LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Thursday, April 18, 2019
Madam Speaker: Good afternoon, everybody. Please be seated.
Mr. Shannon Martin (Morris): I move, seconded by the MLA for the Interlake, that Bill 206, The Planning Amendment Act, be now read a first time.
Motion presented.
Mr. Martin: I am pleased today to introduce Bill 206, The Planning Amendment Act. Under The Planning Act it–changes to a development plan bylaw, zoning bylaw or secondary planning in rural Manitoba had been initiated.
An application for permanent may be held for up to 125 days if the development does not conform with the pending changes. This bill aligns that period from 125 days to 90 days as found currently in the city of Winnipeg. This bill helps to eliminate red tape for our municipalities.
Thank you.
Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
Any further bill introductions?
Committee reports? Tabling of reports? Ministerial statements?
Hon. Jeff Wharton (Minister of Municipal Relations): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to honour Linda Park.
Linda was born and raised in the village of Dunnottar. Her grandparents moved there in 1921 from St. Peter's Reserve near Selkirk where they were active in their church and community. This tradition of service to community and others is one that Linda carried throughout her life.
Linda enjoyed a long and successful career with the Royal Bank of Canada that began in Winnipeg and took her to head offices in Montreal and Toronto. Her strong analytical and problem-solving skills were instrumental in the design and implementation of the computer systems used in branches nationwide.
She was a pioneer within the ranks of the corporate banking who would passionately pursue equality for indigenous youth while challenging the corporate environment.
Working with new–network of life-minded people, she convinced corporate entities to co-sponsor the first mentorship program for Aboriginal youth at the University of Manitoba, the Aboriginal business employment program.
She and several confidants developed the Aboriginal Youth Achievement Award to recognize young indigenous students who excel in their fields. One category is named after–in Linda's honour.
Linda played a big role in the establishment of an Aboriginal Banking division at RBC and was instrumental in the opening of RBC banks on Peguis First Nation and Norway House Cree Nation. The branch on Peguis was the first of its kind in Canada.
Her knowledge, communication skills and plain common sense made her a valuable asset to the organization.
I would like to ask my colleagues to join me in welcoming Linda's sister, Wendy Phillips, brothers Dean and Edward Park, and Rick Gamble, mayor of the village of Dunnottar, to the gallery today.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): In Snow Lake, there is a small and beautiful hideaway called the Ladybug Garden. Filled with colourful plants and flowers, small fountains and walking pathways, the garden is an oasis.
Beverly Taylor, the woman at the helm of the garden. A councillor once approached Beverly asking her to be on a committee to beautify Snow Lake. Since the summer of 2016 she has worked tirelessly, sometimes throughout entire days and nights, planting and expanding the garden into the community touchstone it is today.
The garden has also become an attraction for out-of-town visitors who come to admire the beauty and see the abundance of ladybugs after whom the garden is named.
While Beverly has put her time and money into cultivating the garden, it is still a community project. People and businesses throughout Snow Lake have made donations or contributed in some way to the garden.
Beverly says that she gets power for the garden's lights from the Legion, water for the plants from the seniors centre, and many of the flowers have been donated by residents and organizations in the community. Once a year an event is held where children paint rocks and leave them in the garden so that they can be a part of the garden too.
Although Beverly isn't here with us in the gallery today, I want to thank her for all the hard work that she does in an area that was once littered with garbage and broken glass is now one of the community centrepieces. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Doyle Piwniuk (Arthur-Virden): You may have heard of Melita, Manitoba, but have you heard about their statue? The world's largest free‑standing nine-metre-tall banana holding a blue jay in its hands is located just in the heartland of the banana belt, the name of the Manitoba agrometeorologists gave Melita many years ago. Their names are Sunny and Breezy. While the banana symbolizes Melita's warm temperatures, Breezy the Blue Jay reminds us that Melita is also the grassland bird capital of Manitoba.
The root of the banana idea goes back in 2007, when the tourist committee began brainstorming new ideas to bring people to the community, located 33 kilometres north of the US border and 37 kilometres east of Saskatchewan border.
The unveiling of Sunny and Breezy was the beginning of the 'melanda'–Melita Banana Days Festival. This festival is held in every second weekend on August every year. The year marks the 10th anniversary of Melita Banana Days.
This weekend the–it packs the events of activities and the–for the whole family, from book sales to tea parties or to building birdhouses in the park, BBQs, horseback riding, reptile gardens, games, live music, fireworks and many more activities.
