LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Clerk (Ms. Patricia Chaychuk): It is my duty to inform the House that Madam Speaker is unavoidably absent. Therefore, in accordance with the statutes, I would ask the Deputy Speaker to please take the Chair.
Mr. Deputy Speaker (Doyle Piwniuk): O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as we–may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only in which in accordance with Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom, know it with certainty, accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour for Thy name, for the welfare of all our people. Amen.
Please be seated.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Routine procedures. Introduction of bills? Committee reports? Tabling of reports?
Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Thank you, Mr. Speaker–
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Oh. The required 90 minutes notice prior to routine proceedings was provided in accordance with rule 26(2).
Would the honourable member–honourable First Minister please proceed with the statement.
Mr. Pallister: The blizzard that occurred throughout Manitoba prior to the Thanksgiving weekend was not unprecedented, but the damage it left in its wake was. Thousands of Manitobans were left without electrical power, the consequence of transmission lines, poles, towers having been damaged by the weight of the snow and ice and the ferocity of the wind.
In response, Manitobans did what we've always done in such circumstances: we faced the storm together. We protected the vulnerable. We came to the aid of those who needed our help, especially babies.
And there are so many to thank, Madam Speaker–Mr. Speaker, I apologize–the management and staff of Manitoba Hydro, who responded so quickly to the challenge; the emergency responders, who worked so hard to keep us all safe; our local governments and our First Nations leadership and staff, who ensured that the needs of their community members were addressed.
In particular, we must also thank the management and staff of SaskPower, of Minnesota Power, of Ontario's Hydro One, who responded so quickly with crews and equipment when the scope of the damage to our electrical grid became apparent.
It is heartening to know that we can count on our neighbours in Ontario and Saskatchewan and Minnesota to provide assistance to us in times of exceptional hardship, just as they can always rely on their friends here in Manitoba.
Mr. Speaker, in the gallery today are representatives of Manitoba Hydro and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and I would ask the House: join me as fellow Manitobans in saying a warm and a sincere thank you to each and every one of them.
Thank you.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition–oh, the honourable First Minister?
Mr. Pallister: You are most certainly excused, Mr. Speaker.
I would just like to say thank you. If you would allow me, please, to include the names of our guests, along with hundreds of their fellow colleagues, be included in Hansard as well.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Is it the will of the House to put all the names in Hansard for the–from the Manitoba Hydro employees? [Agreed]
Manitoba Hydro Staff Involved in October 2019 Storm Response: Derek Acres, Alfred Acuna, Emerson Adajar, Kory Adam, Mark Adamkowicz, Blake Adams, Dean Adams, Jeffrey Adams, Tanner Adams, Brian Adamyk, Oliver Adatan, Taylor Adolphe, Leslie Agecoutay, Tyler Agius, Meagan Alexander, Ben Allard, Rezan Almojuela, Antonio Aluotto, Hayley Ambrose-Chateauneuf, Jason Ammeter, William Ammeter, Sandra Amorim Dew, Leanne Amos, Jun Ancheta, Corey Anderson, Craig Anderson, Dean Anderson, Dustin Anderson, Jared Anderson, Trevor Anderson, Rowan Andrelunas, Jamie Andreychuk, Lemuel Ang, Aaron Anna, Bruce Apperley, Jim Apperley, Conner Appleyard, Mackenzie Appleyard, Chris Arbez, Kristi Arbuckle, Daniel Argue, Robert Armitage, Greg Amason, Susan Amason, Chris Arnold, Gary Arnold, Clay Arseniuk, Kendall Asham, Joel Aubin, Ryan Aubry, Corey Augustine, Jake Babinsky, Courtenay Badder, Jamie Badder, Sean Bagan, Jason Bajus, Brett Baker, Collin Baker, Brian Bangert, Earl Bangle, Steve Bangle, Tony Barao, Miles Barber, Jon Barker, Douglas Barkley, Teena Barkley, Darin Barnabe, Kristal Baron, Conrad Barthel, Joshua Barthelette, Wayne Bartley, Jaiden Bartley, Darlene Barylski, Michael Baskerville, Steve Basler, Miguel Bastiaanssen, Kirby Bateman, Alex Bates, Cody Bates, Adam Batycki, Brad Bauer, Kerri Bauereiss, Sandy Bauerlein, Shad Bauschke, Wesley Bear, Ronald Beardy, Shane Beatty, Steve Beaugrand, Dave Beaulieu, Skye Beck, Brian Beckman, Laina Beeharry, Jason Beer, Bryan Beger, Christopher Bell, Steven Bell, Aaron Bella, Barbara Bellin, Jayson Bellingham, Chris Belyk, Brent Bencharski, Perry Bender, Trevor Benson, Jackie Bentham, Norma Bentham, Dan Berard, Justin Berard, John Berens, Ryan Beresford, Matt Berezowski, Jason Bergthorson, Damion Bernard, Renee Bernardin-Kern, Rick Bernauer, Tyler Bernauer, Justin Bernier, George Bernt, Kevin Berry, Jamie Berthelette, Maggie Berthelette, Brent Bertram, Zachary Bertram, Justin Bessette, Dan Betcher, Jeff Betker, Rhiannon Bezan, Jason Bichlbauer, Darren Bignell, Robert Bilbey, Heather Bilesky, Robert Bilodeau, Marty Bisson, Thomas Bjorklund, Bradley Black, Daniel Black, Tony Black, Heather Blackmon, Don Blois, Ian Blouw, Kenneth Blue, Shaun Blue, Rose-Mary Bobinski, Glenn Bodnar, Stefan Bolianaz, Clayton Bomak, Ryan Bonin, Erik Bonnefoy, Marc Bonneville, Wendy Bonnie, Tanner Booth, Dennis Boothe, Donald Borg, Cody Borman, Richard Bornn, Geoff Borsboom, Jarett Borton, Karson Bqsiak, Aerin Boulanger, Adam Boulet, Daniel Boulet, Robert Bourke, Chantal Bourque, Joel Bourrier, Troy Boyachek, Randy Boychuk, Rodney Boychuk, Lindsay Boyd, Dustin Boyechko, Gregory Bradco, Ryan Bradley, Tracy Brady, Richard Brakel, Tanis Brako, Mathew Branconnier, Ryan Branconnier, Johnny Braschuk, Waylon Brass, Jeff Braun, Leanne Bray, Jeff Breakey, Kelly Breckman, Lonnie Breland, Gisele Bretecher, Marty Bridgeman, Brett Brincheski, Andree Brindle, Kelly Britton, Dylan Brook, Eric Brown, Garry Brown, Karen Brown, Michael Brown, Michael Brown, Nicole Brown, Warren Brown, Philip Bruce, Shane Bruce, Clinton Brugger, Brigitte Bruneau, Jason Bruneau, Jana Brunel, Ryan Brunel, Phillippe Brunette, Christopher Bryant, Michelle Brydon, Todd Buchanan, Reigan Buchanan, Trevor Buchberger, Todd Buchholzer, James Buck, Andrew Buczko, Darris Budd, Cassidy Budge, Ernie Bueckert, Jason Bueckert, Merrit Buffie, Chad Buhay, Abe Buhler, Reid Burak, Ian Burgess, Scott Burgess, Jeffrey Burke, Sukhdeep Burmi, Aldo Buscemi, Peter Buscemi, Lucy Byzio, Ryan Cabak, Hubert Cabernel, Erik Cabuhat, Sheri Calais, Stuart Calgie, Shaun Cameron, Jordan Campbell, Wade Campbell, Kerry Canada, Ryan Canada, Brent Candler, Geoff Caron, Lorna Caron, David Carpenter, Fred Carpenter, Jesse Carpenter, Myles Carpenter, Patrick Carriere, Susan Carriere, Shawn Carson, Jack Carter, Adam Castle, Riley Cavers, Greg Cayer, Jason Cesmystruk, Kelly Chabot, Dave Chamberlain, Jeff Champagne, Tim Champagne, Paul Chard, Miguel Chartier, Ryan Chartier, Adam Chartrand, Dawn Chartrand, Ronald Chartrand, Ronald Chartrand, Tanya Chartrand, Monica Chase, Chad Chegwin, Kelsey Chevalier, Earl Chinchilla, Alyssa Chiponski, Lindusia Chmieluk, Jason Chopp, Jamie Choquette, Curtis Christensen, Aston Christiansen, Rhian Christie, Pam Christler-Martin, Cody Chubaty, Sean Chychota, Dianna Chymyshyn, Anthony Clark, Brandon Clark, Jennifer Clark, Robert Clark, Terrance Clarke, Zachary Clemons, Allen Clow, Charity Coburn, Curtis Code, Adam Coder, Kristine Coleman, Sylvia Connolly, Brad Cook, Trevor Cooke, Eric Cooper, Mitch Cooper, Jason Cordell, Chad Cormier, Margaret Cornick, Barbara Cosman, Armande Cote, Kelly Cote, Logan Cote, Marc Cote, Allan Couling, Kevin Courchaine, Ben Courchene, Jeremy Courchene, Matt Coutts, Don Cowie, Nick Cowie, Brennen Cox, Michael Coyston, Chad Craig, Christopher Craig, Troy Craig, Wesley Crammond, Hugh Crawford, Gregory Crockatt, Coralee Crowe, David Crowe, Scott Crowhurst, Kimberly Croy, Tyler Croy, David Cryderman, Roger Currie, Grant Cure, Richard Dabrowski, Shamus Dack, Jeffrey Daher, Kyle Daigneault, Mike Dales, Mark Dalmaijer, Bruce Daly, Lawrence Danard, Rob Danard, Steven Daniels-Webb, Mike Danielson, Ed Danyluk, Justin Darr, Kelly Davison, Derrick Davy, Daniel Day, Eric Day, Donnie De Laroque, Julie De Santis, Wade Decock, Robert Dee, Irish Delamare, Sheila Delaurier, Cortney Dell, Craig Delorme, Kirk Delorme, Byron Deogracias, Michael Derevnin, Randy Derksen, Kim Dermody, Jaclyn Desaulniers, Marc Desaulniers, Karlin Desautels, Ryan Desharnais, Donald Desjardine, Kevin Desorcy, Paul Desorcy, Gerry Desrochers, Joel Desrosiers, Edgar Detablan, Melissa DeVriendt, Rene Dheilly, Richard Dheilly, Mark Dick, Mark Dickoff, Victor Diduch, Ellaine Dionisio, Maria DiVincenzo, Meagan Dlot, Mike Dmytriw, Adam Dmytrow, Joe Dobson, Tod Docker, Gerry Dodds, Derek Doerksen, Marc Dojack, Clayton Dolding, Sean Dolyniuk, Lawrence Dorie, Duane Doucette, Jeff Douglas, Scott Draper, Matt Drew, Sean Driedger, Justin Drohomereski, Sean Dryden, Darryle Ducharme, Jarvis Ducharme, Aaron Dueck, Andrew Dueck, Eldon Duffy, Jackie Dumaine, Andrej Dunai, Matt Dunbar, Darryn Duncan, Wade Duncan, Bret Dunham, Terry Dunlop, Kevin Dunn, Blaze Dunning, Lee Dunning, Julien Dupas, Sean Dureault, JC Duval, Brad Dyck, Greg Dyck, Kurtis Dyck, Kyle Dyck, Jeff Dykun, Jeff Easton, Chris Eccles-Zebrasky, Daniel Edgar, Robert Eekhoudt, Cecil Eger, Brent Eichel, Geoffrey Eichkorn, Ryan Einarson, Erik Einarsson, Jordan Ekosky, Kevin Ellis, Trina Emerson, Todd Engel, Cayman Enns, Jesse Enns, Jordan Enns, Justin Enns, Darcy Ens, Greg Epp, James Erickson, Brock Erickson, Collin Erickson, Eric Erickson, Evan Erickson, Curtis Erlendson, Brandon Erstelle, Andre Espenell, Isabelle Estoy, Richard Etsell, Alecia Evans, Lee Evans,, Teresa Evanyshyn, Devin Evenson, Ryan Ewasiuk, Scott Ewasiuk, Jeff Ewen, Amanda Exner, Corey Eyolfson, Lonny Farthing, Chase Faulkner, Dean Fenwick, Jennifer Ferguson, Alasdair Fergusson, Jonathan Feriand, Hugo Ferreira, Ingrid Ferstl, Rachel Ferstl, Kristy Fewchuk, Joshua Figler, Mike Filby, Luke