we've invested in Crown attorneys, we've invested in better resources for police so they, working with correctional officers and with probation officers, keep our streets safe. The member doesn't want to talk about that. He won't talk about the 700 homes and apartments that have been closed thanks to The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act. The member opposite knows that his party's view was that people should go and bring individual l awsuits against gang members. We've decided to have a comprehensive program with the Public Safety Investigations unit.

It's all a matter of priorities. I know where ours are: they're on the side of Manitobans. Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The minister's time has expired. I think it's time for me to help members out a little bit here. In past sessions, I've indicated to members that I very much believe in a respectful workplace and I've asked for the co -operation of honourable members many times in past sessions of this Legislature to be respectful to one another here. I understand that there's strongly held views on both sides of the House, and I appreciate that and I know that's of great value to this institution.

But I'm asking for honourable members' co-operation to keep the level down and to allow members to both ask questions and to answer questions. So I'm asking for that co-operation. Child-Care Space Availability Post-Secondary Institutions Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): At the University of Manitoba today, child -care and early childhood education spaces are remarkably few and far between. There are only 128 spaces for an estimated 3,200 parents. Students say getting a child-care space is so infrequent, it's like winning the lottery.

April 10, 2014 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1819 Students should not have to gamble with their lives and the lives of their children. Child -care services should be core services at post -secondary education institutions. I ask: When will the Premier make integrated child care and early childhood education a c ore service at all post-secondary education institutions so it's available to all parents who are students who need it? Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): We've expanded the number of daycare spaces or spots for children in Manitoba from 12 to 28 thousand.

And every year we've done that, the member from River Heights has voted against that in the budget. We've put more money into expanding child care in this budget and we will continue to find ways to build not only new daycare centres –every new school we build in Manitoba has a daycare in it. We have daycares located on campuses or very close to campuses. We're also building, for the first time ever, housing for families so they can co- locate close to where they're going to school.

And so we are taking a com prehensive approach to providing supports to young people, people that are maybe young parents, want to go to school, get their education upgraded, get the skills they need to work. We're going to provide them supports. If he has a real interest in this, I would only ask that, for once, before he leaves this Chamber, he vote for a budget that expands daycare. Mr. Gerrard: The fact is that the Premier and his NDP government have made child care and early childhood educati on at post-secondary education institutions difficult to access.

At Red River College, this has meant some students have had to take their children to class with them because they can't get access to daycare. While getting to college early may seem like a good idea to the Premier, age three, four and five is hardly an age when a child is college-ready. Surely the child would do better in an integrated child- care and early childhood education program while the parent is attending classes. What is the Premi er's plan to address the dire lack of child -care and early childhood education spaces for post -secondary education students right now? Mr.

Selinger: As I've said, we're expanding daycare for working families all across this province. Many working families have a member or are themselves going to school at a post -secondary institution, and we want daycare to be available for these people as well as they upgrade their skills so they can make an even stronger contribution to our economy. We have gone from 1 2 to 28 thousand spaces. We've put–for the first time ever, we actually have a program that finances and pays for new daycare centres in Manitoba.

For the first time ever, we have a program that requires daycares to be built as part of every new school we build in Manitoba. And in spite of the fact that everybody on the other side of the House has voted against this every single year, including the member opposite, we've been very clear that Manitobans need access to good quality early childhood learning. That prepares those young people for school. Early childhood development is also a very important investment we're making in this province.

We've also reduced class sizes in the K-to-3 area so that the average class side is –class size is about 20 students, and that has resulted in another 250 teachers being hired. We want to invest in young children and families so that they can have success and get the good jobs that they deserve in– Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The First Minister's time has expired. Mr. Gerrard: Monsieur le Président, il existe maintenant aucune garderie pour les enfants à l'Université de Saint -Boniface et aucune place pour les jeunes enfants des étudiants.

En fait, le Manitoba manque de garderies et de places pour les enfants des parents francophones qui sont étudiants à cette université. Je demande au premier ministre à quel temps dans l 'avenir sera -t-il une garderie avec assez de places à l'Université de Saint-Boniface. Translation Mr. Speaker, there is currently no child- care centre at the Université de Saint -Boniface, and no spaces for the students ' young children. In fact, Manitoba lacks child-care centres and spaces for the children of Francophone parents who are s tudents at that university.

I am as king the Premier at what point in the future will there be a child -care centre with enough spaces at the Université de Saint-Boniface.

1820 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 10, 2014 * (14:20) Mr. Selinger: Dans la circonscription de Saint - Boniface, il y a un programme maintenant d 'avoir une nouvelle garderie à l 'École Taché, pour la première fois dans l 'histoire de ce voisinage. Et dans ce voisinage, c' est cinq minutes de l 'Université de Saint-Boniface, la première université en français dans l'Ouest du Canada, un projet de loi nous avons mis en place. Il y a l 'École Précieux -Sang, une énorme garderie. Plus que 100 enfants sont là.

Beaucoup de personnes prennent –qui amènent leurs enfants à cette garderie sont des étudiants à l'Université de Saint-Boniface. Il y a beaucoup des options pour les par ents à Saint-Boniface, pour les étudiants à Saint -Boniface, et nous avons mis, dans ce budget, plus de ressources pour une expansion des garderies ici dans la province de Manitoba, et aussi les garderies en français. Si le membre veut avoir plus de places pour les enfants en français, en anglais ou dans les autres langues, il doit voter pour le budget. Il n'a jamais fait ça. C'est déplorable, Monsieur le Président.

Translation In the constituency of St. Boniface, there is now a program to have a new child- care centre at École Taché for the first time in the history of this neighbourhood. And in this neighbourhood, which is five minutes away from the Université de Saint-Boniface, western Canada' s first French - language university, because of legislation we put into place. There is École Précieux-Sang with a huge child-care centre. Over 100 children attend that centre. Many of the people who take their children to that child-care centre are students at the Université de Saint-Boniface.

There are many options for parents and for students in St. Boniface, and we have included more resources in this budget for the expansion of child-care centres here in the province of Manitoba, including French-language child-care centres. If the member wants more child -care sp aces in French, in English or in other languages, he must vote for the b udget. He has never done that. It is deplorable, Mr. Speaker. Affordable and Social Housing New Funding Announcement Mr.

Rob Altemeyer (Wolseley): This morning I got to host an announcement in my community, and it occurred to me as this was happening that I was doing something that no member of the opposition has ever done, nor is it something that they ever likely going to do, and even the ones who used to sit in the Filmon era never took the time to do what we did together this morning. You know what that was? We announced new affordable housing projects. Oh, and with their atrocious draconian cuts of $500 million to the budget, suffice to say the y will never ever look after our society's most vulnerable people.

I'd like to ask the minister to educate them on how exactly to run this province. Hon. Peter Bjornson (Minister of Housing and Community Development ): I was very pleased to join my colleague the MLA from Wolseley today, who did a stellar job hosting this event where we had a number of community advocates, a number of different partners who have been part of our plan, which was announced in 2009 by my pre decessor, the Minister of Family Services (Ms. Irvin -Ross) right now, to deliver on 1,500 social housing units and 1,500 affordable housing units. And, Mr. Speaker, today we achieved that benchmark.