Filipecki, Danielle Fillion, Mitch Fillion, Tim Finch, Taylor Fingas, Seb Fiala, Kelly Fisette, Todd Fisette, Brody Fitzsimmons, Jared Flaman, Brett Flaten, Gary Flaten, Karla Flaten, Thomas Fleming, Daniel Fletcher, Michael Fleury, Lyle Flinta, Devin Foote, Brad Forbes, Michael Forbes, David Forbister, Kevin Forhan, Kyle Forrest, Aaron Forsyth, Blaine Fortin, Dianne Forzley, Brett Foster, Ward Foster, Trevor Found, Todd Fountain, Rob Fournier, Kerry Francis, Kevin Frank, Garrett Franko, Eric Frantz, Darcy Franz, Travis Franz, Ethan Fraser, Jessica Freedy, Rick Freese, Ryan Freese, Chris Friesen, Gerald Friesen, Jared Friesen, Julio Friesen, Barret Frith, Kaitlin Fritz, Chad Frobisher, Colin Froese, Kyle Froese, Trevor Froese, Chad Froggatt, Craig Frost, Brianna Frykas, Gavin Fuerst, Gord Funk, Justin Funk, Kyle Furkalo, Acacia Furtado, Alastair Fyfe, Andi Gabuna, Trevor Gagne, Sean Galay, Christopher Galbraith, Colleen Galbraith, Don Gale, Kenneth Gall, Ali Gamil, Sean Gannon, Randy Garcia, Kelly Gardham, Josh Gareau, Aldo Garofalo, Matthew Garofalo, Hayden Gates, Eloria Gaudet, Tyler Gauthier, Susan Geard, Graydon Geddes, Adrien Gehring, Tyson Geisler, Ernest Gelfman, Joel Gendron, Larry Geodisico, Rob Gerry, Dale Giesbrecht, Gerry Giesbrecht, Jared Giesbrecht, Jesse Giesbrecht, Ken Giesbrecht, Annette Giguere, Sheena Gill, Jeremy Gillis, Ronald Ginter, Svany Gislason, Todd Gittins, Christian Gmiterek, Shauna Gmiterek, Eugene Gobeil, Ryan Godfrey, Rob Gomercic, Chris Goncalves, Joey Good, Glen Goodman, Scott Goodman, Glenn Gorda, Curtis Gordon, Todd Gorman, Adam Gorrie, Adam Gosek, Kirk Gosnold, Kyle Gosnold, Brad GosseIin, Remi Gosselin, Tony Gould, Grant Graham, Scott Graham, Kyle Grant, Sheldon Grant, Jeff Grantham, Charlene Gratton, Jovel Gravador, Derek Grawberger, Robert Grawberger, Douglas Gray, Melissa Gray, Colton Green, Matt Green, Troy Gregorash, Shannon Gregorashuk, Therese Grenier, Steven Greschuk, Scott Gretsinger, Mike Grey, Evan Grimstrup, Adam Grocholski, Dale Grocholski, Dave Grocholski, Kelly Groening, Kyla Groening, James Gross, Jeffrey Grouette, Darcy Gryba, Dean Guarino, Doris Guay, Jordan Guiboche, Matthew Gulas, Laird Gullett, Jayme Gunderson, Wayne Gunn, Lynette Gurniak, Lane Gushuliak, Matt Haarsma, Robert Hacault, Glenn Hacking, Jory Hadiken, Owen Hagan, Adam Haggan, Jaime Hagglund, Lindsey Hagglund, Glen Haight, Chris Halama, Krista Halayko, Eli Halcrow, Harley Halcrow, Brian Hall, Gordon Hallett, Roger Halleux, Joel Hamm, Alisha Hancock, Brent Haney, Raelene Hanna, Cory Hanneson, Norman Hansen, Evan Hanson, Mark Hanson, Vincent Harder, Justin Harding, Kim Hardman, Mack Hardy, Mike Hargreaves, Jake Harnett, Sharon Harrald, Kim Harris, Marvin Harris, Neil Harris, Terry Harrison, Christopher Hart, Greg Hart, Sandra Harvey, Juanita Hatley, Jzero Hauser, Bradley Hay, Nick Hay, Randy Hayden, Tim Hayduk, Steve Haynes, Marjorie Head, Leonard Healey, John Heaps, Andre Hebert, Justin Hebert, Russ Hebert, Brett Hedman, Eric Hein, Jennifer Heiner, David Heinrichs, Josh Heinrichs, Cody Helgason, Tracy Helgeson, Lorilea Helm, Eldon Hemminger, Maureen Henderson, Chris Henry, Shane Henuset, Ryan Hermogenes, Cory Herweyer, Corben Heudebourck, Kenneth Hiebert, Ray Hiebert, Lorraine Higham, Brody Hildebrand, Denver Hildebrand, Clinton Hildebrandt, Garett Hildebrandt, Dustin Hill, Jordy Hill, Colin Hillier, Mitch Hince, Greg Hirst, Jeremy Hirst, Mike Hislop, Mike Hitra, Tim Hodge, Kyleen Hodgkinson, Kathleen Hodgson, Travis Hodnett, Vince Hodson, Donald Hoeppner, Chris Hofer, Craig Hogg, Chris Hogue, Orrin Hogue, MacKenzie Hole, Neil Holigroski, Brett Holmes, Quentin Holmes, Mark Holmstrom, Mike Holowec, Melanie Holowick, Brad Honke, Keith Hooper, Scott Hopkins, Ryan Hordal, Blair Hotel, Phil Houston, Harley Howard, Craig Hrysio, Melanie Hudson, Albert Huhtala, John Huillery, Jason Huley, Tom Humble, Brent Huminuk, Mark Hummelt, Edward Humphrey, Jim Hunt, Blake Hunter, Curtis Hunter, Jeff Hunter, Faye Huntinghawk, Cory Hutcheon, Kenneth Hutchinson, Timothy Hutchinson, Dale Hutchison, Monique Hutchison, Joseph Hutlet, Tom Hutniak, Brad Huyber, Kaleb Inglis, Brad Ireland, Wayne Ireland, Heather Ironside, Andrew Irving, Robert lsfeld, Gary Iwanchysko, John Izon, Paul Jackson, Linda Jackson, Adam Jacobs, Erica Jacobson, Patrick Jakubowski, Wesley Jaman, Ian James, Joseph Janisch, Paul Janssen, Dean Janz, Morgan Janzen, Devin Jarvis, Mark Jaslowski, Tracey Jastrebski, Ryland Jefferies, Bryan Jenner, Daniel Jensen, Karen Joachim, Jordan Johannesson, Laurel Johannson, Andrew Johnson, Colin Johnson, Edward Johnson, Graham Johnson, James Johnson, Jill Johnson, Lucas Johnson, Mac Johnson, Max Johnson, Michael Johnson, Michael Johnson, Mike Johnson, Troy Johnson, Robert Johnson, Robert Johnson, Shane Johnson, Shannon Johnson, Stephen Johnston, Richard Jonasson, Chad Jones, Barrett Jonsson, Brady Jonsson, Mike Jowett, Elliot Joyce, Kenneth Joynt, Jon Juba, Stephen Jury, Craig Kabaluk, Ronald Kalupar, Jared Kalynuik, Stefan Kalynuik, Darryl Kalyta, Mark Kaminsky, Mathew Kaprawy, Susan Karashowsky, Glenn Karatchuk, Kyle Karpyza, Dean Kasur, Anthony Kauenhowen, Mathew Kehler, Jim Keil, Jon Kell, Michael Keller, James Kellough, Derek Kempthorne, Bryan Kenning, Rod Kennington, John Kenny, Herve Kerbrat, Karl Kerbrat, Nathan Kerbrat, Deborah Kielich, Jo-Dean Kiesman, Kristian Kiesman, Kevin Kiezik, Wes Killbery, Michael Killen, Dave Killingbeck, James Kindzierski, Ryan King, Michael King, Brian Kingsley, Denine Kinnear, Dylan Kippen, Devan Kirby, James Kirk, Dana Kirkness, Bradley Kirkpatrick, Derek Kirkpatrick, Christopher Kirton, Jeff Kisiloski, Darcy Kisilowsky, Shawn Kjartanson, Randy Klainchar, Darcy Klassen, David Klassen, Grant Klassen, Kevin Klassen, Ronald Klassen, Melissa Klaz, Harley Klein, Robert Klein, Rorrie Klein, Carol Klimack, Alan Klimchuk, Beverly Klimchuk, Jenna Klimchuk, Mike Klimchuk, Danielle Klippel, Kevin Klym, Ryan Klym, Mallory Kmet, Kevin Knox, Elliott Kocay, Rick Koch, Hayden Kolesar, Jerry Kolesar, Anthonie Koop, Ken Korchak, Mike Kostyshyn, Kyle Kouk, David Kovach, Jayson Kowal, Kyle Kowaluk, Mat Kozier, Paul Krahn, Adam Kramchynsky, Aaron Kristjanson, Glen Kristjanson, Jared Kroeker, Kent Kraker, Jessie Kropp, Chris Krychuk, John Kublick, Christine Kuerten, Crystal Kufley, Adam Kukielka, Matthew Kulba, Scott Kulyk, Matthew Kunicki, Matt Kurz, Darcy Kutzy, Janel Kuypers, Wayne Kyrzyk, Joel L'Heureux, Barrett Labossiere, Gilles Lacroix, Paul Laderoute, Kyle Laforte, Trevor Laforte, Derrick Lagimodiere, Joel Lajambe, Paul Lajoie, Matthew Lake, Andrew Lambert, Fred Lambert, Guy Lambert, Ivan Lambert, Nathan Lambkin, Dale Lamoureux, Landon Lamoureux, Robbie Lamoureux, Jason Landon, Joseph Landreville, Joelle Landreville, Jean Paul Langevin, Richard Lansard, Bonnie Lapka, Robert Lapka, Billy Lapointe, Michel Laroche, Jazmen Larocque, Andy Larson, Monique Lasko, Maria Laud, Blake Lavallee, Christopher Lavallee, Cody Lavallee, Darian Law, James Law, Klint Law, Lorna Law, Michael Law, Robert Law, Jenny Lawe, Sarah Lawrie, Patrick Leask, Raymond Lebecque, Aaron LeBel, Richard Leblanc, Daniel Leclair, Pierre Leclaire, Nat Lecuyer, Kim Leeson, Douglas Lefko, Hunter Leforte, Tim Leforte, Chad Leganchuk, Darren Lemoine, Serge Lemoine, Graham Leochko, Josee Lepine, Andrew Leslie, Scott LeStrat, Blair Lesy, Karla Leullier, Matthew Levitt, Dave Lewis, Kurtis Lewis, Brad Lindsay, Tom Linklater, Theo Liontas, Kyle Lischka, Branko Litva, Jesse Livingston, Rob Livingstone, Nathan Lobreau, David Lockert, Eric Lockhart, Travis Lockhart, Brett Lockhart, Laine Lockhart, Tyson Lodge, Tim Loeb, Jordan Logan, Francesca Lonigro, Jodie Lowe, Brett Luky, Lisa Luky, Kent Lundy, Braden Lussier, Clayton Lussier, David Lussier, Dominic Lussier, Chris Lutes, Cole Lux, Jody Lyburn, Braun Lywak, Craig Maccarthy, Mark Maccarthy, Jolene MacDonald, Susan MacDonald, Brent Machula, Lara Machum, Paul MacKay, Sam Mackay, Amna Mackin, Allan Maclaren, Sean Madden, Brent Madill, Trent Madill, Todd Magner, Drew Mahood-Krawczyk, Shane Mailey, Bryce Makinson, Daryl Makinson, Carman Malcolm, Donny Malcolm, Craig Malenchak, Kurt Malenchak, Justin Maliszewsky, Addison Malkowich, Julie Manaigre, Dolly Marbil Toledo, Thomas Marche, Greg Marchischuk, Judy Marczylo, Domenic Marinelli, Mike Markewich, Jacob Marks, Gerald Marquez, Michael Marshall, Chris Martel, Stephane Martel, Daryl Martens, Gary Martens, Clayton Martin, Wayne Martyniuk, Doug Marzolf, Tyler Masson, Paul Matthews, Gail Maxwell, Daryl Maxwell, Gord May, Tommy Mayham, Janet Mayor, Lee Mayor, Bryan McAllister, Andrew McBride, Kelly McBride, James McCarville, Thomas McCulloch, Kelly McCutcheon, Michelle McCutcheon, Jackson McDonald, Riley McDonald, Tanner McDonald, Tara McDonald, Bill McDonald, Steve McFarlane, Paul McGean, Bryan McGimpsey, Alan McGregor, Richard McGregor, Keldon McGuirk, Kimberley McInnis, Cody McIntosh, Justin McIvor, Les McIvor, Edgar McKay, Lee McKay, Jamie McKenzie, Jeremiah McKenzie, Michael McKenzie, Colin McKinley, Tyler McKinnon, Cody McKoluff, Leon McLauchlan, Colin McLean, Kristian McLean, Barrett McLeod, Gord McLeod, Preston McLeod, Tom Mcleod, Ian McMahon, , June McMahon, Tina McMahon, Dave McMillan, Darin McMurdo, Aleena McNeill, Gregory McNeill, Greg McNish, Troy McRae, Kiely McRuer, Jason McTavish, Kayle Meakin, Courtnee Mealy, Anna Meas, Geethani Mediwake, Allen Meger, Cody Meixner, Tyler Meixner, Greg Melnichuk, Tim Melnychuk, Daniel Melnyk, Lindsay Melvin, Krista Menard, Matthew Menard, Quinn Menec, Larry Merasty, Braedon Meredith, Colleen Mernett, Gerry Messner, Curt Metzler, Darin Metzler, Dale Meyers, Thomas Michaleski, Ian Michaud, Francis Michiels, Martin Micklash, Sean Middleton, Lorne Midford, Joel Mikkelson, Giovanni Militano, Dennis Millar, Clint Miller, Craig Miller, Curtis Miller, Derek Miller, Derek Miller, Donald Miller, Guy Miller, Derik Milne, Dallas Minnie, Darcy Mitani, Michael Moar, Geoff Moen, Shane Moffatt, Monique Molgat, Jackson Mollard, Darwin Moman, Kyle Moman, Ellen Montecillo, Mike Monych, Garett Moore, Codey Moore, Douglas Moose, Gabriel Morales, Perry Morcombe, Donovan Morfoot, Lorne Morfoot, Brent Morgan, Michel Morin, Steven Morin, Kaine Morran, Keith Morris, Dylan Morriseau, Don Morrison, Hudson Morrison, Jarret Morrison, Lois Morrison, Sean Morrison, Jordan Morrisseau, Ryan Moss, Sara Mousseau, Lisa Mowat, Sean Moyce, Adrienne Mrozik, Richard Muirhead, Keegan Munro, Al Munz, Benjamin Murray, David Murray, Jason Mushmanski, Carman Mustard, David Muzyka, Norman Nachtigall, Christophe Nadeau, Daniel Nahuliak, Darnell Nast, Harold Nast, Denys Nault, Dessiray Nault, Darlene Nazar, Terrance Neepin, Kristopher Nelson, Laurie Nelson, Michael Nelson, Diana Newbury, Garth Newman, Curtis Nichols, Mike Nicholson, Bryan Niemi, Derek Nietrzeba, Brenlee Nilsson, Jandrija Ninkovic, Yuriem Nodarse Soler, Harry Nott, Leonard Novak, Adrian Ogemow, Kelly Ogg, Kyle Ogibowski, Nick Ogryzlo, Linnea Ohta, Kyle Okapiec, Wesley Olafson, Chantelle Oldfield, Mitchell Oliver, Tyler Oliver, Michael Olotu-Jacob, Casey Olthof, Dwight Onesky, Mitch Ostanski, Garrett Ostapowich, Kris Ostlere, Robb Oucharek, Trevor Ouelette, Rick Oughton, Leslie Ouskun, Bruce Owen, Damian Ozga, Chad Pachkowsky, Jeremy Pachkowsky, Scott Pacula, Barry Paddock, Andrew Palanuk, Cameron Palmer, Darren Paluck, Paul Palud, Raki Pampolina, Jesse Pangman, Colton Paradis, Michael Parent, Janice Park, Sung Park, Bill Parker, Carson Parker, Matthew Parker, Joel Parrott, William Parrott, Steven Parry, Don Parsons, Mark Parsons, Bart Pasemko, Glenn Paskaruk, Amrish Patel, Rekha Patel, Pat Patenaude, Dwayne Paterson, Dylan Paterson, Cyril Patterson, Rory Patzer, Jordan Paul, Tom Paulic, Kym Pauls, Mark Pauls, Monty Peckover, Gennaro Pellegrino, Erik Pelletier, James Pelletier, Connie Penne, Blake Penner, Glenn Penner, Jennifer Penny, Denita Peppler, Ross Peppler, Timothy Perera, Craig Perkins, Allan Perrett, Noah Perrin, Adam Perron, Mike Perry, Nelson Perry, Allan Perswain, Alyssa Pescitelli, Russell Peter, Shawn Peters, Jayde Petrowski, Tim Philippi, Dave Phillips, Riley Phillips, Matt Phin, Bruce Phipps, Patrick Picard, Marc Piche, Justin Pichor, Sue Pimentel, Eric Pinchin, Nolan Playford, James Plohman, Melinda Pluchinski, Scott Plunkett, Kevin Podaima, Kristina Podkriznik, Mike Podolsky, Rob Podolsky, Tim Pohl, Darcy Poirier, Chad Pollon, Tera Popien, Andrii Postavenskyi, Shawn Potter, Brian Powell, Scott Powell, Chase Prasek, Kevin Pratt, Nicholas Prawdzik, Sean Prcevich, Kelly Premak, Darrell Preteau, Dean Preteau, Richy Prettie, David Prichodko, Mitch Pride, Joanne Pritchard, laden Prive, Wes Proceviat, Trent Procter, Ron Prokopowich, Tyson Prost Mike Proulx, Sarah Proulx, Christina Prud'homme, Brett Pruden, Dale Prystenski, Norman Punzalan, Jorge Purganan, Trevor Purse, Bobby Purvis, Darcie-Lee Pyner, Madeleine Qually, Dean Rach, Roberta Radons, Becky Radtke, Tim Rak, Derek Ramlal, Kailey Ramlal, Lee Ransom, Karen Raposo, Rodney Raugust, Ray Raynaud, Darrin Rear, Courtney Reeves, Derrick Reeves, Thomas Regehr, Jason Reibin, Daren Reiter, Chris Remillard, Clarke Rempel, Luke Rempel, Leon Revet, Richard Revay, Ron Rexer, Carl Rey, Marc Reyes, Evan Reynolds, David Ribachuk, Blake Rice, Joe Richard, Tyler Richards, Dave Richter, Brett Riddell, Ryan Riddell, Jordan Ringash, Vicki Rinn‑Stechkewich, Rob Rioux, Brennan Ritchie, Richard Rivera, Ron Rivera, Harrison Robb, Christopher Roberts, Taylor Robertson, Brent Robertson, Andrew Robillard, Kevin Robinson, Lise Roch, Colin Rochon, Mark Roddy, Rachelle Rodger, Arthur Rodgers, Carol Rodgers, Evan Rodgers, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Martin Roer, Patrick Rollins, Jack Romaniuk, Glenda Rooney, Travis Rose, Donna Ross, Gerald Ross, Jason Rostek, Timothy Rothwell, Tim Routledge, Tyler Routledge, Shane Rowe, Justin Roy, Tamara Roy, Jim Rudd., Matthew Rueckert, Marie Jhonelle Ruiz, Brian Rushinka, Jeannette Ryden, Perry Rzesnoski, Keenan Sabeski, Alex Sabourin, Lincoln Sagel, Jason Sahulka, Tim Saler, Craig Sambrooke, Jeffrey Samson, Nathan Sanche, Gerry Sanclemente, Jennifer Sanclemente, Bryan Sangster, Zechariah Sather, Kyle Saunders, Brandyn Savage-Murray, Kim Savage, Jaime Sawatzky, Paul Sawers, David Sawyer, Graham Sayer, Jay Scanlon, Lucena Scanlon, Brent Schade, Lukas Scheepers, Jared Schirmacher, Brett Schkawritka, Rene Schmidt, Tim Schofield, Robert Schon, Josh Schoonbaert, Jonathan Schroeder, Tamara Schroeder, Sandy Schumann, Dustin Schurhoff, Daniel Schwark, Sherry Scott Lemke, Chris Scott, Christian Scott, Doug Seramstad, Gerrall Scramstead, Trent Seafoot, Andrew Seddon, Judy Selk, Jamie Sellman, Jordan Semenchuk, Brennan Senchuk, Logan Senchuk, Ryan Senkow, Michelle Sentenac, Tanner Serruys, Mark Sewell, Bryden Shamanski, Dan Shanks, Cale Shaw, Steven Shepit, Sharon Shergold, Nicholas Sherrer, Dean Sherritt, Kyle Shewchuk, Travis Shewchuk, Stuart Shewfelt, Gary Shingleton, Mike Shnitka, Iryna Shtoyko, Al Shumka, Dale Shurek, Marshall Shust, Joe Shwaluk, Tim Shyiak, Nathan Sichewski, Tim Sigfusson, Brad Sigurdson, Darrell Sigurdson, Ryan Sigurdson, Scott Sigurdson, Craig Sigvaldason, Neil Sigvaldason, Nicole Sigvaldason, Shane Sigvaldason, Kevin Sikora, Scott Simons, George Sinclair, Bruce Sinclair, Jordan Sinclair, Mark Sinclair, Neil Sinclair, Ryan Sinclair, Drew Sippell, Dave Sirant, Gerald Sitar, Jill Sitar, Leonard Sitar, Larry Skoleski, Irvin Skoropata, Scott Slagerman, Dave Slater, Riley Slater, Erin Sliworsky, Floyd Sliworsky, John Smiley, Carson Smith, Chris Smith, Donald Smith, Jordan Smith, Mark Smith, Mike Smith, Taylor Smith, Samantha Smolarski, Kent Smoley, Jeff Smuttell, Lorne Smyth, Jordan Sobering, Ryan Sobering, Shawna Sobkow, Brent Sobry, Jack Somerville, Cody Sonnenberg, Frank Sorenson, Ryan Spak, Kyle Spalding, Dale Spence, Chris Sprung, Ronnie St. Aubin, Jason St. Onge, Kyle St. Paul, Collette St‑Amant, Cyril St Goddard, Kyle Stadey, Barry Stamford, Laura Standish, Cindy Stanley, Darren Stanski, Chuck Steele, Christopher Stefaniuk, Matthew Stefaniuk, Austin Steinberger, Ryley Steinert, Aaron Steinke, Reid Steinke, Olaf Stemmer, Jody Stengel, Gary Sterhat, Lenard Stesenko, Ryan Stevens, Cory Stevenson, Mike Stevenson, Wayne Stevenson, Christine Stewart, Gregory Stewart, Keith Stewart, Keith Stewart, Randy Stewart, Darryl Stocki, Brent Stokotelny, Luke Stokotelny, Bernice Stoltz, Ross Storie, Carey Storozinski, Gody Streit, Nancy Stroich, Alec Stuart, Richard Suderman, Warren Sukich, Darryll Sum, Mike Sumka, Danielle Swain, Carl Swanson, Clint Swanson, Evan Sweetland, Greg Sydor, Chris Sylvester, Ryan Synchyshyn, Kelly Szajewski, Darren Tabak, Terry Tabak, Wayne Tabak, Jaydon Tait, Sean Talbot, Susan Tang, Jared Tarr, Mike Tataryn, Bryce Taylor, Chad Taylor, Rylee Taylor, Norm Tchir, Jared Tegg, Ryan Telke, Jim Theriault, Ashley Thiessen, Frank Thiessen, Joe Thievin, Bradley Thomas, Jeremy Thomas, Scott Thomas, Sean Thomas, Stephen Thomas, Alan Thompson, Joe Thompson, John Thompson, Kirk Thompson, Lindsay Thompson, Matthew Thompson, Riley Thomsen, Colin Thomson, Will Thomson, Kari Thordarson, Floyd Thorkelson, Laurence Thorkelson, Angela Thorkelsson, Megan Thorne, Randy Thorsteinson, Dallas Thorwesten, Devin Tibbett, Chris Timlick, Kelsey Tipper, Marcel Tkachyk, Brendon Todd, Michael Todd, Robert Todoruk, Curtis Toews, Rodger Toews, Larry Tole, Doug Toogood, Dwayne Toole, Lianne Topp, Daniel Toupin, Roy Tourand, Sean Traill, Hayley Tripp, Allan Trotter, Daniel Trudeau, Jean-Guy Trudeau, Elliott Tully, Tammy Turcan, Matthieu Turenne, Dawn Turner, Hal Turner, Matthew Turner, Weston Turner, Gordon Twiss, Josh Tymchak, Ryan Tymofichuk, Lee Unrau, Lynne Unrau, Scott Unrau, Barry Urbanowski, Craig Valentonis, Sharon Van Achte, Tanar Van Alstyne, Darcy Van De Kerckhove, George Van De Vorst, Rodrick Van Den Driessche, Amanda Vandepoele, Connie Vanderhart, Cody Vandersteen, Mark Vanhelvert, Shawn Verhaeghe, Albert Viallet, David Victor, Jeoffrey Villanueva, Richard Vincent, Alex Vitt, Duncan Vopni, Roger Wabick, Jared Waddell, Marco Wagner, Sandra Walker-Adolph, Brenda Wallace, Travis Wallace, Barry Wallack, Teresa Walls, Brady Walsh, Richard Ward, Susan Ward, Cory Warden, Rick Warkentin, Jano Warwaruk, Joseph Warwaruk, Donald Washenfelder, David Wasylkoski, Jason Waterman, Devin Watson, Chris Watts, Dennis Waytiuk, Danny Wazny, Nicole Webster, George Weddall, Ryley Weir, Jaeger Weiss, Darin Weslak, Scott Whaley, Eric Whettell, Michelle Whetter, Bryce White, Mitchell Whyte, Brent Wiebe, Daryl Wiebe, Jason Wiebe, James Wiebe, Larry Wiebe, Shayne Wiebe, Carl Wilkinson, Colby Will, Shawn Will, Anthony Willems, Chad Williams, Derek Williamson, Bradly Williment, Mark Willis, Nancy Willms, Bradley Wilson, Dale Wilson, Derek Wilson, Derek Wilson, Josh Wilson, Kelly Wilson, Matthew Wilson, Miles Wilwand, Jordon Winder, Regan Windsor, Andrew Winters, Lance Winters, Levi Winters, Jayson Witt, Neil Wojciechowski, Brent Wold, Joey Wolfe, Russel Wonnek, Brian Wood, Melissa Wood, Gary Woods, Randy Woods, Justin Workman, Sean Woroniak, Nicole Wowryk, Cody Wright, Richard Wright, Rick Wur, Dan Wurtele, Matthew Wutzke, Braden Wyatt, Brent Wyatt, Troy Yamron, Robin Yanke, Tim Yaremchuk, Steve Yaroshinski, Travis Yeo, David Yerama, Dean Yerama, Bryan Yerex, Jill Young, Dan Yurkiw, John Yurkowski, Louise Zaffino, Jamie Zalitach, Derrick Zalluski, Stewart Zalluski, Terry Zalluski, Eric Zamrykut, Brian Zaretski, Darcy Zariwney, Marcel Zebrasky, Deirdre Zebrowski, Shawna Zeilstra, Candiss Zerkee, Kyle Zevena, Kevin Zimmer
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on the same ministerial statement.
Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): It's been very heartwarming over the past month and change every time, you know, I'm travelling to an Interlake community, whether it's a town or a First Nation, to see the signs up there that say, thank you, Hydro workers. And I do hope that you've seen those signs in communities like that as well because it is truly a Manitoban trait not just for us to band together and to assist those in need, but for also everyone across this province to display the gratitude necessary to repay such a tremendous act as was performed by Hydro workers.
Course, want to acknowledge emergency responders who were out there even in terrible weather conditions, and, of course, First Nations leaders, municipal leaders, who were there ensuring that people had a place to stay, people had meals, people had clothing. And, of course, many volunteer organizations like the Red Cross and the Bear Clan Patrol assisted in that effort as well.