So I'm very pleased that that announcement took place today, and that announcement included $7.6 million to develop a housing complex with the Clubhouse of Winnipeg, and this a program that will assist people who are coping with mental illness. And it will be beautiful homes, which I am very proud to say it has been a great journey with the great work of the people in Manitoba Housing and Community Development, particularly Karen Ryan. And that's the first part– Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The honourable minister's time has expired. Applied Behaviour Analysis Treatment Wait-List Reduction Update Mr.

Ian Wishart (Portage la Prairie): In a 2011 election promise, the NDP government committed to eliminate the wait times –the wait -list for applied behavioural analysis, also known as ABA therapy, for children with autism. Let's review the status of that commitment. Now we have 64 children on the wait -list. By this fall we expect to have 90 children on the wait -list. This is reprehensible and the families and children with autism are suffering.

April 10, 2014 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1821 Will the minister commit to eliminate the wait-list as was promised? Hon. Kerri Irvin -Ross (Minister of Family Services): I can tell you that our government is incredibly committed to supporting people with the diagnosis of autism through all the phases of life. We have made investments in community living. We've made investments to support them at St. Amant with ABA, but we've also made extreme investments in education. We are working with families, we're working with professional groups, and we are making a difference.

On world autism day I was very proud to announce another two outreach workers for autism that will be in the Parkland region; that is going to make a difference. That is going to provide services to the children as well as to the families. In addition, we announced $622,000 to St. Amant to provide supports to families along– while we're–while they're supporting themselves by supporting their children. Thank you. Mr. Wishart: Mr. Speaker, not a single one of the government's policy commitments on autism made prior to the 2011 election has been met.

Children are aging out of eligibility, families are suffering, and something needs to be done today. The minister says they're working harder. She can maybe work a little harder yet and a whole lot faster. Will the minister commit to eliminating the wait-list for ABA therapy as promised in the 2011 election, and will she do it today? Ms. Irvin-Ross: What I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, is that we are standing side by side with parents. We are providing them with supports through the Family Services, through education and through community living.

We are providing a variety of supports that help them with the development of their child, provides them with respite. We are working side by side. On world autism day we announced another two outreach workers. That was one of those commitments we made. We have a five-year strategy called Thrive! And in that five -year strategy, we are committed to be working with families, providing them the supports that are necessary. Mr. Speaker: I'm going to permit the final supplementary for the honourable member for Portage la Prairie due to my earlier intervention. Mr. Wishart: Mr.

Speaker, worse yet, 25 children with autism have aged out of eligibility for ABA therapy, as it m ust be initiated before they are five years old. The NDP's priorities are out of whack. Public subsidies for their political parties, loans for winter tires, doubling of hydro rates or raising and broadening the PST, all while kids with autism languish without needed therapies. I'll ask again: Will this minister commit to working harder and working faster to eliminate the wait-list for ABA therapy as promised in the 2011 election? Ms. Irvin -Ross: Mr. Speaker, I will provide the member with some facts.

Since 1999 we have increased the value of the supports by 800 per cent to people living with autism. That is providing supports to individuals that are in the ABA program. But also looking at how do we provide other supports to individuals, that's through the autism outreach. We have made a commitment that while individuals are waiting for ABA that we will provide them with the outreach services that they need. We are committed to that, and the $622,000 that we announced on world autism day will conti nue to provide that necessary support to the families, but more importantly, to the children as they develop. Mr.

Speaker: Time for oral questions has expired. MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Mr. Speaker: It's now time for members' statements. Jane Couch–Principals of Music Award Ms. Deanne Crothers (St. James): As we celebrate Music Month this April, we must take time to reflect on the important role that music plays in our schools. Music allows students to be creative, inspires confidence and can be an important t ool in the classroom. At Stevenson-Britannia School in St. James, principal Jane Couch shares this philosophy and has become an incredible advocate for the use of music in education.

Jane has been a strong supporter of the school's music program and has made choir available for every class at the primary and intermediate levels. In addition, Jane has increased the number of periods per six -day cycle that the music teacher sees each class. Students at Stevenson-Britannia are

1822 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 10, 2014 encouraged to be active in the school's music programming and see music, singing and performing as an everyday activity. Jane was recently named one of Canada's Principals of Music for 2013. This annual award, presented by the Coalition for Music Education, recognizes elementary, middle and secondary school principals across Canada who make music an integral part of the educational program for every student.

And although she does not currently play an instrument herself, Jane has fond memories of playing the flute and saxophone in junior high and high school, and she remembers the excitement and camaraderie of playing in a large band and that magical moment when all the individual parts would come together to create a brilliant composition. Jane's experience with music in her youth lef t a lasting impression. It shaped her belief in the power of music and inspires her to create the same opportunities for her students. Mr. Speaker, the lessons we can learn from music are endless.

It teaches us about rhythm and movement, about history and culture and provides us with an opportunity to express our creativity. I would like to thank Jane and educators across Manitoba for enriching students' lives by bringing music into our classrooms for the benefit of our children. Thank you very much. * (14:30) Optimist Under 18 International Curling Championship Mr. Cameron Friesen (Morden -Winkler): I rise today to congratulate Team Manitoba's female curling team who won gold at the Optimist under -18 international curling championship event in Langley, BC, on April the 6th, 2014.

Skip Brooke Friesen, third Katelyn Derksen, second Kelsey Sagert and lead Cali Hamm qualified for the Optimists when they won gold as Team Central at the recent 2014 Manitoba Winter Games in Morden-Stanley-Winkler. The girls' team is based out of the Winkler Curling Club. Brooke, Katelyn and Cali are all from the Winkler area, while Kelsey Sagert is from Morden, and the team has been together for several years as–and coached by Ross Derksen. The Winkler team had a rock y start at the championship, losing their first two games to Alberta and Minnesota.

However, with extraordinary focus, determination and some key pep talks from their coach, they turned things around, won five straight. They beat teams from Yukon, Northwes t Territories and Japan in round robin competition, advancing to the semi -finals where they beat out Saskatchewan. And in a riveting final against Ontario, which came down to an extra end, where team Manitoba had the hammer in an extra end it came down to a pressure final shot which Brooke made in a sort of double takeout, to use her own words. She made the shot. They won by a single point and became gold medal champions.

It's very special that family and friends who couldn't make it to BC met the girls a t the Winnipeg airport upon their return to cheer and support these new champions. Unfortunately, the girls are one year shy for the age limit to compete at the 2015 provincial Scotties Tournament of Hearts that will be held in their home city of Winkler. But they tell me they will be back. I'm sure we will hear about these young women in what promises to be some very successful curling careers. Once again, congratulations book– Brooke, Katelyn, Kelsey and Cali. Manitoba is very proud of your gold medal win.

Safe and Affordable Housing in West Broadway Mr. Rob Altemeyer (Wolseley): Mr. Speaker, it is said a society should be judged on how it treats its most vulnerable citizens. While the opposition would destroy Manitoba's treasured social safety net with a desire to cut $500 million from the budget and privatize medicare, our government continues to improve the lives of those in need. This morning, in partnership with Clubhouse of Winnipeg and Fountain Springs Housing, we announced the creation of a new accessible and affordable $7.6- million housing complex on Sherbrook Street in West Broadway.

This project will convert a current parking lot into 26 one-bedroom and five two- bedroom suites for low- to moderate -income families who may be impacted by mental illness. Fountain Springs Housing will be built right next door to Clubhouse of Winnipeg, a local community organization that helps people with mental -health needs find opportunities for employment and education.