As we go forward, there are, however, legitimate questions that we should be asking; namely, whether the elimination of 700 positions at Manitoba Hydro adversely affected the ability of our province to respond to a natural disaster of this sort. We will be working with Manitobans in every corner of this province to get the answers on subjects like this because, unfortunately, we know with climate change disasters such as this one will become more and more likely.
It is important that we all work together to ensure that we are there for Manitobans when they need it and that everyone in this province has a good opportunity at leading a meaningful and fulfilling life.
Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): I ask for leave to speak in response to the minister's statement.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Does the honourable member for St. Boniface have leave to reply to the ministerial statement? [Agreed]
Mr. Lamont: I spoke with Hydro staff who said that the storm was unprecedented in the scope of the destruction that it caused. And the fact that crews were able to restore power so quickly after tens of thousands of outages speaks to the skill, hard work and incredible dedication of all those who put in the time around the clock to make sure that Manitobans had power, heat and light restored.
It took multiple states of emergency–there were–in Winnipeg, for Manitoba Hydro, for First Nations, who were hit especially hard.
We are lucky in that it could've been much worse if the weather had changed and it had turned cold, as it did during the ice storm in Ottawa in the 1990s.
Municipalities and First Nations across the province had to declare states of emergency in response to the storm. Thousands of First Nations were forced to leave their communities when infrastructure wasn't up to par to allow them to stay. But while the infrastructure failed, the dedication of the–of Hydro workers did not.
It is not enough to simply say thanks. We must help those who have been affected. We need to be prepared for such disasters in the future. Unprecedented events and states of emergency require more than just a conventional response.
We have called on this government–and we do so again–to provide assistance to affected communities, including the city of Winnipeg, for repairs, cleanup and renewal.
We believe that it would be appropriate and fitting for this government to put its money where its mouth is and make disaster financial assistance available so that Manitoba's municipalities, First Nations and citizens don't face the cost of this cleanup alone.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Minister of Sport, Heritage and Culture, on a ministerial statement. [interjection]
Oh, yes. The required 90 minutes prior to the routine proceedings was provided in accordance with 26(2).
Would the honourable minister please proceed with the statement.
* (13:40)
Hon. Cathy Cox (Minister responsible for the Status of Women): Today, I rise to acknowledge the Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Transgender Day of Remembrance is an annual day of observance that takes place on November 20th. It honours the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.
In 1999, trans advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith held a vigil to honour the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. And in the decades since, it has grown from a single vigil to an international day of remembrance for all transgender people who have lost their lives because of anti-transgender violence.
Today, I want to recognize those strong Manitobans who have made the hard decision to live their truth. We stand by you and with you today and every day.
And, Mr. Deputy Speaker, our government is pleased to have employee networks such as WAVE, which stands for We are All Valuable and Equal. WAVE helps to foster understanding and inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. The network is open to all interested Manitoba government employees, including those who self‑identify along the LGBT2SQ+ continuum as well as their allies.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, today and every day we stand together with all members of the LGBT community.
Thank you.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Wolseley, on the ministerial statement.
Ms. Lisa Naylor (Wolseley): On this Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honour transgender and two-spirit people who have been killed around the world. Violence against trans people disproportionately affects indigenous, black and people of colour.
As members of the Assembly, we must commit to doing better for all marginalized people in our province.
Historically, our government institutions have not paid attention to the basic rights and dignities of transgender and two-spirit people. A lack of systemic respect for the lives of trans people fosters a society where violence is deemed acceptable. Recent hate crime statistics in this country don't even include trans people.
Recently, Statistics Canada published police reported nationwide crime statistics for 2018 where crimes against trans and non-binary folks get labelled as other in the subcategory of sex.
Based on data from community groups and grassroots organizations, we know that trans folks are some of the most vulnerable to violent crime in our province and in our country. Yet we can't properly allocate resources when we don't have proper statistics.
Up until recently, trans folks were not protected by Canadian human rights legislation. This lack of 'recognization' reflects a reality that there are very real institutional barriers for non-cisgender Canadians.
In 2017, this government rejected a plea for funding and a support for a 24-hour safe space for LGBT2SQ folks in Winnipeg. Currently, non-binary and trans folks in this province do not have shelter–
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member's time has expired.
An Honourable Member: Leave.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Is there leave to continue the ministerial statement–'rebonze' to the statement? [Agreed]
Ms. Naylor: Currently, non-binary and trans folks in this province do not have shelters or other safe spaces to turn when they're victims of intimate partner violence and are not always treated well when they present for medical care or other resources.
I invite all of my colleagues to use today as an opportunity to reflect on how we all can do better for transgender, two-spirit and non-binary folks in Manitoba.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I ask for leave to respond to the minister's statement.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Does the honourable member for Tyndall Park have leave to reply to the ministerial statement? [Agreed]
Ms. Lamoureux: Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, to be transgender, even in today's world, means to risk harassment and violence and, in many places of the world, death. These forms of prejudice and hate are also more directed at indigenous trans women and women of colour. There are still victims today who are brutally murdered in efforts to be erased entirely. Some of their names still remain unknown, and their murders are rarely solved.
All this creates deep despair in the hearts and minds of communities. While we are fortunate to live in a more progressive society in Canada, it is worth mentioning that even with all of our protections, harassment and risks of violence are still everyday occurrences for transgender, non-binary and other gender non-conforming people.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, that is why today we honour the lives and memories of 331 people who have tragically lost–who we have tragically lost to anti-transgender violence, transphobia and suicide. Today and every day, it is important to reflect and bring visibility to the realities that trans people face in their daily lives.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, I also wanted to make mention to Great-West Life. Great-West Life here in Manitoba goes out of their way to raise awareness within their company. Today they had their own ceremony, where they handed out ribbons–one that I'm wearing right now–to commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance.
I want to thank Great-West Life and all groups and organizations for the awareness they are building as we should be setting an example–
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The member's time has expired.
Is it leave to–the honourable member for Tyndall Park, is it leave to have her continue? [Agreed]
Ms. Lamoureux: I want to thank Great-West Life and all groups and organizations for the awareness they are building as we should be setting an example to the world to end the violence and misogyny against transgender people.
Thank you.
Mr. Jon Reyes (Waverley): Today I stand for the first time as the MLA for the new constituency of Waverley. And it gives me great pleasure to deliver my first private member's statement as their MLA.
I have the honour of recognizing Waverley constituent Mr. Rodolfo Rinioza Bautista. Rudy, as he is known in many circles–I call him Tito Rudy, uncle in Filipino–was a staple in gymnasiums, athletic fields and especially bowling alleys across the country.
So today I rise to celebrate Rudy Bautista's induction into the Manitoba Tenpin Federation hall of fame.
As league secretary of the Millennium league, Sunday afternoons are routinely spent at Chateau Lanes where he always makes time to show the ropes to anyone who wants to learn the game. He has been the driving force of the league since 1999. His enthusiasm and passion for sport has always come through to his three children, Rodell, Jeanette and Gina, and has been passed on to his grandchildren.
The Bautista family matriarch, Demetria, immigrated to Canada with the second wave of garment workers from the Philippines in 1969. She returned to the Philippines in January of 1973 to marry Rudy. They came back to Winnipeg and built their first house together on Tyndall Avenue in 1974.
Rudy has a special commitment to bowlers, coaching them and continuing to develop bowlers who are new to the game. Rudy bowled recreationally until he saw a poster at Northgate bowling lanes in 1979 and decided to join a league. He bowled primarily at Empress and Northgate lanes, two bowling alleys that, coincidentally, are not in existence anymore.
Rudy has been an enthusiastic volunteer who has continued to coach even after his children's competitive years passed. He truly has a passion for developing youth and teaching them the fundamentals of the sport that he loves.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, I ask my colleagues in joining me to congratulate Mr. Rudy Bautista on his induction into the Manitoba Tenpin Federation hall of fame and the impact he has made on so many lives through his love for the sport of bowling.
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
Mr. Ian Bushie (Keewatinook): Madam Speaker, I am honoured to have been chosen to represent the constituency of Keewatinook.
I am the son of a fisherman, grandson of a residential school survivor, grandson of a Manitoba farmer, grandson of a war veteran. I was born of the Anishinaabe, born and raised in my First Nation of Hollow Water, having been educated both on- and off-reserve.
In the timeline of this province, I think about my father. My father is 80 years old, a commercial fisherman for nearly 70 years and continues that livelihood to this day. Born and raised on our First Nation, my father attended day school, living off the land, moving to our traditional area of Black Island to pick berries during berry season and to the family fish camp to sustain the family during fishing and hunting season.
When my father was of legal age he was not able to vote simply because he was a First Nation man living in a First Nation community.
When I speak of my father, this is not of hundreds of years ago or in our distant past. My father is here today. So I stand here with the opportunity to speak today and to recognize that it was not so long ago that this honour was not available to someone like myself.
A First Nations man, living in a First Nations community, having a foot in two worlds of societal difference, with two different systems of government, I now stand representing both groups who share a most difficult and complex past. The reason I rise is to speak from a place of learning, a place of understanding, compassion and with a spirit of reconciliation and of moving forward.
* (13:50)
I believe strongly in our nations, our communities and our people and especially in our children, for the foundation of all our nations is our children. They are not only our future, but they are our now.
My home community of Hollow Water as a First Nation has committed to creating a strong future for our children, one that encompasses our secret–our sacred teachings, our identities and our place in the world as indigenous people.
Recognizing that every child deserves to know who they are and allowed to share their gifts with the world, we are committed to creating a world where our children do not have to heal from their past, but instead are creating healing into the future.
I now speak for a larger community, for many communities. I bring forward my commitment, my dedication, my experience, my voice to say what needs to be said, to speak to and for the betterment of all communities, and I speak this in a Chamber that works to create reconciliation and a partnership with our First Nations people.
Once again, I thank all my constituents for the opportunity to stand with you on this path.
I ask the Assembly in helping me welcome my guests here today: my parents, Harvey and Margaret Bushie.
Hon. Eileen Clarke (Minister of Indigenous and Northern Relations): Mr. Deputy Speaker, this past October Thanksgiving weekend saw an unprecedented snowstorm and damage across southwest Manitoba. At its peak, up to 150,000 people were without power and the damage that was caused by the snow was something this province has never seen before.
Manitoba Hydro workers with partner utilities from SaskPower, Hydro One, Minnesota Power worked tirelessly throughout the weekend and long after the storm ended to get power back for all those people that were affected.
The weeks following since the storm, the Hydro workforce replaced over 4,000 damaged wooden poles and repaired approximately 950 kilometres of power lines. Their hard work and dedication–getting power back to those homes that needed it also inspired many others in local communities to come together and to support each other. With cooked meals and hot showers being offered to not only the residents without power but also to the Hydro workers. This storm truly brought people together.
I had the opportunity last week to visit Manitoba Hydro Neepawa service centre and able to thank all the members there on behalf of our government.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, I'd also like to acknowledge the staff of Manitoba Infrastructure for their efforts in plowing highways and other roadways in an orderly manner to ensure safe travel for all health-care providers, as well as those working to assess and restore the power.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, I ask that our members again join me in recognizing and thanking the many Hydro workers and employees, as well as the many other crews and contractors from within the province and those that came to help to aid in the cleanup and recovery.
Much appreciation and gratitude to these men and women. Thank you to them once again.
Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): We are six weeks away from the end of this 2019 year and sit at 41 deaths thus far. Victims include 20-year-old Rig Moulebou, a former MVP and captain player on the Daniel McIntyre football team; 14-year-old Jakira Eastman-Moore, who is remembered as a happy, outgoing and kind young woman; inconceivably, three-year-old Hunter Haze Straight-Smith, recently made a constable by the Winnipeg Police Service; and many more Manitobans who leave behind friends, family and loved ones.
We offer our deep condolences, our support and know that we stand with all Manitobans.
On November 6th, the member for Point Douglas (Mrs. Smith) and myself hosted a community gathering alongside community partners at William Whyte School with close to 400 citizens in attendance. The open dialogue allowed community voices to be heard, resolutions to be proposed and people to connect with one another during these difficult times.
We heard very concretely the Premier's (Mr. Pallister) cuts to social services, a lack of response to mental health, housing crisis, difficulty in community organizations accessing critical dollars for programs and services, on top of a head‑in-the-sand approach to dealing with the current meth crisis are having devastating effects in communities.
We invited ministers to attend who would have benefited from attending our gathering. No one did. Perhaps they would have had more input into yesterday's Throne Speech, rather than a heavy, punitive, law-and-order type of Conservative rhetoric and singling out one particular community. We might have seen some kind of commitment of social service and community development. We didn't.
The provincial government must prioritize the safety–
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member's time is up.
Mr. Rick Wowchuk (Swan River): I rise in the House today to recognize the Community Foundation of Swan Valley.
Since their inception in a local coffee shop in 2005, the foundation has grown exponentially to an investment portfolio yielding over $2.9 million in contributions. For the first time in the history of the community foundation, over $100,000 in annual grants and scholarships were distributed back into the community.
The community foundation's board is comprised of 12 sitting members. Board members represent the rural municipalities of Mountain, Minitonas-Bowsman, Swan Valley West and the Town of Swan River. This has allowed the board to tap into the knowledge of many communities and their members. This has been a true benefit to the prosperity of the foundation.
Every November the Community Foundation of Swan Valley holds a gala, an evening to celebrate their success and to promote the foundation's future. This year was no exception. It was a pleasure to take part in an elegant evening at this year's sold out gala.