April 10, 2014 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1823 I want to congratulate Michael M ercury from Clubhouse and Marty Dolin from Fountain Springs on this unique and exciting partnership, just the latest project to revitalize the dynamic south Sherbrook area. I was also very pleased to host my colleague, the honourable Minister for Housing and Community Development, at the announcement.

He informed the packed house that our government not only has met our commitment to build 1,500 affordable and 1,500 new social housing units in the past five years, but he also launched our new goal of a further 500 affordable units and 500 social units in the next three years. Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. I am very happy to say that today we are making crucial progress in helping more Manitobans access the safe and affordable housing that they deserve. Thank you very much. Jellicoe LaFreniere Mr.

Ian Wishart (Portage la Prairie): Today I would like to take the opportunity to recognize Jellicoe LaFreniere, a local musician. Known for his infectious fiddling and his high- step jiggings, Mr. LaFreniere will be honoured next month when he is inducted posthumously into the Manitoba fiddlers hall of fame. Mr. LaFreniere was born in 1917, the 13 of 18 children, and came from a musical family in the village of St. Ambroise to a –French-Canadian parents. Mr.

LaFreniere will –would learn the violin from his grandfather, Isdore Zastre, a Western Canadian Red River jig champion and Western Canadian fiddling champion going back to 1929. Mr.–or Jellicoe once told the Brandon Sun, I was just a lucky guy w ho happened to have the right grandfather. He told me many times when I was growing up, Jellicoe I have no money to leave you, but if you want I can leave you the gifts of music and dance, and he certainly did that.

While working in his teens in a farm in the High Bluff area, Jellicoe LaFreniere took his grandfather's advice and would play at parties, steadily building his craft. In 1943, Mr. LaFreniere won the Western Canadian Red River jig title and was never again beaten in competition. In 1957, Mr. LaF reniere was invited by the Miller family, owners of the Miller Brewing Company in Milwaukee, where he played with legendary accordion musician Frankie Yankovic, and eventually recorded an album with him. During the Canadian centennial in 1967, Mr.

LaFreniere was invited to represent Manitoba in Ottawa and played for Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Mr. LaFreniere was also invited to play for prime ministers Lester Pearson, John Diefenbaker and Jean Chrétien. But perhaps his most important audience happened later that year when he played for the royal family at Island Park in Portage la Prairie. Not only was Mr. LaFreniere a well -respected performer, he was also a mentor for young artists. After a long battle with lung cancer, Mr. LaFreniere died on May 13th, 1994, a day before his 77th birthday.

But his contribution will be honoured by this induction ceremony taking place in Carman on April 27th. Mr. LaFreniere's oldest grandson, Dwayne LaFreniere, and great -grandson, Dustin LaFreniere, will be attendin g, something that would have made Jellicoe very proud. All members should join me in recognizing the contribution by Jellicoe LaFreniere. Don Skorupski Hon. Peter Bjornson (Minister of Housing and Community Development ): Mr. Speaker, it is important to recognize and thank the people who dedicate their careers to work and live here in Manitoba.

Today, I am pleased to celebrat e the upcoming 60th anniversary, or 60 years of craftsmanship, if you will, of one such dedicated i ndividual, Mr. Don Skorupski, the pier build er for Dunnottar 's iconic piers. Don Skorupski is a master craftsman in his village of Dunnottar and operates Dunnottar 's piers. In addition to working hard in the construction industry, Mr. Skorupski undertakes many volunteer projects and is providing his exemplary service for many years, and hopefully many more to come. Mr.

Speaker, as a former history teacher, I hold a special place in my heart for those who work hard to preserve the heritage of their communi ty. It takes a lot of hard work and artisanship to build a pier. In Dunnottar, where the piers must be taken down each winter and rebuilt each summer, the piers become a communal meet ing space for friends, families and neighbours to enjoy one another’s com pany while enjoying nature and fun in the sun. Mr. Speaker, people who are familiar with the southwest shores of Lake Winnipeg will recognize

1824 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 10, 2014 the area's famous piers, many of them built by Mr. Skorupski. In 2013, one of the area's piers worked on by Mr. S korupski appeared on the g overnment of Manitoba's home page, highlighting the Lake Winnipeg vista that one can enjoy from the pier. This year, Mr. Skorupski will tackle several projects so that locals and visitors can appreciate their landscape and appreciate the escape from the hustle and bustle of the city with a cool swim in Lake Winnipeg. Mr.

Speaker, the v illage of Dunnottar's public piers are examples of the culturally important landmarks that help to preserve our history and way of life. Thank you to Mr. Skorupski for all his hard work, and congratulations on 60 years in the business. His years of service are an inspiration to everyone who knows him. Thank you. Mr. Speaker: Grievances? ORDERS OF THE DAY (Continued) GOVERNMENT BUSINESS Mr. Speaker: Seeing no grievances, we'll move on to orders of the day, government business. Hon. Andrew Swan (Government House Leader): Government business, Mr. Speaker.

Could you please call second reading for bills 18, 34, 3, 31, 10, 37 and 33? SECOND READINGS Mr. Speaker: We'll now call bills for second reading in the following order: Bill 18, followed by bills 34, 3, 31, 10, Bill 37 and Bill 33. Bill 18–The Business Practices Amendment Act (Improved Consumer Protection and Enforcement) Mr. Speaker: We'll start with Bill 18, The Business Practices Amendment Act (Improved Consumer Protection and Enforcement). Hon. Ron Lemieux (Minister of Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Jobs and the Economy (Ms.

Oswald ), that Bill 18, The Business Practices Amendment Act (Improved Consumer Protection and Enforcement), be now read for a second time. Motion presented. Mr. Lemieux: Well, Mr. Speaker, I'm very pleased to move the second reading on this bill, which will go a long way towards making sure Manitoba consumers know that they are protected from unfair business practices. We know how important this is to a healthy economy. Consumers must feel comfortable that businesses they deal with are treating them fairly and honestly.

It's also important that businesses feel they are on a level playing field, with everyone following the rules set in place. Consumer Protection Office has had a long history of receiving complaints about transactions that mislead and take advantage of vulnerable consumers. Unscrupulous businesses need to know that they will be held accountable for false or misleading statements and that they can't pressure consumers into making purchases. * (14:40) Mr.

Speaker, this bill expands the meaning of taking advantage of a consumer under The Business Practices Act to include suppliers and businesses that put undue pressure on a consumer to enter into a transaction. For example, in the case where a supplier knew or should have ought to know that the consumer could not protect their own interest because of a physical or mental infirmity, illiteracy, age or an ability –inability, sorry –to understand the language of the consumer transaction, or the terms and conditions on which the consumer entered into the transaction were so harsh to the consumer as to be inequitable.

These provisions will help to address unfair practices such as holding cash deposits as leverage to keep consumers at a place of business for hours and hours and hours or using aggressive and intimidating sales tactics to wear down consumers so they sign agreements. Mr. Speaker, this bill also makes it unfair practice for a supplier to use its possession or control over a consumer's goods to pressure the consumer into renegotiating a term or condition of a consumer transaction.