Through Build 150, Manitoba's community foundations are celebrating our province's 150th anniversary by leaving a legacy with brick-and-mortar projects. Thanks to this initiative the Community Foundation of Swan Valley will be receiving a grant of $20,000, securing their continuing growth into 2020.
I would like to congratulate the Community Foundation of Swan Valley for their stunning success.
Thank you.
Introduction of Guests
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Before oral questions, I would like to draw out to the attention of all honourable members to the public gallery where we have with us today Howard and Theresa Petkau.
And also in the public gallery we also have seated in the public gallery is the Freedom International School grade 10 of–grade 10–9 to 12 students under the direction of Corrine Plett. This group is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Notre Dame (Ms. Marcelino).
And also seated in the public gallery we have Windsor Park Collegiate, 23 grade 9 students under the direction of Angela Bunkowsky, and the group is located in the constituency of Southdale–or the member from Southdale.
Welcome to the Legislature.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Time for oral questions.
The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on the question.
Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): As we begin this new legislative session, I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge somebody who passed away in between these two fall sittings, an MLA who served this province for some 12 years and made a lasting impact on Manitoba: Bonnie Korzeniowski had served the people of St. James for some 12 years, and to her family I just want to send our condolences.
Now, our young people in Manitoba–our–are–future, and we know that each of them deserves the opportunity to succeed. That's why it's so puzzling to see a First Minister here who has increased tuition, cut operating grants and even cut bursary programs that help underprivileged folks be able to get into post-secondary institutions.
The question is simple, Mr. Speaker: Why is the Premier making post-secondary education worse in Manitoba?
Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): I thank the member for his preamble and his reference to Bonnie, and I would add our condolences to her family and many friends. I would say we all feel her loss and we thank her for her contribution to making Manitoba a better place.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, I would just have to say in response to the member's entreaties that the worst thing we could do for the young people of this province would be to make life worse for them, and, of course, that is not the goal of this government. That, apparently, was the goal of the NDP when they were in power. They doubled the provincial debt and handed it to children.
We're moving to balance so that we don't hand them fiscal, social and economic challenges they don't deserve. Instead, we're reducing those challenges and increasing the opportunities for them.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplement question.
* (14:00)
Mr. Kinew: Mr. Speaker, not only has the Premier increased the cost of tuition and cut the operating grants to universities and colleges, thereby making them less quality, he has also taken the recent and puzzling decision to rename that department Economic Development.
It's a bit bizarre. Why not call it higher education or advanced learning, or something that would signal that we are not just looking at young people as cogs in a machine or widgets, but rather as the future citizens who will create a wonderful society here in Manitoba?
Now, there are a number of concerns that we have with this new direction the First Minister is taking. It brings to mind questions around academic freedom, to say nothing about further cuts to operating grants if they don't serve the whims of this First Minister.
So the question that the Premier needs to answer today is: Will he now admit that his plan is simply to make post-secondary worse in Manitoba?
Mr. Pallister: Well, there's nothing new over there. This is just the same old retro rap, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
What the member is espousing is totally wrong. And, in fact, what we are endeavouring to do is what provincial governments of other political descriptions, including New Democratic provincial governments have done, as well as Liberal provincial governments, and that is to make sure that post-secondary education and training is aligned with the economy of the jurisdiction so that the maximum number of opportunities can be available to young people when they graduate.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary question.
Mr. Kinew: Madam Speaker, the–or, sorry, Mr. Speaker.
Rather–the one thing we know about this government is that they are cheap. So behind all these decisions we know is simply a desire to cut costs, further cutting operating grants to universities and colleges and further increasing tuition.
Now, keep in mind that this is happening at a time when we are heading full speed ahead into a knowledge economy, and where the tech leaders in our province, the job creators in our province, say that now liberal arts and humanities education is more important than ever. The Premier is moving in the complete opposite direction, focusing instead on trying to make young people widgets to fit into his grand scheme and not on giving them the tools that they will need to succeed for the jobs of today and the jobs of tomorrow.
Will the Premier simply admit that this plan is wrong and that he needs to start listening to the experts at post-secondary institutions across Manitoba?
Mr. Pallister: One thing we know about the official opposition and of their party when they were in government, Mr. Acting Speaker, is that they're incompetent and incapable of listening.
In fact, the academic leaders in our province support and endorse this approach and have proudly offered suggestions as to how it can be made to work better. So the member is totally out of touch not only with academia, but with the needs of students in our province.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question.
Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): So under the Premier's watch we have seen the social challenges in our province become a crisis. We know that they are getting worse when it comes to the challenges faced by young people–as I addressed in the previous set of questions–but also when it comes to public safety.
Now, instead of taking an approach that would focus on the root causes and focus on preventing crime, what we saw the Premier announce in his Throne Speech yesterday is a continued focus on letting problems unfold, waiting for them to hit a crisis point and then trying to deploy resources after there has already been significant damages in the community.
We prefer a smarter approach, one that would focus on prevention and dealing with the root causes of crime.
Will Premier stand in his place in the House today and admit that he needs to focus more on the root causes and on preventing crime before it becomes such a crisis affecting so many people across Manitoba?
Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Such patent nonsense, Mr. Acting Speaker.
In fact, if root causes are the cause of the current crime problem, why were the numbers so low last year? Why were the root causes not addressed in 17 years of NDP government if such facts were real? The answers will be in the hands of the member in his next preamble, I expect.
The fact of the matter is we have social challenges to face that are complex, and we are facing them. We're facing them by offering complex solutions, granted, but they are solutions. We've advanced over 100 different project ideas and they are being implemented.
The fact of the matter is that we are dealing with complex problems with security approaches as well, which were ignored by the NDP who never mentioned the words public safety in their entire platform document.
So while we address security and education and treatment options, and while we invest tens of millions of dollars, the member offers nothing but dry retro rap, Deputy Speaker.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question.
Mr. Kinew: Mr. Speaker, we have been offering, since my time here in the Legislature, concrete solutions–[interjection]
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order.
Mr. Kinew: –to the problems that this government ignores. The crisis of addictions has gotten so bad here in Manitoba that it is now manifesting also as a public safety and a public health crisis, and yet the Premier has refused to do anything, save for some few recent announcements that were funded entirely with federal money.
So criticize Justin Trudeau as much as he might like, he is completely dependent on the Prime Minister when it comes to responding to mental health and addictions.
When it comes to public safety, we offered a very concrete, tangible proposal just last week to give stable operating funding to organizations like the Bear Clan Patrol, like Fearless R2W, like Aboriginal Youth Opportunities, who are there in communities each and every day stopping the violence and creating opportunities for people of all walks of life to succeed.
Will the Premier stand in his place in the House today and admit that he needs to place a greater emphasis on community involvement and on addressing the root causes of crime in Manitoba?
Mr. Pallister: Well, again, patent nonsense from the member opposite, and I appreciate the fact, though, that his party had come up with its second idea–its first being making meth more available to meth addicts–but that remains in direct opposition to the hundred‑plus projects that we have under way as a government just in the last four years.
It stands in direct and sharp contrast to the reality that our Families budget is fully 20 per cent higher now than it ever was under the NDP, that our employment income and rental assistance programs offer 36 per cent more funding to those who are poor in our province right now than the NDP ever offered, and that our Rent Assist for non-EIA people in our province is up by 150 per cent.
These hundreds of millions of additional dollars only attest to the global effect, but it is the effect that we want to achieve in terms of improved services to people who, in Manitoba, endured tenth of 10 rankings under the NDP, that is our principal focus on this side of the House.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary question.
Mr. Kinew: Well, there you see a clear illustration of why these problems get worse under this Premier's watch.
He simply does not understand the basic principles of harm reduction that is needed if we are going to get a handle on addictions. And if we're going to get a handle on public safety then we're going to need a much more comprehensive understanding than anything displayed on that side of the House to date.
We know that they have cut Rent Assist. We know that they have cut post-secondary investment. We know that they–[interjection]
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order.
Mr. Kinew: –have cut bursary programs, but beyond that they have also cut the Building Sustainable Communities–[interjection]
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order.
Mr. Kinew: –fund. We have heard today that grassroots organizations like West Central Women's Resource Centre–[interjection]
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order.
Mr. Kinew: –and Ma Mawi are feeling the impact of these budget cuts ordered at the Cabinet table by this Premier.
Why is the Premier cutting the very programs which prevent crime by addressing the root causes at a time when there is a crisis on the streets of Winnipeg and across Manitoba?
Mr. Pallister: I expect that the member would anticipate I would add to the record of Hansard that he has more expertise in creating harm than in addressing harm reduction. And I would say to him that we have made, just in the last four weeks, over $18 million of announcements on projects to deal meaningfully–in addition to the tens of millions already committed–in addition to those, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
And so we are pursuing, in every respect–on the issues of poverty reduction, on the issues of mental health, on the issues of crime prevention and public safety–issues which the members opposite have failed to enter or introduce any concrete ideas towards the resolution or improvement of–we are addressing these complex problems in real ways while they stand by and offer nothing but dull repetition.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, on a first question.
Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): While the Premier (Mr. Pallister) celebrates a 150 per cent increase in Rent Assist, the administration of justice in northern Manitoba has collapsed.
That's what the Court of Queen's Bench Justice Chris Martin has said recently. In one incident, a single mother of four spent 51 days without a bail hearing. That's simply shameful. As Justice Martin explains, it's a violation of constitutionally protected rights.
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How could we talk about justice and liberty when it comes to other provinces when we're not prepared to take steps to protect basic liberties here in Manitoba?
What steps is the minister taking to address this injustice?
Hon. Cliff Cullen (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I do appreciate the question from the member opposite.
Certainly, we're facing challenges in northern Manitoba on a few fronts, but I will say to the member opposite that we have embarked on a criminal justice modernization strategy which will deal with all aspects across our judiciary. Certainly, we're looking for positive outcomes. Positive outcomes have already begun, and, certainly, we're also looking at a very major capital investment when it comes to enhancing operations across our court system. So we want to modernize our justice system, bring it up to the 21st century.
The NDP did not make any significant changes to the court system. We are embarking on significant changes to Manitoba's court system.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, on a supplementary question.
Ms. Fontaine: Justice Martin says this massive breakdown in our justice system, and I quote, should be–shock the conscience of any reasonable person, end quote. Thousands of indigenous Manitobans languish behind bars for days and weeks without a bail hearing.
In the case of Ms. Balfour, she waited 51 days without a bail hearing. Justice Martin explained her experience is, and I quote, the rule rather than the exception, end quote. He calls for an independent and comprehensive review of the system.
Will the minister commit to that today?
Mr. Cullen: Certainly, we are looking and reviewing that particular report that was brought forward. Certainly, we recognize the complex challenges in northern Manitoba and certainly in the court system within Thompson. It's not new news to us. We've been working diligently to make improvements in Thompson and through the court process.
We have committed to an $11-million investment in the court building itself in the city of Thompson. We look forward to embarking on that, and at the same time we are also taking many comprehensive actions that are already under way in terms of recruiting court clerks, sheriff's officers, Crown attorneys, in terms of enhancing court clerk–
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable minister's time is up.
The honourable member for St. Johns, on a final supplementary question.
Ms. Fontaine: Former Crown attorneys provided written testimony highlighting that they have seen thousands of people denied their right to timely bail hearings–thousands. That is a systemic issue in our court system.
The critical shortage of prosecutors and Legal Aid lawyers have collapsed the fair administration of justice in northern Manitoba. An independent and comprehensive review must be done immediately. We must protect the fair administration of justice here in Manitoba for all Manitobans.
So will the minister get up today and commit to an independent and comprehensive review today?
Mr. Cullen: I will say to the members opposite, we did inherit a mess when it comes to the court system in northern Manitoba, but we are taking on those challenges and they're very complex challenges.
But we are taking them on and we're working with the judiciary, we're working with the Crown prosecutors, certainly working with lawyers in the community to make some improvements. We are investing heavily in technology that will enhance productivity within the court system. We're working on recruiting individuals for that area as well, adding Wi-Fi alone is helping improve the efficiencies in the court system. Certainly, we're relocating Crown attorneys to deal with the backlog there, and certainly a lot of things are going on to improve the situation in Thompson.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Concordia, on a first question.
Mr. Matt Wiebe (Concordia): Mr. Speaker, we're currently witnessing an unprecedented fall flooding season. Even today, on November 20th, the Red River is rising yet again. Ice jams and high water levels have put communities along the river at risk. Yet, unfortunately, the Pallister government's priority instead has been to focus on privatization of assets that we use to fight the looming floods. It's terribly short-sighted, of course, and it's not the priority of Manitobans.
In light of these recent events, will the minister withdraw his plans to privatize our Amphibex fleet?
Hon. Ron Schuler (Minister of Infrastructure): Our government would like to thank the aforementioned Hydro workers, also the department of Manitoba Infrastructure highway crews. Snowplow operators and their management teams did an amazing job.
To all the first responders–and special mention to the RCMP for their leadership and professionalism–with the workers and the staff from Manitoba Infrastructure, they ensured that our highways and our roads were cleared in a very efficient manner.
On behalf of all Manitobans, we would like to thank all of them for a job well done.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Concordia, on a supplementary question.
Mr. Wiebe: Just a few weeks ago, Mr. Speaker, the mayor of St. Andrews called this fall flooding totally unprecedented. She's concerned, as we are, for her community that the winter freeze-up is setting a significant spring flood to come. She says, quote: It looks like we're going to be in for a very bad spring because water has never been this high in the fall.
The reality, Mr. Speaker, is that people across this province are anxious about the high water and they want to know that public assets will be available to protect them.
Why would the minister choose this moment to privatize and put at risk critical services for Manitoba's communities?