This would address the situation of a moving company that refuses to unload a consumer's belongings without additional payment over and above the agreed-upon price for the moving service. For example, a mover moves a person's belongings to the residence, they're ready to unload it, and then they hand the consumer a totally new bill with regard to it and totally changes the whole transaction, and meanwhile the person's products or goods are in the back of the truck and they're sitting in a house that's

April 10, 2014 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1825 empty. So this legislation will try to address that and hopefully will. This bill expands the list of examples of misrepresentations or uses of exaggeration that are deemed unfair practices such as false representation as to the reason for a charge and false representation or exaggeration regarding benefits like bonuses or cashback that a consumer may get for helping a supplier to get new or potential consumers or customers. It is also important to make sure that the Consumer Protection Office has the necessary tools to enforce this legislation. Mr.

Speaker, this is not only important for the consumers, but also for businesses. Good businesses who follow the rules should not have to be at a disadvantage for those businesses that do not. The bill proposes more flexible and responsive tools for the Consumer Protection Office to use to prevent and control u nfair business practices in Manitoba.

This includes giving the director of the Consumer Protection Office authority to order businesses to retract a false or deceptive representation in an advertisement, the ability to deal with an appeal of an order in a more timely manner, ability to inspect premises where an unfair business practice has been committed or to ensure that a business is complying with an order, autonomy to deal with orders and compliance more quickly and effectively. The bill also modernizes and clarifies some of the wording in the act to be fairer and easier to understand for businesses. Mr.

Speaker, we've had great feedback from both consumer and business stakeholders on this bill. Consumer groups are pleased to see consumer protections m odernized to keep pace with current marketplace issues. Industry associations say the protections are fair, balanced and address issues they, too, have identified in our marketplace. Manitoba made a significant commitment to consumer protection with Let's Make a Better Deal five -year strategy. We have addressed issues such as payday loans, cellphone bills, car advertisements and home warrantees.

Now modernizing the language and processes of The Business Practices Act is yet another piece of that strategy. So far the opposition has consistently voted against protecting Manitoba to consumers and families. I look forward to them changing their minds and supporting this bill. This, after all, is good for business, good for consumers and good for Manitoba. Mr. S peaker: Sorry, just before I recognize the honourable member opposite, was it the minister's intention to have this bill referred to a committee of the House? Mr. Lemieux: Yes. Mr. Speaker: It was. Okay.

And we'll let the –the honourable minister of culture tourism. Mr. Lemieux: Yes, I'd like the bill referred to a committee of the House. Mr. Speaker: I thank the honourable minister. The honourable Minister of Finance – [interjection] Okay. The honourable Minister of Finance, to speak to the bill? Hon. Jennifer Howard (Minister of Finance ): I'm going to ask the House's indulgence. I'm going to stray far from relevance, but I did just want to –on this day, appreciating the words of the member for Tuxedo (Mrs.

Stefanson) and the First Minister –say as Finance Minister, what a sobering day it is to learn of the passing of Minister Jim Flaherty. Sobering on a political level but also a personal level, because I think when something like this happens, it does put into perspective for us that our time is short. Our time is not only short in public life, our time is short on earth, and I just want to say a few words about my appreciation for the short time that I was able to work with Minister Flaherty. I don't –you know, he will be remembered for many things.

One of the things that I will remember him for is his commitment to families with people – families who had children of people who had disabilities, because in his own family, it may not be known by everyone, he had triplet sons, and one of those sons did live with a disability, and that fuelled a lot of the things that he pursued in public life. One of those things was bringing in the Registered Disability Savings Plan, which was a very innovative approach to help families save money so that as their children aged and went out on their own, they had some economic security.

I remembered when I met Jim, and he wanted to talk about every –I am told, as Finance Minister, and I was no exception–that he reminded us of many things in terms of our responsibilities, but he was dogged about reminding us about our responsibilities to ensure that the Registered Disability Savings Plan could thrive in our provinces, that we made sure that we had made changes to the laws to allow that. And he sent probably three or four letters a year asking

1826 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 10, 2014 what we had done lately to make sure that this was the case. He was very committed to that, and I was reminded when I met him of the words of another parent of a child with a disability that said, you know, when you are a parent and your chi ld lives with a disability, the thing that you pray for is that you live one day longer than they do. Because you want to ensure their future, and you worry –we all worry about our children's futures, but when your child lives with a disability you worry mo re.

And I think that was, for him, what drove him to create the Registered Disability Savings Plan so that families had a mechanism to save money for their –for the future needs of their adult children when they were no longer able to be there to ensure those.

I also want to say I know one of the things he'll be remembered for, and rightfully so, was his steady leadership in this country through tremendous economic upheaval, and that leadership in putting in place things like stimulus funding, that leaders hip, I think, is responsible for the fact that Canada did weather the storm better than many countries, and also responsible for the fact that Canada has increasingly a stellar reputation in the world for the way that we ensure that our financial industry is regulated, the way that we ensure that the rights of consumers in that industry are protected.

So I just wanted to take this moment on this day to share those few thoughts. He was somebody who dedicated his life to public service. He was somebody who, like all of us, probably spent many, many nights away from home and away from his kids. It's worth noting that his wife is also in public life, and I'm sure today is a horrible day for their family. I think the Premier (Mr. Selinger) said it well, this is a tragedy that is compounded by the fact that he had just decided to move on from public life. I'm sure his family hoped, as he hoped, that that meant he would have more time with them.

And so on this day –we've already marked his passing with a moment of silence, but on this day I just wanted to say those few things. He is somebody who made a tremendous contribution to Canada. He is somebody who knew that his role as an elected person was to work in the best interests –what he believed were the best interests of Canadians. And he is somebody, in my brief experience with him, whom you never had to guess at what he was thinking or where he stood. He made it clear with few words, and he only needed a few words to make it clear.

But I certainly appreciated that short experience with him, and I hope today, as we all reflect on his life and his gifts to the people of Canada, that we also reflect on the fact that our time here is precious. Our time in this Chamber is precious, and those things that we can do to make a difference to make the lives of the people that elect us a little better, a little easier, that is our legacy, not the barbs and jabs that we throw each other –throw at each other through the day, but the things that we actually accomplish on behalf of people.

He accomplished much, and I want to extend my condolences to his family for what must be an unimaginable loss today. Thank you. * (14:50) Mr. Speaker: Any further debate on the bill at this point? Mrs. Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo): I move, seconded by the member for Midland (Mr. Pedersen), that debate now be adjourned. Motion agreed to. Bill 34–The Consumer Protection Amendment Act (High-Cost Credit Products) Mr. Speaker: We'll now proceed to call Bill 34, The Consumer Protection Amendment Act (High-Cost Credit Products). Hon.

Ron Lemieux (Minister of Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection): I move, seconded by the Minister of Finance (Ms. Howard), that Bill 34, the consumer protection– yes, Bill 34, The Consumer Protection Ame ndment Act (High-Cost Credit Products), be read for a second time and referred to the committee of the House. Mr.

Speaker: It's been moved by the honourable Minister of Tourism, Culture, Heritage and Sport, seconded by honourable Minister of Finance, that Bill 34, The Consumer Protection Amendment Act (High-Cost Credit Products), be now read for a second time and be 'ferred' to a committee of this House. And does the honourable minister have a message? I'll have the honourable Minister of Tourism and Culture read the message, please. Mr. Lemieux: Yes, thank you. I'm also tabling– yes, I'm tabling a recommendation, yes, from the Lieutenant Governor. Mr. Speaker: I'll start over again.

April 10, 2014 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1827 It's moved by the honourable Minister of Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection (Mr. Lemieux), seconded by the honourable Minister of Finance (Ms. Howard), that Bill 34, The Consumer Protection Amendment Act (High-Cost Credit Products), be now read for a second time and be referred to a committee of this House. His Honour the Lieutenant Governor has been advised of the bill, and I table the message. Mr.

Lemieux: Today we are building on our strong record of protecting consumers in the province and making sure that Manitobans know their rights under the law and that businesses follow fair practices. In Manitoba, the province's new types of high -cost credit such as lines of credit, loans, have recently emerged in the marketplace. These products are very costly, usually short -term in nature and offered outside of the regulated banks and credit unions.

Consumer groups, regulated lenders and regulators have all expressed concern about the cost of these products to consumers as well as their effect on the marketplace. In fact, the Public Utilities Board recommen ded regulation of these types of products following its tri- annual payday loans review. The recommendation is strongly supported by the Canadian Payday Loan Association and the consumers' coalition which is made up of the Consumers Association of Canada (Manitoba) Inc., Winnipeg Harvest, Community Financial Counselling Services. Mr.

Speaker, this bill will address existing emerging and evolving high- cost credit products in our marketplace. We want to ensure that consumers who are getting a loan are being treated fairly. Businesses offering high-cost credit products will be required to follow new rules and consumers will benefit from more openness and protection through these amendments. By doing this, we are making sure borrows use –borrowers using these products have all the information they need when taking out a high-cost loan.

We also ensure the Consumer Protection Office has the tools to deal with those lenders that do not comply with the rules. The high- cost credit products addressed in this bill include lines of credit, loans and other products that meet the criteria which will be set out in regulation. Mr. Speaker, as these products evolve, much of the detail will be s et out in regulation for a faster response to new and changing products. The provisions proposed in this bill do not apply to regulated payday loans, or mortgages, or credit extended by banks or credit unions.

This bill will require anyone offering a high- cost credit product to be licensed. The Consumer Protection Office will be responsible for licensing, just like it is currently responsible for licensing payday lenders. The Consumer Protection Office will be able to refuse a licence if the loan exceeds the maximum interest rate of 60 per cent set out in the Criminal Code. This approach has worked in other provinces, including Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia.

Under the proposed amendments, anyone offering high- cost credit products must post signs at each business location explaining the cost, not to charge a fee or penalty for early repayment and to keep records of its high- cost credit products and agreements. Mr.

Speaker, this bill will also require lenders to provide specific information to consumers including the amount of funds available to the borrower and how they can access the funds; the cost of the high– sorry–the cost of the high- cost credit product; the interest rate and how it is calculated; the cost of each fee, charge or penalty and how it is appl ied; and the borrower's rights. The bill also requires lenders to give the borrower a reasonable time to review the disclosed information and the agreement. The lender must provide a copy of the completed agreement to the borrower at no cost.

The bill also gives borrowers the right to cancel the agreement within 48 hours and the right to repay or partially repay without being charged a fee. In another

section of this bill, the Manitoba Payday Borrowers' Financial Literacy Fund is renamed the Manitoba Borrowers' Financial Literacy Fund. Currently, this fund is sustained by contributions from licensed payday lenders, high- cost credit granters will also be required to contribute. The fund will be put towards programs and activities promoting financial literac y for people who borrow from payday lenders and high- cost credit granters. The bill also brings the provisions for payday loans up to speed with the new high- cost credit part so that two parts are consistent. Mr.

Speaker, the high- cost credit industry is r apidly evolving. These changes provide the authority needed to maintain oversight as new high -cost credit products enter the marketplace. So far we have received much support for this bill. Gloria Desorcy, executive director of the Manitoba branch of the Consumers' Association of Canada, has said, the new rules will go a long way to help consumers comparison- shop for credit. The

1828 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 10, 2014 requirement to have full and clear disclosure of the cost, terms and conditions of borrowing will help consumers make better de cisions about credit. John Silver, the executive director of Community Financial Counselling Services, has said, we are pleased to see the Province moving so quickly on the PUB recommendation to regulate these types of products. We've seen people get into real trouble by not realizing just how much a small loan would really cost them and it can start a really serious debt spiral for them. Mr.

Speaker, these amendments continue our record as leaders in consumer protection. We have addressed car repairs, ho me warranties, cellphone contracts and more, and more is coming. We know that part of a healthy economy is ensuring consumers have confidence in the businesses that they work with. I'm sorry to say the opposition again has repeatedly voted against our leg islation.

This past fall they stood with fly -by-night unlicensed con- struction companies when they refused to support warranties for new homes and they fought for the right of unethical car dealers to hide the true costs of a vehicle until after contracts are signed. I really look forward to them changing their tune on this bill, and I hope they will fully support it, Mr. Speaker, and it should be supported unanimously in [inaudible] consumer protection legislation in this House. Thank you. Mr. Ron Schuler (St. Paul): Mr. Speaker, for some in Manitoba living paycheque to paycheque is a reality.

When a crisis occurs these Manitobans have not had the opportunity to save for emergencies and require extra income to overcome these hardships. Unfortunately, if th ese Manitobans have no other options, they must turn to high- interest loans, sometime without fully understanding what the arrangement actually entails. While high -cost credit solutions are not the first choice of Manitobans, it is regrettably the case that for some Manitobans it is the only option left to them due to the burden of high inflation, high taxation and low wage growth that ranks amongst the lowest in the entire country.

In Canada, under

section 347 of the Criminal Code, it is considered to be a criminal offence to enter into an agree–arrangement or receive interest payments which would exceed 60 per cent, but there is nothing stopping providers from supplying high-interest products to individuals charging upwards of 40 to 50 per cent. * (15:00) Bill 34, The Consumer Protection Amendment Act (High-Cost Credit Products), seeks to implement important amendments to help protect these vulnerable individuals in Manitoba when accessing high-cost credit products. Mr.

Speaker this bill's amendments set out clear requirements for providers of high-cost credit products. In order to offer this line of credit, the provider must obtain a licence which currently providers do not need. While the amendments set out in Bill 34 do not affect credit extended by banks, credit unions or payday loan vendors, it does set guidelines and conditions respecting the delivery and service of these products. Ultimately, it will help to protect and better inform the purchasing decisions of Manitobans.

These lenders will have to offer borrowers a comprehensive and transparent agreement in which details of their transactions are made clear, including interest rates, terms of payment and other important information Manitobans need to make informed decisions. Perhaps the most important aspect of Bill 34 is that consumers will have the ability to terminate an agreement within 48 hours, allowing the consumer ample time to reconsider the agreement and ensure that it is in their best interest. That having been said, it seem s bizarre that this government doesn't practice what it preaches.

When this NDP government attempts to improve transparency and help protect the vulnerable Manitobans, we are reminded of their words and actions which show the opposite. Where was the transparency during the last election when the NDP promised that there would be no new taxes? Where was the transparency during the last election when the NDP promised that raising the provincial sales tax was, and I quote, nonsense. This government broke the ir promise to Manitobans and they broke the law with the same stroke of a pen.

This is even more appalling now that we know they have studied raising the PST since well before the NDP got their last mandate, and that they were considering raising it to at least 9 per cent. How is this considered being truthful to Manitobans? The PC Party has been calling on this government to raise the basic personal exemption to the national average. If the NDP care about helping vulnerable Manitobans, why have our calls fallen on

April 10, 2014 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1829 deaf ears? An additional $200 may not seem like a lot for NDP Cabinet ministers, but for those that are struggling it could be a saving grace. Mr. Speaker, the spenDP's tax hikes are hurting these vulnerable Manitobans who are forced into entering these high- cost interest products, who live paycheque to paycheque and are having to use food banks to help feed their children. How can Manitobans have confidence in anything that this government does or says when time and time again they have been caught and tangled in their own web of lies and deceit?