Mr. Schuler: I'd like to reference this House to the leadership of our government in the department of Manitoba Infrastructure.
We initiated guidelines for and indicated that we were going to use the Floodway, which was used. We know that we have received an amazing amount of precipitation–and that's not just in Manitoba, amongst other things, Mr. Speaker, the entire watershed that comes our way when the snow melts.
So, Mr. Speaker, we are now done with the operation of the Floodway. We continue to monitor the levels of the Red River. It is flowing quite substantially. We would caution each and every one of us and every Manitoban to be very careful along the waterways, as they are flowing very quickly.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Concordia, on a final supplementary question.
Mr. Wiebe: Mr. Speaker, for many Manitobans, the flood risk is now, the flood risk is coming, and yet this minister has no answers for this House.
We've revealed before that the minister isn't done and that they're considering privatizing all aspects of government services including flood mitigation, flood forecasting, emergency–[interjection]
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order.
Mr. Wiebe: –management and disaster recovery programs; and with the Amphibexes it's clear that this minister is making a grave mistake and his timing couldn't be worse.
Why, in the face of a terrible flood set-up, would the minister consider divesting itself of this incredibly important public asset?
Mr. Schuler: I'd like to point out to the member for Concordia that the initial contracting out of the program of–the Amphibex program was done under the NDP, under one Steve Ashton, and, Madam Speaker, all Manitobans want to ensure that what we have–[interjection]
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order.
Mr. Schuler: –is the best services for the best value for the best price. And that is exactly what our government is doing is we are shopping around. No decisions have been made, but Madam Speaker, the program was initially put under private direction, and that was done under the NDP.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Union Station, on a first question.
MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): Mr. Speaker, over the last two months we're starting to see the full extent of the Pallister government's cuts to our hospitals. There are less beds and less staff on the front lines.
Re-admission to hospital within the first 30 days has surged to levels not seen in years. Manitobans can't get a primary doctor within a timely fashion. That's by the government's own reporting measurements.
It's a recipe for a less healthy population.
Why has the Pallister government made these cuts to our front-line health-care services?
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Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living): I do welcome Howard and Theresa Petkau to the Manitoba Legislature today. Great to see constituents here, as well as they're being accompanied by Leloni Scott, a great civil servant to this province.
The member asked a question about the last few months. What the last few months has shown is that this government continues to focus on good investments in justice, in families and in health care when it comes to meeting people at the point of their need, increasing resources and getting better health care sooner.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Union Station, on a supplementary question.
MLA Asagwara: I invite the minister to read the financial statement by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. It shows a year-over-year cut to staffing to the tune of $16 million. That's less staff on the front lines of our hospitals.
If the minister needs more proof he can review the WRHA's public compensation disclosure. It shows there was a 10 per cent drop in the number of emergency room physicians in the WRHA in just one year. I repeat, that's a 10 per cent drop in ER physicians. It's there; it's written in black and white.
Why has the minister made these cuts to our hospitals?
Mr. Friesen: The member must admit it is difficult to take the NDP seriously when they talk about proof and then job cuts in the same sentence.
It was only months ago when the Leader of the Opposition tried to assert that the number of nurses working in Manitoba was less than 200 and it was CIHI, the Canadian Institute for Health Information, that slapped him down and said it was running loose with the facts. In fact, 200 more nurses at the time were working in Manitoba. And this government since May–[interjection]
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order.
Mr. Friesen: –and this government since May has hired another 200 nurses.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Union Station, on a final supplementary question.
MLA Asagwara: Ultimately, we continue to see and we've already seen frightening incidents in our hospitals like we've never seen before. Diversions from emergency rooms are just one example of a health system under a tremendous amount of strain and a health system where front-line service providers are saying there's a serious lack of capacity.
The minister's cuts to regional health authorities have made things very difficult and the WRHA cut staffing by $16 million last year, including a 10 per cent drop in emergency room physicians. This is not what Manitobans expected.
Why has the minister made these cuts to front-line care?
Mr. Friesen: The NDP tries to continue to assert that somehow there are cuts in health care, but they know that there are $414 million more attributed now into health care than the NDP ever gave.
That member is right about one thing, and that is that we are in the middle of tremendous changes in our health-care system, changes that are based on evidence, changes that are designed to get better health care sooner and changes that are showing more evidence every day of working.
Areas like indigenous health, areas like mental health and addictions, good investments that are making a difference and getting better health care for all Manitobans.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for St. James, on the first question.
Mr. Adrien Sala (St. James): The Minister of Crown Services has put an amendment to The Manitoba Hydro Act on the Order Paper, and this is strange, indeed, as there was no mention of legislative change to Hydro during the recent election.
Can the minister simply clear things up? Does he have any intention of privatizing any part of Manitoba Hydro or the services it provides? [interjection]
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order.
The honourable Minister for Crown Services–[interjection]
Order.
Hon. Jeff Wharton (Minister of Crown Services): No.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for St. James, on a supplementary question. [interjection]
Order.
Mr. Sala: I must say I'm not too reassured by the minister's response. In fact–[interjection]
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order.
Mr. Sala: In fact, the Pallister government has appointed–[interjection]
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order.
Mr. Sala: In fact, the Pallister government has appointed Brad Wall as the commissioner of inquiry into Hydro, a position usually held by a chief justice.
Mr. Wall's reputation precedes him. The Regina overpass was $1.4 billion over budget. The Lean Saskatchewan health-care initiative spent $1,500 for every single dollar saved, and Mr. Wall's government privatized functions of SaskTel and introduced legislation to privatize up to 49 per cent of Crown corporations.
What is the minister trying to hide by appointing such a clearly inappropriate commissioner as Conservative Premier Brad Wall, and does he intend to privatize any part of Manitoba Hydro?
Mr. Wharton: Certainly, we're looking forward to the commission and the review by Mr. Brad Wall on the NDP debacle of Bipole III and Keeyask, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
We know that the NDP and the member opposite will be very concerned, I'm sure, on when the report is made public for the simple fact, Madam Speaker, that Manitobans know that they do not and did not have any idea what they were doing when they ran Bipole III 500 kilometres further down the west side of this province.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, where they got Manitoba Hydro wrong, we'll get it right.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for St. James, on a final supplementary question. [interjection] Order.
Mr. Sala: There are so many concerns regarding the hiring of Mr. Wall that I couldn't get it–to it in my last question, but Mr. Wall's government was also involved in a questionable series of land deals that the Auditor General in his own province found lacked accountability and resulted in government overpaying for the land.
It's clear that Mr. Wall simply lacks credibility in the role.
What assurance can the minister–[interjection]
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order.
Mr. Sala: –provide that the same problems and focus on privatization in Saskatchewan won't follow Mr. Wall to Manitoba? And will he commit to keeping the services and assets of Manitoba Hydro in public hands: yes or no?
Mr. Wharton: No is no, so I think I've answered that question already.
But, certainly, we want to be able to make clear and informed decisions with our–in step with our Crown corporations, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Our goal is to protect Manitobans by not running the same risks that the NDP did when, again, they invested to the tune now of about $9 billion that Manitoba ratepayers are going to be on the hook on with respect to Bipole III and Keeyask.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, we'll get it right.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for St. Boniface, on a first question.
Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): There are a number of subjects the Throne Speech left out entirely. It takes some doing to talk about the 150th anniversary of Manitoba without mentioning its founder, Louis Riel, or the Metis, but this government did it.
The Throne Speech also left out thousands of children in care of CFS. This government has changed the way they count children in care, but they are still there, and next year there was supposed to be a major transition for them.
Why is spending $200 million to bail out a stadium a greater priority for this government than making sure that a transition of 11,000 children in care goes smoothly?
Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): The whole speech was about making a better future for children.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for St. Boniface, on a supplementary question.
Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): Children in care of CFS have a voice in the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth. While her role has expanded, it is still limited.
There are families who would like her to be able to investigate other areas where children who are not in care have been failed by this government, like accessing mental health care or addiction services.
Will the Premier commit to expanding the role of the Advocate for Children and Youth to cover all children in Manitoba, and to do so by the end of the year?
Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): We've got real concerns about the federal initiative to push into provincial jurisdictions all over the country and reform child-welfare systems to the detriment of children. We've expressed those. I'd encourage the member to express those to his federal cousins as well.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Tyndall Park, on a final supplementary question.
Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I believe that immigration is a priority here in the province of Manitoba. That's why it's extremely upsetting that this government failed to even mention immigration in the Throne Speech yesterday.
There are currently record numbers of people leaving our province, so why is this government not making immigration a priority, and what is this new minister's plan with respect to immigration here in our province?
Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): I suggest the member get in touch with her leader and try to co‑ordinate their questions a little better. The leader of the third party just suggested that we shouldn't celebrate new immigrants coming to our province on our 150th birthday but rather should solely celebrate the Metis nation.
We can celebrate both at the same time.
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Mr. Scott Johnston (Assiniboia): Manitobans know that affordability is a major issue. That's why they entrusted our government with another majority mandate. We're keeping our commitment to putting more money back on the kitchen tables of Manitoba.
Yesterday's Speech from the Throne reaffirmed our commitment to tax relief.
Can the Minister of Finance please tell the House how our 2020 tax rollback guarantee will make life more affordable for Manitobans?
Hon. Scott Fielding (Minister of Finance): It truly was a pleasure to hear in the Throne Speech our government's ambitious plan to lay–to make life more affordable for Manitobans.
Our plan incudes a 2020 rollback for things like preparation of wills, probate fees, things like personal services, things like a 10 per cent reduction on vehicle registrations. This is something that's going to put real money in the pockets of Manitobans.
In stark contrast to the NDP that took every chance they could to do a tax-and-spend policy that took money out of the pockets of Manitobans, we're not going to make that mistake, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Any further questions? Any other further questions?
The honourable member for Wolseley, on a first question.
Ms. Lisa Naylor (Wolseley): Mr. Speaker, missing from this year's Throne Speech was any commitment to the North End water–waste-water treatment facility. In fact, the Pallister government is headed in the opposite direction, forcing the City of Winnipeg to reprioritize funds dedicated to this project.
Why is the Pallister government not taking this issue seriously, and where is the commitment to this project?
Hon. Rochelle Squires (Minister of Municipal Relations): Well, Madam Speaker, unlike the NDP, who failed to action the North End Water Pollution Control Centre–any initiative there at reducing phosphorus in the City of Winnipeg's waste water and protecting Lake Winnipeg, our government is standing up to–for Manitobans and protecting Lake Winnipeg with a series of initiatives, including working with the City of Winnipeg and our municipalities across the province and ensuring the clean up of our watershed.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Wolseley, on a supplemental question.
Ms. Naylor: Mr. Speaker, it's hard to reconcile what I'm hearing from the Pallister government on the issue along with the priorities and actions that we're actually seeing.
The Pallister government's priorities have been cutting regulations on polluting industries, and yesterday was an opportunity for the government to correct their course by at least naming the North End waste-water treatment facility as a priority, but they chose not to do so.
I ask the minister why she is not taking this seriously.
Hon. Sarah Guillemard (Minister of Conservation and Climate): I do appreciate the question from the member opposite.
Our government is committed to making Manitoba the cleanest, the greenest and most climate-resilient province in Canada, and part of that is working with our various other counterparts in the federal and–or municipal governments to find solutions that benefit all. And unlike the other side of the House, we are looking to grow relationships and not be dictators.
Thank you.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Wolseley, on a final supplementary question. [interjection]
Order.
Ms. Naylor: Mr. Speaker, time is up for the Pallister government to demonstrate that it's serious about taking action to protect Lake Winnipeg. There are new threats emerging from the–[interjection]
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order.
Ms. Naylor: –Northwest Area Water Supply and Red River supply projects that require a stronger response, and new investments need to be made to preserve and restore our great lake.
The government's lack of action is leading to more pollution to Lake Winnipeg and less protection for the future.
Will the minister commit to paying the Province's fair share of this important project, and will she take steps to ensure the construction is accelerated?
Mrs. Guillemard: Again, I do appreciate the questions coming from members opposite.
I know that we share a deep care for and a concern for our environment and, to correct the record just a little bit, time was up more than 20 years ago, more than 30 years ago, and our government has already shown a commitment through our GROW trust and our conservation fund–[interjection]
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order.
Mrs. Guillemard: –that we are putting real dollars to changes and solutions. And I do hope the members opposite will join us in these efforts because it will take all of us to reach those solutions.
Mr. Diljeet Brar (Burrows): I want to welcome the new Ag Minister.
I want to let him know that I have attended several town halls and meetings with beef producers. They're all very concerned about the Pallister government's changes to Crown lands. They don't know how they will manage a 300 per cent increase in rent and they are concerned that the Pallister government's changes are making it harder for them to get ahead.
Will the minister reconsider all the changes to Crown lands?
Hon. Blaine Pedersen (Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development): Here's another example of the NDP–go back, not go forward.
The old system of Crown land leases has shut out our new and incoming young producers. It didn't allow them to get a chance to bid on this land. The new system will be very much more welcoming to young producers and young expanding producers, contrary to what the old system was that the NDP want to hang onto.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Burrows, on a supplementary question.
Mr. Brar: At one of the meetings there were over 200 producers in attendance. Staff from the department commented that they would inform the minister that, and I quote, there was a fairly unanimous approach here at the hall that producers are opposed to all the changes.
I want to hear from the new minister if he has now got the message and ask him what is he going to do about it.
Mr. Pedersen: Mr. Deputy Speaker, those ranchers that were at that meeting remember very well how the NDP–former NDP government killed the hog industry, or tried to kill the hog industry in Manitoba. They knew that the cattle industry was next if the NDP had stayed in power.