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, while I would like to see a strong and vibrant economy in which no one needs to access high -cost credit products, we understand that sometimes Manitobans have no other choice. It is unfortunate that Manitobans have been deceived by the tax -and-spend NDP promises which they never intend to keep. Surely, they must recognize the damaging effects of their illegal PST has had on the poor. Poverty advocates have made this very clear and it is no surprise that food bank use is found at record levels under this NDP government.

Bill 34 takes important steps to protect Manitobans when accessing high-cost credit and any steps that help safeguard the well-being and safety of Manitobans. Mr. Speaker, my only hope is that this government will take a page from their own book and offer Manitobans transparency and protection when fees are taxes are raised in this province by them. The members of the NDP need to remember that it is the pe ople of Manitoba that they report to and not themselves at the Cabinet room. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr.

Matt Wiebe (Concordia): It's certainly my pleasure to rise and speak to Bill 34, which I think is an important piece of legislation before this House in this particular session, Mr. Speaker. You know, this is a part of a whole package of regulations and consumer protection items that are coming before this House, Mr.

Speaker, that I think move us forward as a province, move us forward in the context of all Canadian provinces who are also facing these challenges, and I think ultimately helps strengthen our economy and help give our consumers the confidence to go out into the marketplace to support our economy and in the meantime to make their lives better here in Manitoba. So I'm very proud to rise to speak a little bit to this particular bill and just to talk about how this particular industry has been, frankly, very tricky in terms of nailing down exactly what the regulations need to be to properly protect consumers.

It's an evolving industry, Mr. Speaker. It's an industry where there are a number of different players, a number of different companies who are offering these services, and they're offering them in new ways, frankly–you know, they're not just bricks and mortar anymore.

There are a number of different ways that people can access short -term loans, and it needs to fall on us as a government to ensure that consumers know what they're getting into, to know that they're going in eyes wide open a nd that they're being treated fairly and that they're able to access these products, they're able to get the support that they need but that they're also doing it so in a fair manner. So this is an evolving industry, it's an evolving part of our economy a nd it's something that not just in Manitoba, but in other places in Canada that we've experienced these challenges.

And we are working in Manitoba to come to a place where we can give people that confidence, but we're also doing it in conjunction with other jurisdictions across Manitoba. Sometimes the products are a line of credit, it could be a loan, it could be something very similar in nature, but they're very costly for the most part, Mr. Speaker, and they're generally short term for individuals. The y're offered outside of the marketplace of regulated banks, so there needs to be some oversight and some guarantee to the consumer that they'll be treated fairly. We've–Mr.

Speaker, we want to ensure that consumers who are getting a loan are just being treated fairly, that the rules that are out there will give them the full information –the full package of information of what exactly they're entering into, and that can be a number of things. It could be the total cost, it could be the payback period, it could be the interest rate, but all of these factors go into what individuals need as a consumer to be fully informed and know what they're getting into. The proposed amendments in this bill, Mr.

Speaker, offering –anyone offering high- cost credit products must display clear signage to explain those costs. They must make detailed disclosures about costs or fees before an agreement for the credit is

1830 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 10, 2014 signed. They have to give the borrower a reasonable amount of time to review the disclosure information and the agreement and provide a copy of the completed agreement to the borrower at no cost. They can't charge a fee or a penalty for early repayment, and they have to be licensed and contribute to the Financial Literacy Fund. So, Mr. Speaker, really what we're doing, and really is the nature of much of the legislation that we're bringing forward with regards to consumer protection, is to give consumers more information.

It sounds like a simple idea, and I guess in some ways it is, but, as I said, this is really an emerging and an evolving industry. So it has proven to be tricky and it has proven to be something that we need to be diligent about, that we need to support the consumers out in the marketplace, and that's where the role of government can be so important and the role of this particular legislation. Other consumer protection that we've had some success with, of course, in Manitoba, Mr. Speaker, is a strong record on car repairs, on home warranties, other important issues that we're seeing come forward.

Payday loans is simply one of those pieces of legislation that can really give consumers that confidence that can help build our economy, that can help Manitoba be an affordable and a good place to live for all Manitobans. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Hon. Andrew Swan (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I want to congratulate the minister for bringing Bill 34 into this House. I'm very pleased that our government has a strong record of protecting consumers.

We've been leaders in this country in consumer protection including with respect to car repairs, home warranties, payday loans, gift cards and cellphone contracts, and with this bill we'll continue to be at the forefront in Canada of protecting consumers. * (15:10) You know, Manitobans ha ve a lot of confidence in our economy, and our consumer confidence indicates that we feel positive about our jobs, our homes, our incomes, and this translates into a healthy climate for business and, of course, stronger economic growth for the province of Manitoba.

And, of course, we all participate in the economy in all different ways, whether we're buying or selling, whether we're trades who repair or lease goods or services. And, frankly, it's to benefit everybody that we have rules in place in the marketplace that make sure things are fair, practical and respond to people's needs. And customers and consumers must have confidence the companies they do business with will treat them fairly and treat them honestly.

And businesses, of course, have to have c onfidence that the rules that regulate their operations are reasonable, don't stand in the way of innovation and put all competitors on an even playing field, which is why we've had so much co- operation in moving forward the consumer protection agenda from Manitoba businesses, who are very interested in making sure that people do get a fair deal. And Manitoba has made a significant commitment to consumer protection. We introduced the Let's Make a Better Deal five -year strategy.

We modernized the language and processes of The Business Practices Act consistent with that strategy. We've made it very clear, Mr. Speaker, that Manitobans with concerns or complaints about a business they've dealt with are always encouraged to come for help; they're encouraged to contact the Consumer Protection Office to receive information, advice and assistance. And, Mr. Speaker, Budget 2014 moved that ahead. A consultation is now under way to hear Manitoban's concerns about misleading and unfair cable, Internet and phone promotions.

Legislation now will guarantee the price you see is the price you pay for new automobiles. New legislation has now been introduced to address high-cost credit products. And, of course, we know buying and renovating homes can be among the most expens ive things that Manitobans take on, and I'm very pleased that we're working to develop stronger consumer protection for home renovations and repairs. Now, the opposition, when they've had their chance, they've repeatedly voted against legislation that protects Manitoban families from unscrupulous companies and unfair practices. I was surprised and I was shocked, Mr.

Speaker, that the opposition actually stood with shady, fly -by-night, unlicensed construction companies, and against families, and against the many reputable, excellent, innovative homebuilders here in Manitoba when they refused to support warranties for new homes. You know, it was the Progressive Conservative opposition that fought for the right of unethical car dealers to hide the true cost of a vehicle until after contracts are signed. And, of course, it was these

April 10, 2014 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1831 same Progressive Conservatives that even said they would consider eliminating rent controls. And, of course, this is the opposition, when we talk about giving Manitobans more oppor tunities to participate in the workplace, the same opposition that's opposed every single increase in the minimum wage since 1999. Now, this bill furthers the consumer protection agenda and it does that by requiring businesses that offer high -cost credi t products to follow new rules and to give consumers more openness and protection through these amendments.