There is no support from the ranchers for an NDP government. They know very well that the NDP have no interest in helping them; they're only out there for political reasons.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Time for oral questions has now expired.
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.
The background to this petition is as follows:
Manitoba elders and seniors have built this province and should receive a high level of support, having earned the right to be treated with due respect, dignity, understanding and compassion–[interjection]
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order.
Mr. Gerrard: –as a fundamental human right.
Seniors who reside in personal-care homes have more diverse and complex physical and brain health issues today than those who were in similar homes even just five years ago, yet the staffing formula or minimum personnel requirement is over 20 years old.
The issue of the changes to and more complex nature of care is being exacerbated by the provincial government policy of discharging people out of hospitals more quickly, leaving many residents still in need of a high level of care.
Manitoba does not have enough health-care aides and nurses specifically trained to care for seniors with high and complex levels of physical and mental health issues such as those with dementia, coupled with multiple chronic conditions.
The added complexity of care with such residents is putting additional stress on doctors and family members, as it may take six to eight weeks for a doctor to see a resident in a personal-care home.
Unfortunately, the lack of quality care received by many residents is not unique, causing one person to say that it was easier to watch my dad die in the personal-care home than to watch him live in the personal-care home.
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Staff are so overworked that they are forced to tell senior elders and residents in need: go in your diaper; I can't help you; you will get food eventually.
Relatives are also being told that residents in care homes should not ever expect to walk again after hip or knee replacement surgery because care homes are not set up for rehabilitation.
The provincial government has allowed personal-care homes to serve food that is warmed from frozen instead of being freshly cooked, depriving seniors the taste of good food, which is one of the few real pleasures that would be able to enjoy at this time of life.
Although residents enter personal-care homes to have the best possible quality of life in their last few days, weeks, months or years, relatives repeatedly hear the words he came to die and she came to die.
Relatives are regularly angry, frustrated, disappointed and shocked at the care their loved ones now receive in Manitoba's personal-care homes.
Administrators in personal-care homes respond to complaints by sating they need more, better-trained staff.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to increase training and staffing requirements for personal-care homes in Manitoba.
To ensure residents receive high-quality, nutritious food as well as compassionate care.
Signed by Jean Emabee, Marilyn Armstrong, Bonnie Dolhan and many others.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: In accordance to the rule 133‑6, when petitions are read, they are deemed to be received by this House.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: So now we're going on to orders of the day.
Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Government House Leader): Could you please call for debate on the Throne Speech?
Mr. Deputy Speaker: It's been suggested by the honourable Government House Leader (Mr. Goertzen) that we'll debate the Throne Speech–consideration of the speech by His Honour, the 'ministrator'.
Ms. Audrey Gordon (Southdale): I move, seconded by the honourable member for Borderland (Mr. Guenter), that the following address be presented to His Honour the Administrator: We, the members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, thank Your Honour for the gracious speech addressed to us at this Second Session of the 42nd Legislature of Manitoba.
Motion presented.
Ms. Gordon: Mr. Deputy Speaker, as the 150th anniversary of our province draws near, it is a time to reflect on where we have come from and where we are going as a province.
Manitoba was built on its diversity. From the original indigenous inhabitants of this land; to the Metis nation, who were instrumental in founding our province; and to the many groups that have immigrated here over the past one and a half centuries, each has played a significant role in laying the foundation of Manitoba and each will continue to have a voice as we move forward.
The theme of our 150th birthday, United in celebration, appropriately reflects the joining together of many nations to celebrate the advancements and achievements of our province.
And I want to join, before I go forward, with the other members of the House, who have thanked the Manitoba Hydro employees for the excellent work that they did in restoring power to Manitobans. I know personally I was one of the lucky ones to be–to not be without power for very long, but I know other Manitobans and individuals living in Southdale called me to say that they were without power for a very long time and they thanked Manitoba Hydro employees for restoring their power as fast as possible. So thank you all for your hard work.
I would like to take some time to share my story, as I think it is a quintessentially Manitoban story. Like so many Manitobans, my story begins in another country. I came to Winnipeg from Jamaica when I was five years old, the second youngest of eight children. I have five brothers and two sisters.
My father, who was a concrete contractor in Jamaica, first found work in the hotel industry, while my mother found work as a health-care aide at the Health Sciences Centre and later at a long-term care facility. We did not grow up with much, but we considered ourselves blessed, blessed to be part of a loving household in a province that welcomed newcomers.
And some of you might ask because you now the temperature is soaring hot at all times in Jamaica, why my parents chose Winnipeg. In fact, they were also thinking about moving us to England, but when it came time to make the decision, my parents chose Manitoba because it could give us the best education.
And, sure, my parents might have preferred our frigid winters, right, over their monsoon hurricanes, or our perogies over England's Yorkshire pudding and our honey dill over their brown sauce, but for our family it came down to education, because through education comes opportunity.
I feel that I've been blessed for the opportunities in my life to come from a family of newcomers to getting an undergraduate degree, a master's degree at the University of Manitoba.
We have so much to be grateful for, and we should be proud of our province for supporting newcomers with such vigor.
I enter politics today with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude, a strong desire to give back to my community, to serve the residents of Southdale with humility, remembering every day that I'm here to be their voice.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, my family and I are thankful for all we have, and so much of that has to do with Manitoba governments like the Progressive Conservatives that create the conditions for individuals to thrive. I feel truly blessed, and now I have the opportunity to pass on blessings to others.
The people of Southdale have placed their trust in me to represent them faithfully, to act with courage, dedication and conviction as their representative in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly.
It is an honour to serve my community, which includes the neighbourhoods of Southdale, Southland Park, Windsor Park, Niakwa Park and Niakwa Place. I will work hard to maintain your trust.
I have many people who have supported me to get to this point, and I want to thank each of them. My father, the late Leonard Simms, and my mother, Satira Simms; my husband Winston and our two sons, Andrew and Darnell; my mother- and father-in-law, Nerissa and George Jones; my extended family both near and far; and the volunteers who worked on the Southdale campaign, from the door knockers to the sign installers. Matt Penner, our campaign manager, Laura Marrast, the official agent, Ed Onyebuchi and Ralph Akimade, and our generous donors whose names are too numerous to mention.
I would also like to thank Arni Thorsteinson and Bob and Audrey Vandewater for their constant support. Ever since I ran for office in 2016, these individuals have not left my side. They continue to support me both personally and professionally, and for that I am truly grateful.
I began by speaking about Manitoba's history and I'd like to continue in that vein. We should recognize, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that on September 10th our government received the largest back-to-back majority in the history of the province.
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In 2016, after 17 long years of NDP mismanagement, Manitobans said enough is enough. They looked in the rear-view mirror and voted to move Manitoba forward. We have received an unprecedented mandate to fix the finances, repair the services, and rebuild the economy.
Manitobans believe in our plan, and Manitobans trust our government to keep our commitments, and we will not let them down.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, while I believe Manitoba is truly Canada's greatest province, our progress has not come without setbacks. Our province has faced numerous challenges over the years. We face many today and we will face many more in the future. That is why our government is getting to work for Manitobans today. We're committed to moving Manitoba forward, with lower taxes for working families, better health care sooner, and supersized job growth. More schools for students and teachers, and made-in-Manitoba solutions that work for us.
I want to go back to last week, where the celebratory spirit of our province and the generosity and compassion of our people was on display here at the Legislative Building. We had a beautiful blanket of poppies draped over the grand staircase of our legislature. The blanket was made up of over 8,000 brilliant red poppies, hand-knit by Manitobans across the province, all coming together to showcase their support for our veterans. We want to thank–I want to thank the Dawson Trail Knitters for Charity in Southdale and the hundreds of volunteers across the province who knitted and crocheted poppies for the blanket for your generosity.
Although the blanket has been removed, our recognition of the sacrifices made by our veterans remains. They fought for our ideals of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. We are forever in their debt. Our government honours this debt. That is why we have taken concrete steps to better support the Legions that serve our veterans. In May of this year, we increased the Legions' share of VLT revenues to a 30/70 split, increasing the Legions' total income by approximately $600,000.
We also have pledged to remove the municipal property tax from all Legions, giving them more funds so they can support our veterans. And, to honour the memory of the veterans' sacrifices, our government has established a $2-million Military Memorial Conservation Fund. This fund supports activities across the province to conserve memorials that commemorate the contributions of our veterans.
Our veterans have served the country with pride and distinction. It is only right that we show them our respect and gratitude. Yet showing our respect and gratitude goes beyond just these types of supports for veterans. It also means following their example, to have courage, to put the long-term good of our immediate wants to make–behind us, to make sacrifices today for a better tomorrow.
I was reminded of this on Remembrance Day when I attended the Norwood St. Boniface Legion branch service. There, I had the opportunity to meet with many of our veterans and hear their concerns. One veteran in particular I simply cannot forget. He sat in front of me with his daughter close at hand to support him, and he asked me what I could do about the waste and reckless spending in our province. His daughter shared that the former government had been reckless with taxpayer money, careless with government resources and lacking in accountability. With our government, this family and this veteran has hope.
When our government began its first term, our province's finances were in a–shambles. The NDP raised taxes on Manitobans and still had to take out a mortgage to pay for their careless spending. This led to several credit rating downgrades under the former government, forcing more money to go to interest payments and leaving less for families and for the front-line services that Manitobans depend on.
The NDP betrayed Manitobans when they raised the PST and expanded the PST to services such as insurance contracts, haircuts and salon services, just to name a few. This was a callous, arrogant decision to take money out of the pockets of Manitobans to pay for the NDP's carelessness.
Manitobans deserve a government that keeps its promises, not breaks them. And that's what we did. On July 1st, 2019, our government lowered the PST to 7 per cent, putting money back on the kitchen tables of our government–of our Manitobans. And we are only getting started.
We all know that Manitobans are notoriously good shoppers, always looking for a deal. This is not because we're cheap, Mr. Deputy Speaker; we're also well known for being extremely generous, giving back to charities and communities. Manitobans are smart shoppers because we're hard workers and understand the value of a dollar. We work hard for our money and want every dollar to go as far as possible. This is what Manitobans want to see from their government.
This is why, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Manitobans chose us to fix the mess left behind by the NDP. And this is exactly what we're doing. With solid fiscal footing, our government can focus on lowering taxes and reducing red tape so Manitoba businesses can thrive. We want to build a more prosperous future for Manitoba and we're proving that Manitoba is open for business.
Our government is committed to our Manitoba Works 40,000 Jobs Plan. We will tackle this by reducing trade barriers, cutting red tape, investing in infrastructure, balancing the budget and transforming our public service.
Our government is committed to speeding up the permitting system at the regional and municipal levels, and we will introduce legislation to eliminate Sunday and holiday shopping restrictions while allowing municipalities to set their own hours. This is exciting for the riding of Southdale, where we have several entrepreneurs and small businesses. With less red tape, we can get down to work growing our province's prosperity and building healthier communities.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, our government is making the Legislature a place where all feel welcome and respected. We're here to lead the province, and we should be held to the highest standard. To that end, our government has introduced a no-wrong-door policy, correcting years of neglect where serious concerns of harassment were dismissed and covered up. Not only are we fixing the finances, we're fixing the Legislature.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Manitobans everywhere are raising their concerns about crime in their communities. My riding of Southdale is no different, but I say with pride that our communities have taken a proactive approach by organizing and getting involved. Recently, the community partnered with Winnipeg police, the Citizens on Patrol Program and the Bear Clan to host a Take Back Windsor Park community forum. I also joined community members from Southdale at the Winnipeg Police Service's public forum, held on October 28th at Kildonan Place.
These were opportunities for the public to voice their concerns about public safety, vandalism and issues with drug abuse in our neighbourhoods. They were also opportunities to explore solutions, and I'm proud to say that our government is already taking action. We will implement the Safer Streets, Safer Lives Action Plan to crack down on drug dealers who are victimizing our communities.
We will respond to the recommendations of the Manitoba Police Commission to make Winnipeg communities safer, and we will invest $10 million towards a strategy that includes better enforcement, greater coordination between police and business owners and increased resources for the public safety investigations unit so those who harm our communities are brought to justice.
We will also work to help at-risk youth get away from crime through proactive programs like the Outland Youth Employment Program. We want to increase restorative justice opportunities for youth, holding them accountable while supporting them as they seek a better life. That means supporting opportunities for education, work experience and learning critical life skills.
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I'm also proud that we will develop a cross-government hub to help youth who are in trouble with the law. We want to direct them to community programs and services that can help them. That includes mental health and addictions treatment. For our government, the justice system will be the last resort for youth in care.
Coming from a career in health and with a background in change management, I'm thrilled with the efforts of our government to improve health services for Manitobans. Our government understands that mental health is essential to individual well-being and to healthy communities, and that is why we're investing more than $4.2 million to improve mental health services.
Our government listens to front-line workers and seeks their input in decision-making, leading to over 3,000 responses from front-line doctors, nurses, managers, and health-care providers.
This feedback has been essential as the Province looks to improve patient care, including home care.
As a former home-care professional, I am greatly encouraged as well by our government's promise to help seniors age in place. We want to ensure a high quality of life for all patients, and that means supporting our seniors in the community so they can live within the comforts of their home.
Education is also crucial to building a thriving province and we agree with Benjamin Franklin when he said that, and I quote: An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. End quote.
A strong education can set students up for success, but the education system we inherited was broken. Manitoba's math and literacy outcomes were the worst in the country. This does not reflect the great potential in Manitoba students, their passion, their creativity, their potential for brilliance. That is why we committed to a review of the K-12 education system, and that is also why we have committed to build 20 new schools. We will ensure the system will serve students and not fail them.
As a mother, I'm happy to see the investments our government is making in child care. The addition of over 1,500 school-based child-care spaces will help young families get the care they need, and our new portable child-care benefit will help parents access the care that suits their children.
Being a new MLA, often when I walk up the steps of the Legislature, I find myself glancing up at the Golden Boy. I'm struck by his appearance–strong, resolute and always looking forward. At all times and in all conditions, he stands strong. It is this attitude we will bring to government. No matter the challenge, we will continue on.
So, over the coming session, let us reflect on the past 150 years of Manitoba's history and let us build towards a better future for all Manitobans.
In conclusion, there is a new Manitoba growing, one of big hope and bigger opportunity where young people can stay and build their own dreams, where families and seniors can find peace and security, and where progress is second to none in all of Canada.
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
Mr. Josh Guenter (Borderland): Mr. Deputy Speaker, it's a great honour, a great privilege to be asked by the Premier (Mr. Pallister) to be the seconder to the Throne Speech and to rise in this House to speak to our government's ambitious plan for the next year.
I wish to thank the–or His Honour the Administrator for yesterday's Throne Speech and my best wishes to the Lieutenant Governor on her return to health.
I want to thank the Premier personally for his leadership and for his determination to see our province through to the sunlit uplands of a better future where freedom and hope and opportunity abound, the best place in the country in which to live, work, invest and raise a family.
Our Premier has always led with purpose and wisdom and has, in recent days, spoken for the silent majority of Canadians in favour of our national unity, and also to defend the core values of all Canadians and those new to our country in speaking out against the rights infringements of Quebec's Bill 21.
In 1874, my family, along with thousands of others, immigrated to Canada from what are today the countries of Russia, Ukraine, Poland and Germany in search of opportunity and freedom: freedom to work hard, take risks and make something of yourself for your family and community without government interference, but, more importantly, freedom to think, speak and to worship.
My constituents, many of whom live in beautiful southern Manitoba today because their ancestors fled persecution when yesterday's socialists seized control of Russia, understand the importance of religious freedom and the threat that Bill 21 presents to Canada's long-held tradition of being a place of refuge, hope and freedom. I am proud that our government will be introducing a resolution in this House to affirm Manitoba's commitment to freedom of conscience and religion and to oppose the use of state authority to restrict these freedoms.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, I'm honoured to serve in a caucus that understands the real needs and pressures of everyday Manitobans, and that has put forward a plan in this Throne Speech that is bold, optimistic and positive, and that in a broad way looks at all of Manitoba and all Manitobans in the issues we face and addresses them head on. That we are doing this in the context of the 150th anniversary of Manitoba joining Confederation makes this plan all the more exciting.
When you look at this great, beautiful work of architecture that stands as our provincial seat of government today, you can catch a glimpse of the aspirations and the soaring hopes our ancestors had for us. They understood that Canada, and our place in this great country, was a land of promise for generations to come.
Our forebears had much to be proud of and believed that the values and experiences of those who came and populated Manitoba's often formidable geography, built our communities, our political institutions and our industries, would bestow on future generations greater prosperity, freedom and opportunity.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, we are truly blessed to live in this great province, and we have an obligation to remember the values and traditions and the experiences of those who came before us, and to fulfill our duty to our fellow citizens today, and also to prepare our province for those who will come in the future. It is this work to which our government has committed itself–to ensure that Manitoba is all that it can be: a place of peace, security and prosperity.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, I've heard loudly and clearly from people in my area that affordability is a real concern. Over half of Manitoba families report having less than $200 at the end of the month after the bills are paid, and Manitobans feel nickelled-and-dimed out of enjoying the rewards of their labour. Our government fully understands and is acting to make life more affordable. We fundamentally believe that the hard-earned money that Manitobans work for belongs to them, not to the government.
It's recognizing that the money we are spending really belongs to the people of Manitoba that helps inform our spending and investment decisions. It's also why we reduced the PST from eight to seven per cent and why we will be removing the PST from home insurance, personal-care services and reducing vehicle registration fees by 10 per cent next year. It's about allowing Manitobans to keep more of their hard-earned money and make decisions with it.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, my constituents will be pleased to see our government follow through on its commitment to balance the budget in two years, a full two years ahead of schedule and, following this, to begin phasing out the education tax on property. This tax comes to us from a bygone era where the vast majority of the population lived on small farms, and when our government took office in 2016, we unfortunately 'inher'–excuse me–inherited this tax along with a massive and runaway deficit.
But now that we have turned the corner on our finances, we can finally begin to build a fairer and more equitable tax system. The education tax disproportionately affects our farmers, many of whom struggle to hold on to their land and their farms because of the challenges this burdensome tax creates. This is a major issue and one that I heard loud and clear from constituents and farmers in Borderland, and our government's commitment to remove this unfair tax is welcome news to residents in my area.
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But we will, however, still be able to invest increasing amounts of money in our education system, even with the removal of this tax, since it will be gradually funded through general revenues rather than property taxes. This is what is truly unique about our government and the plan we have presented in this Throne Speech: that rather than governing from the narrow ideological affliction onto which the previous government was prone, we're governing the province as a whole, in a broad way that takes into account all the various interests and aspects of the people of our great province.
By reducing taxes and living within our means, we are able to unleash greater economic activity and fund our important social services with more resources than ever before. Our government has opened Manitoba for business and is enabling growth rather than inhibiting it, as the previous NDP administration had done. A government must be part of the solution, not the problem.
We are eliminating job-killing red tape and regulations, reducing the tax on–tax burden on all Manitobans, removing trade barriers and promoting investment and growth, while strengthening our vital public services such as health care and education.
We have come a long way since 2016, and today Manitoba leads the country in attracting private sector investment. We know that more needs to be done, and I am pleased to see in this Throne Speech a commitment to speed up the permitting systems at regional and municipal levels. We will be building on the work of the Treasury Board Secretariat's review of planning, permitting and zoning in Manitoba which will benefit citizens, businesses and municipal stakeholders. We have seen the potential in this plan: new investments in the order of $5.1 billion per year or 7 per cent of provincial GDP.
By removing trade barriers, which cost in the area of $130 billion nationally, Canadian households would see an additional $1,500 come back to them. I am pleased that our government and this Premier (Mr. Pallister) is leading the national conversation on removing trade barriers and has boldly challenged other provinces to follow suit. And initiatives such as this could not come at a better time in our country's history, and the grand bargain that the Premier has invited others to join would finally fulfill the ambition of this country's founders to forge a true economic union.
And just to bring home this point, there's a quote from Alexander [phonetic] de Tocqueville, in his work, Democracy in America, that I think very clearly illustrates how red tape, trade barriers and bureaucratic interventionism can stifle entrepreneurial spirit and dynamism, choke out our freedoms and change the behaviour of the public in ways that are harmful. Tocqueville, in speaking of the state, wrote that, after having thus successively taken each member of the community in its powerful grasp and fashioned him at will, the supreme power then extends its arm over the whole community.
It covers the surface of society with a network of small complicated rules, minute and uniform, through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate to rise above the crowd. The will of man is not shattered but softened, bent and guided. Men are seldom forced by it to act, but they are constantly restrained from acting.
Such a power does not destroy, but it prevents existence. It does not tyrannize, but it compresses, it enervates, extinguishes and stupefies a people until each nation is reduced to be nothing better than a flock of timid and industrial animals of which government is the shepherd.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, as a legislative body, we need to remember that while we enjoy many freedoms, we have a duty as legislators to work to secure the liberty and freedom of the people we have the privilege to represent and in a practical manner that is exactly what our government has been doing.
We have introduced the two-for-one rule when it comes to drafting new regulations, meaning that for every new regulation, two must be struck out. We also recently announced that we would be removing a further six exceptions to the Canada free trade agreement that will open up our procurement process to all Canadians.
Coming from an area where my constituents are keenly invested and interested in the economy of this province, I am very pleased that our government continues to streamline processes, find efficiencies and new markets and open up our province for business.
My area is home to many small businesses and business owners, people with entrepreneurial grit and ability, who have great ideas on our–and are willing to take risks but need to know that government, rather than backstopping failure and siphoning away their success, will instead create the conditions that they need to be able to build successful enterprises.
And this strategy has many positive spinoffs. Not only does a business and industry create jobs, but employers such as Friesen's corporation, a book printing company and major employer in Altona, actually helps immigrants move and integrate into our society, has helped employees purchase their first home through assisting them with their CMHC financial requirements and is actively involved in supporting community organizations.
Miller Environmental Corporation is another major employer in my area with a unique and exciting story to tell, and there are many more.
My area is also home to six Hutterite colonies, all of which have, on their initiative, carved out a niche in the market and built successful businesses.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, we are on the right track in Manitoba when it comes to growing our economy, and this has benefits for all of us. Our ambitious plan to help create 40,000 new private sector jobs will enable more of our people to stay and raise their families in Manitoba.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, if there's one issue aside from affordability that impacts my area greatly, it is infrastructure. Unglamorous though it may be, I love infrastructure. And almost out of necessity, too. Infrastructure is vital to our farmers, producers and businesses getting their goods to market, and people in my area experience every day the lack of attention paid to infrastructure for 17 years, from 1999 to 2016.
The people of my area, and indeed all Manitobans, will be happy to know that our government will be increasing infrastructure spending from $350 million to $400 million over the next four years. And not only will our government be investing more resources, but I'm pleased to see that we will be partnering with the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association and others to find ways to maximize efficiency so that we can build more road for every dollar spent.
The facts are clear: Our government has spent more money on infrastructure in every year that we have been in office than 16 of 17 years under the NDP. Manitobans will benefit greatly from our government's commitment in this Throne Speech to invest billions more in infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, universities and Crown corporations.
I also want to take a moment to discuss the steps our government is taking in transformer our health‑care system so that it provides better care, and sooner, to all Manitobans. We have begun the work of modernizing and streamlining the system, and the results are positive. We have seen wait-time reductions in this province when all other nine provinces in Canada are experiencing growing wait times.
We are at a 10-year high in terms of attracting doctors to our province. We are leading the nation in this regard as well. We announced shortly after the election that we hired another 80 doctors this year, bringing the two-year total to 158 physicians. This is good news for all Manitobans.
I'm happy also to see that our government will be working with Shared Health and the regional health authorities to create 200 new nursing positions by 2023, to reduce the waiting list for cataract, knee and hip surgeries; the $2-billion commitment to health-care spending over the next four years was a substantial commitment from our platform to move Manitoba forward, and many constituents I spoke with were happy to see this kind of support from our government.
The Altona hospital is an important part of our community, and constituents are also supportive of our plan to hire an additional 80 rural paramedics who will provide a high global standard of 24-7 access to care within 30 minutes for 90 per cent of Manitobans 90 per cent of the time.
Obviously, Borderland is a rural area, but when people have an emergency, they can call 911 and know that when those paramedics get there, that they are getting a very high level of medical treatment. And this security is important because people want to know that they have access to health care that they can depend on.
One last item I think is important for the people of our province, and especially my area, is the way our government has actually found a way to bring the economy and environment together. Rather than subjecting Manitobans to a punitive carbon tax, our Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan will help homeowners and businesses be greener and cleaner with a $25-million energy efficiency retrofit program. This initiative is the equivalent of taking 27,000 cars off the road.
Farmers in my area are also pleased about our government's commitment to increase the ethanol requirement to 10 per cent and the biodiesel requirement to 5 per cent. This will help our farmers find a market for their canola and corn, but it will also reduce emissions by thirty–375,000 tons over three years, the equivalent of planting 25 million trees.
I am proud to have wonderful municipal leaders and stakeholders in my area with whom I have developed great working relationships, and in my meetings with them, I have heard great support also for our government's approach to watersheds and water conservation. The $204-million plan our government has begun to implement will help ensure that our land and our environment will be sustainable for future generations.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, since this is the first time I am able to address the House in this manner, I want to take the time to thank my beautiful wife, Alicia, for her love and support through these past months. She has held down the fort when I have been subjected to the often erratic schedule that candidates and politicians endure. And she is–truly has been a blessing in my life. She is a counsellor and a friend, and I thank God for her.
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I am proud of our son, Jackson, who had his first birthday on September 30th and is growing up quickly, and Alicia and I anticipate welcoming a new baby girl in February of next year. We are one of many thousands of young and middle-aged families in our constituency who love life, dream big, work hard and vote Conservative. We really are truly blessed.
I want to thank my parents for their love and support as well throughout the recent campaign, as well as my family and friends who rallied to the cause and have been such a great encouragement and support. My brothers, Abe and Matt, who, like many in this province, are out on the road at the moment thousands of miles away from home and family working to make a living and whose names I am happy to have read into the record.
I want to thank specifically my campaign manager Colton Wall and my campaign chair Phil Joannou for their friendship, wisdom and guidance; and the many volunteers who had a part in our success on election day: Angeline Waloh, Jessica Bergen, Gwen Uminga and Dave Harder, as well Kathy Hildebrand and Dawn and Betty Esler.
Other–many others still have played a large role in the success of our campaign and in why I am here today, and I am ever grateful.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, I thank you for your time.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition.
Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Are you inviting me to the Grey Cup? Is that what's happening?
I move, seconded by the member for St. Johns (Ms. Fontaine), that debate now be adjourned.
Motion agreed to.
Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Government House Leader): The will of the House to call it 5 o'clock, Mr. Deputy Speaker?
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Is it will of the House to call is 5 o'clock? [Agreed]
The hour being 5 p.m., the House is now recessed and stands recessed–stands adjourned until tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
CONTENTS