The bill, as the minister has said, adds a new part to The Consumer Protection Act to address existing, emerging and evolving high- cost credit pro ducts in our marketplace, and it's designed to protect consumers for obtaining credit from businesses that are effectively circumventing payday lending legislation. The amendments will also clarify provisions in the payday loans part of the act.

And fi nally, the Manitoba Payday Borrowers' Financial Literacy Fund is renamed the Manitoba Borrowers' Financial Literacy Fund, since high- cost credit granters will now also be required to pay into the fund in addition to payday lenders. And it is necessary to provide people with different options. Unfortunately, not everybody has access to a bank or credit union. I know, representing the West End of Winnipeg, we have far fewer banks in our part of the province than we did once ago. But we need to give people alternatives.

I know that some provinces such as Quebec have maybe gone too far in trying to prevent other lenders from coming into place. We think there's a balance and we think by working with the industry and by listening to Manitobans and listening to consumers, we have struck the right balance with this bill. So, Mr. Speaker, again, this is part of a very good program that we have in Manitoba for protecting consumers. I was very glad to see that the executive director of the Manitoba Branch of the Consumer Association of Canada is onside.

I was very glad to see the executive director of the Community Financial Counselling Services was prepared to be onside to talk about the value of moving ahead with this law. But I'm also pleased that we listened to the Canada–the Canadian Payday Loan Association as well as the Consumers Association of Canada in making sure we've got the right balance. So, Mr. Speaker, I'm certainly going to be supporting this bill and I encourage every other member of this House to continue moving forward the consumer protection agenda in the province of Manitoba. Thank you. Mr. Speaker: Any further debate on Bill 34?

Is the House ready for the question? An Honourable Member: Question. Mr. Speaker: The question before the House is second reading of Bill 34, The Consumer Protection Amendment Act (High-Cost Credit Products). Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] Bill 3–The Witness Security Amendment Act Mr. Speaker: We'll now proceed to call second reading of Bill 3, The Witness Security Amendment Act. Hon. Andrew Swan (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Finance (Ms. Howard), that Bill 3, The Witness Security A mendment Act; Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la sécurité des témoins, be now read a second time and be referred to a committee of this House. His Honour the Lieutenant Governor has been advised of this bill, and I table the message. Mr. Speaker: It's been mov ed by the honourable Minister of Justice (Mr. Swan), seconded by the honourable Minister of Finance (Ms. Howard), that Bill 3, The Witness Security Amendment Act, be now read for a second time and be referred to a committee of this House. His Honour the Lieutenant Governor has been advised of the bill, and I am tabling the message. Mr. Swan : Mr.

Speaker, these amendments will enhance existing witness security legislation to give greater assistance to police and prosecutors, as well as improve the overall administration of justice in Manitoba. Manitoba was the first province in Canada to create in legislation an independent process to provide security measures to witnesses in need of protection and their families. These witnesses require

1832 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 10, 2014 protection becaus e they are co -operating in the prosecution of serious criminal matters, including prosecutions of gang members and organized crime affecting the safety and security of Manitobans. Mr. Speaker, we're proud that, over time, The Witness Security Act has prov en to be such a valuable tool to preserve public safety and the pursuit of justice. Many other provinces have used Manitoba's act as a model to enact their own legislation. These amendments will further enhance the effective administration of the witness security program in Manitoba.

They provide expanded resources to support witnesses who face serious threats or harm because of their co -operation as witnesses in the criminal justice system. Mr. Speaker, since its inception, witnesses, victims, family m embers and others have received protective services under this program, often requiring relocation in Manitoba or across Canada. The witness security program provides specific types of funding and services to witnesses and their families, separate and apar t from law enforcement agencies.

These security measures are outlined in a security agreement, into which the protected person must enter before any benefits will be provided. The amendments would formalize the position of witness security officers. Witness security officers assist the director in co -ordinating and delivering necessary services to protected witnesses. These individuals are employed by government and possess the expertise required to conduct this type of specialized work. Additionally, Mr.

Speaker, these amendments also give peace officer status to witness security officers, while they're engaged in authorized duties assigned to them under the act. This status will confirm that staff with statutory authority and protection necessary to safely conduct their work. The amendments also send a clear message that prohibited conduct will not be tolerated by participants enrolled in the program. The program provides funding and services to protected persons. Misconduct is treated very seriously. It is a fact, Mr.

Speaker, that many of the individuals who may be seeking benefits under the witness security program have them –made themselves, in various ways, targets, and may not have lived the best lives, and it is necessary that they follow the terms of the agreement. Provisions currently exist to expel protected persons from this program for misconduct. However, these amendments provide the director with authority to immediately suspend the provision of funding and services to a protected person, pending an expulsion application.

The director may suspend the payment of financial support to a protected person if, first, an application has been made to the person expelled from the program, based on the grounds set out in the act–for example, by enga ging in conduct prohibited by their security agreement –and, second, if the director has reasonable grounds to believe that continued payment of the financial support would not be in the public interest. This suspension would be in place while the director applies to the assessment panel for a decision to expel the individual from the program.

It would remain in effect until the assessment panel renders a decision. * (15:20) The protected person would be immediately advised of the nature of their misconduct and of the suspension. He or she would have an opportunity to make a written submission to the assessment panel with regard to the proposed expulsion. These amendments create a balanced and fair process. Mr. Speaker, I'm sure that all members of this House agree that witness testimony in criminal prosecutions is a cornerstone of our legal system.

The protection of witnesses in the prosecution of serious crimes, often committed by criminal organizations, is critical to public safety. A substantial number of protected persons in the witness security program are providing testimony in homicide cases. Unfortunately, the threat to witnesses, their immediate families, including children as well as their extended families, is significant. And, Mr. Speaker, I don't want to give members of this House the wrong idea. The program has been very successful since it was established in 2002 and later enshrined in legislation.

In the time the program has been operating, I understand that only two witnesses have ever failed to testify, to come to court to give the information they are supposed to. One of those had been expelled and one was no longer in the program. In fact, only four applications under this act have ever been rejected as unsuitable for admission over the lifetime of the program and, happily, only a handful of witnesses have ever been expelled from the program over its lifetime . One, the case where

April 10, 2014 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1833 the individual refused to testify ; two, who provided testimony through–which resulted in a conviction, and two remain before the courts. Again, the great majority of cases in which individuals enter the program involve homicides, conspiracy to commit murder or attempted murder and, again, the vast majority of them relate to organized crime and street gang prose cutions. And what is also very, very valuable, Mr.

Speaker, and perhaps the most valuable thing, as of the last update I received, in every single matter where a witness in this program has testified a conviction has resulted. And there was one exception. There was an acquittal of one of multiple accused in a single homicide. The program works. The program can give people confidence in the justice system. The program makes sure that important testimony is there as we continue to make Manitoba the most host ile place possible for organized crime. I look forward to the support of the House to pass this bill.

These amendments enhance a groundbreaking and effective program by providing additional resources and safeguards to protect the public interest. These enhancements will serve the citizens of Man itoba and, indeed, the administration of justice in our province. Thank you. Mr. Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach): I'd like to thank the member for Dawson Trail (Mr. Lemieux) for his warm applause. I might not enjoy all the comments, though I think we'll find more or less accord on this issue. Certainly, the principle of the legislation is something that we would support.

The issue of witness protection is one, I think, that often intrigues the public and it becomes a public issue only periodically, but –as it should only become a public issue only periodically as the whole nature of witness protection. But it is one that people often have questions about and how is it that somebody became a protected witness. It's often glamourized in movies. Mr. Speaker, I'm sure you've seen those kinds of productions. I suspect that there's nothing glamorous about it though.

But it is an important part of our justice system where we need to have the evidence to ensure that there is a conviction on a particular crime, and in the cases where there's witness protection they're usually very serious crimes. And then we have to ensure for as long as need be after that, that the individual who provided that evidence by virtue of being witnesses is then protected. And so I've talk ed to the Minister of Justice (Mr. Swan) about this, and his staff, about how this might strengthen that regime.

We have a couple of more questions that we'll look to have in the days ahead, and the bill might not proceed to committee today, but it will p roceed to committee, I'm sure, relatively shortly, and some of those discussions can happen at that time. But I do think it's important that we continually look to strengthen this part of the justice system. We know that people who are going into the witness protection program as protected witnesses, that they've often themselves come from difficult circumstances or sometimes criminal backgrounds, quite often from criminal backgrounds.

And so it's a unique environment for an individual to be protected. Their lives are changing in many ways. They're changing, obviously, from an open and public perspective, but also changing in the way they conduct their lives. That causes, I'm sure, lots of challenges for those who are working with witnesses who are protected and secured witnesses.

I do know, of course, that within the witness protection program, and not speaking about any specific cases here in Manitoba, but there are documented cases where individuals who are within the witness protection program return to a life that they shouldn't be leading and they become difficult within the program.

So there needs to be regulations and laws to ensure that both situations can be dealt with to ensure that an individual who is given testimony and who is going to be withi n a witness security program is, in fact, protected, but then also to ensure that where somebody who is in that program is conducting themselves in a way that is beyond the parameters of that program and certainly the agreed -upon parameters of that program , that there is a way to deal with that as well.

So this legislation, I think, is something that we want to consider and to look at and to ensure that it does all that it can to strengthen the justice system, and to both protect those who are within the secured custody of a witness protection program and to also ensure that where somebody is not hearing and keeping up their end of the bargain, as it were, Mr. Speaker, that there are ways to deal with that as well. Giving additional authority to those who are working within the program where it seemed to be needed, I think, makes sense, Mr. Speaker.

We know that there wouldn't be a great number of people that this would apply to, and I don't expect in my

1834 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 10, 2014 discussions with the Attorney General that there would–that it would apply to a great number of people. Obviously, I understand that the numbers specifically on this are in some ways a matter of confidence, but I do think that we want to ensure that those who are working with those almost as case managers within the witness protection program have the ability, both the training and also the statutory ability, to do the job that they need to do.

So, with those few comments, I don't expect that we'll see this bill move to committee today, but I do expect that it will move to committee in relatively a short order in the days ahead, and further questions can happen at committee when that day happens, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Blaine Pedersen (Midland): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for Lac du Bonnet (Mr. Ewasko), that debate now be adjourned. Motion agreed to. Bill 31–The Police Services Amendment Act (Community Safety Officers) Mr. Speaker: I'll now proceed to call Bill 31, The Police Services Amendment Act (Community Safety Officers). Hon.

Andrew Swan (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I move, seconded by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation (Mr. Ashton), that Bill 31, The Police Services Amendment Act (Community Sa fety Officers); Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les services de police (agents de sécurité communautaire), be now read a second time and be referred to a committee of this House. His Honour the Lieutenant Governor has been advised of the bill, and I table the message. Mr. Speaker: It has been moved by the honourable Minister of Justice, seconded by the honourable Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation, that Bill 31, The Police Services Amendment Act (Community Safety Officers), be now read for a second t ime and be referred to a committee of this House.

His Honour the Lieutenant Governor has been advised of the bill and the message has been tabled. Mr. Swan: Mr. Speaker, this bill amends The Police Services Act to enable community safety officer programs to be developed in Manitoba muni - cipalities. This bill sets out the framework required for this program. As members have heard in the Throne Speech, the city of Thompson has been selected as the first municipality to launch this exciting public safety initiative. This community safety officer program will be a key addition to the public safety network we've created in Manitoba.

Furthermore, the bill has been designed to respond to the unique needs of communities across Manitoba, including not only our large, urban centres, but rural and northern communities as well. Mr. Speaker, expanding policing and public safety resources has and continues to be a priority for our government. Since 1999, we've funded 290 additional police personnel positions acros s the province and we've increased funding to police services by over $82 million. The community safety officer program builds on our reputation for innovation, including the great success of the Winnipeg police cadet program.

The cadet program was recently highlighted and recognized as the best practice at the annual meeting of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, which we were very proud to host right here in Winnipeg. These amendments allow each individual program developed under the act to be tailored to the needs identified by that particular community. * (15:30) Mr. Speaker, the bill outlines the purpose of community safety officers, or CSOs. CSOs will work with local police to enhance public safety.

Their role will include undertaking crime prevention initiatives, assisting persons in need to connect with community resources and being a visible presence in the community. Based on the objectives of each participating municipality, community safety officers may also enforce specific provincial statutes identified by regulation. In Winnipeg, for example, the Winnipeg police cadets are able to enforce provincial statutes including The Intoxicated Persons Detention Act, The Liquor Control Act and also have powers under The Highway Traffic Act for the purposes of directing traffic and securing accident scenes.

I would expect that these would be the kinds of acts that different mu nicipalities would want to have enforced by community safety officers, but there may be different situations across this great province and we'd be very pleased to work with communities to find the package that works best for that community.

April 10, 2014 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1835 And, if authorized, community safety officers can also assist the local police service with non - criminal matters in a wide range of very positive ways, including best practices to prevent crime from happening in the first place. Each community safety officer program must be based on an agreement between the local policing authority–whether an RCMP detachment or a municipal police force –the municipality itself and the Manitoba government on the operation of the program.

The agreement will include details on management, financing, direction and supervision of community safety officers, the relationship between the local policing authority and community safety officers and also how to deal with conduct complaints. Community safety officers will be municipal employees under this act. Municipalities will appoint community safety officers and to ensure account - ability they will be responsible for ensuring they perform their duties and exercise their powers in a proper manner. Municipalities will also be liable for the action s of the community safety officers.

Rules outlining qualifications, training, duties, equipment and uniforms will be prescribed in regulations under the act. Mr. Speaker, it's critical that the face of police services in public safety reflects the communi ties they serve. This principle is reflected in the bill. When appointing CSOs, or community safety officers, a municipality must take into account the diversity of the population of the municipality. Mr. Speaker, the amendments in this bill expand in our government's commitment to enhance public safety for all Manitobans.

Community safety officer programs uphold the fundamental principles en - shrined in The Police Services Act and will be another innovative public safety initiative that's responsive to the needs of Manitoba communities. In closing, I first of all respect Winnipeg's cadet program. I do want to acknowledge the work of the Winnipeg Police Service and also the participation and co-operation of the Winnipeg Police Association in allowing Winnipeg's cadet program to become the success that it is.

In–as we expand outside of the Perimeter with the community safety officer program, I also want to give a lot of credit to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police division D and, in particular, the assistant commissioner Kevin Brosseau, who has been a tremendous partner as we move forward on working to find more ways to bring public safety and order to our communities. I believe, Mr. Speaker

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	40-3-41b
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	40th 3rd hansardpdf 41b.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	ee929e446c892abf060dae52bb1097db4a52831d

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