The festival could not have happened without the dedication of the volunteers working diligently behind the scenes. Today I would like to welcome the Melita Banana Day Committee sitting in the gallery today. This crew works all year planning the festival in order to promote their hometown. To see that–their hard work, be sure to check out Melita Banana Day belts–Facebook and Instagram.
Banana Days crew, your hard work and dedication is not unnoticed. Thank you very much, and everyone please give them a hand.
Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Arthur-Virden.
Mr. Piwniuk: Madam Speaker, I would ask that the names of the–in attendance today be included in Hansard.
Madam Speaker: Is there leave to include those names in Hansard? [Agreed]
Melita Banana Days Committee: Kelly Lewis; Camiel Serruys, president; Danielle Serruys; Brittany Walker, treasurer.
Madam Speaker: Further members' statements.
Mr. Greg Nesbitt (Riding Mountain): It's my pleasure to rise in the House today to remind my colleagues and all Manitobans that this year during the last full week of April, the first ever Invasive Species Awareness Week will be held in Manitoba. This week will provide the opportunity for all Manitobans to learn about and discuss what an invasive species is, the potential adverse effects that invasive species have on our province's natural species, and the effects and potential effects on Manitoba's overall environment and our economy. [interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order.
Mr. Nesbitt: I am proud that our PC government recognizes the importance of maintaining a healthy ecosystem and has passed the MLA for Selkirk's private member's bill, despite the NDP's pushback and attempts to stop this bill.
Aquatic invasive species such as zebra mussels, and terrestrial invasive species such as common tansy pose a significant threat to Manitoba's ecosystems. About 40 per cent of threatened and endangered species are at risk due to invasive species.
This week works to protect Manitoba's environment by raising awareness to the public of the issue of invasive species in our province.
The key to saving ecosystems from invasive species is educating Manitobans on prevention, detection and the importance of timely responses to identification. The majority of invasive species in our province are introduced by human activity. All Manitobans need to be aware of the risk factors and take steps to minimize the potential for inadvertently or deliberately introducing a new species into our province.
Our PC government wants Manitoba to lead the way in fighting invasive species. Manitoba has among the strongest environmental protection laws in Canada and was the first province or territory to enact legislation declaring an Invasive Species Awareness Week.
I ask all Manitobans to do their part by raising their own awareness of invasive species and work diligently to help us improve the quality of all Manitoba's ecosystems. Remember to spread the word, not the species.
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): I recently visited Christie Dejong at the Oak Street Nursery School in River Heights. Like many daycare facilities in Manitoba, their revenue has been frozen for the last three years, making it a challenge to manage financially, even as they continue to do what they can to offer the best possible child care and early childhood education.
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Child-care programs are a vital part of our community. With most households having more than one parent working, it has become essential for many families. High-quality early childhood education, whether at home or at a centre, can be an important part of a child's development. Evidence shows that early childhood education can lead to significant reductions in special education placement, in improved grade retention and in increased high school graduation rates.
By failing to increase funding to these programs the present provincial government has, compared to the cost of living index, effectively reduced funding to early child-care programs, created a significant wage gap and reduced access. A survey of members of the Manitoba Child Care Association showed that 69 per cent are finding it hard to hire early childhood educators because staff preferred to work where they would receive better pay.
A survey of more than 3,000 parents by Probe Research shows that 62 per cent of parents reported waiting for a space for their child for child care and early childhood education, with the average wait time being 14 to 15 months. Forty-one per cent of parents delayed returning to work, 24 per cent declined an educational opportunity and 30 per cent turned down a job because they couldn't get child care and early childhood education when they needed it.
Action to improve the availability of better access to early child care and early childhood education is clearly needed.
Thank you.
Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Madam Speaker, we've heard a lot about the impacts of this Premier's cuts to health care, and one of the ones that we hear about quite often is the cut for outpatient physiotherapy. We now know the dollar value of that cut. The Premier has cut–cancelled $1.6 million worth of outpatient physiotherapy services just this past year.
But, of course, the numbers alone don't capture the full impact of this cut, and, you know, we've heard Marie Kuhn's story. She had knee surgery in January 2017. Physiotherapy had helped her to recover. She also knows that her private insurance won't cover the service next time. Unfortunately, she needs a repeat knee surgery within 18 months. She says this is a, quote, government of accountants that don't think about people or caring, end quote.
Will the Premier stop only looking at the numbers and will he reinvest in outpatient physiotherapy services?
Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Well, numbers do matter, Madam Speaker. We're managing other people's money. The money that other people work hard for comes to us in the form of tax dollars, and it's important that we do our best to manage sustainably and well to help them get better services. The numbers do matter. Eighty-seven is a number that matters: 87 per cent of Manitoba patients have said in a recent survey that their overall hospital experience was good or very good, and we're proud of our front-line workers and we are in support of them to the tune of another number, a more than $400 million larger investment in health care this year alone than the NDP government ever made.
But there is one other number that matters, Madam Speaker, and that's the amazing debt-service costs that the NDP left us: $1 billion this year won't be able to go to health care because the NDP overspent in the past and now we have to pay it back.
They made a mess of it, Madam Speaker, and we're doing our very, very best to clean it up.
Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question.
Mr. Kinew: Madam Speaker, in the Premier's rush to cut our health-care system, he's forgotten that he can actually make the system much, much worse, and that's what we're now seeing under his premiership.
Madam Speaker, this $1.6 million that's been cut from outpatient physiotherapy services is going to cost Manitoba more in the long run. Other jurisdictions recognized that; that's why it's covered in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
We know that Patricia Klotz had an accident in April 2016. She fell and broke her arm, needed surgery. She's still going for care at the Health Sciences Centre. She may need another surgery and she does require physiotherapy to recover; however, she was told at the hospital, quote, she can't come back, end quote.
Now investments in health care are worth it. We know that seniors and our own family members need it.
Will the Premier reverse his cuts to outpatient physiotherapy services in Manitoba?
Mr. Pallister: Oh, but that we could go back in time, Madam Speaker, to the times that the NDP governed, when they actually ran deficits that got larger each and every year. Oh, that we could go back in time and not have to have a billion-dollar deficit when we came in, that they left us and handed the people of Manitoba.
Oh, that we could go back in time and the previous government would have acted on the advice it obtained from experts and have worked to shorten the wait times. But it didn’t have the courage to do that when it was in government. It simply ran up debt spending money on other things besides investing in health care.
Now we're investing more, $400 million more, in health care than the NDP ever did and, unfortunately, we also at the same time have to manage the debt they handed us, and that's over $1 billion of interest only this year.
In spite of that, the Canadian institute of health information says we're the only province making progress, and we're proud to clean up the mess the NDP created.
Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary.
Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): The Premier always talks about the money, but what about the care, Madam Speaker?
We know that the numbers are moving in the wrong direction when it comes to care. We know that surgeries are being cancelled, wait times in emergency rooms are going up ever since they started to close emergency rooms and an urgent-care centre in the city of Winnipeg.
Now, the Premier likes to call these cuts by other names: services shifts, as an example. Well, we know that at the Mature Women's Centre, that that was an excellent centre for care for women that helped them avoid certain forms of illness, other kinds of diseases and it offered a lot of preventative medicine, yet the Premier cut it. Why? So that he could save $100,000 in these so-called service shifts–again, another $100,000-cut that's damaging the quality of health care for people in Manitoba.
So would the Premier please redirect his attention towards improving the quality of health care in Manitoba, beginning by restoring funding for the Mature Women's Centre?
Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): The NDP left Manitobans in a situation where they had to endure the longest waits of any Canadians for emergency care and for many services that were vitally important to them.
We’re increasing investments and shortening wait times to get into personal-care homes. We're increasing investments and shortening wait times for hip surgery. We’re increasing investments and shortening waits for knees. We're increasing investments and we're shortening waits to get cataract surgery. We're shortening wait times more than any other province in Canada.
And, Madam Speaker, they left us not only–not only–with 10th out of 10 when it came to health-care services in the country, but also with the highest ambulance fees and the highest tax increases of all provinces.
We're reversing the mess they made. Making things better for Manitobans is what this team is about.
Introduction of Guests
Madam Speaker: I would like to just take a moment: we just have some guests joining us in the gallery and I would like to introduce to–them to you.
From Kildonan-East Collegiate we have 44 grade 9 students under the direction of Ebony Hunter and Susan Lachowich, and this group is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Concordia (Mr. Wiebe).
On behalf of all members here, we welcome you to the Manitoba Legislature.
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Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question.
Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): I'd like to welcome our guests and just let them know that they have a great MLA from Concordia here who stands up each and every day against this Premier's plan to close the Concordia emergency room, Madam Speaker.
Now, we know that the Premier is going to spend up to $1 million on a review for CancerCare, and you've got the KPMGs and Deloittes of the world lining up to engage in this cost-cutting exercise. But the Premier has already cut 2 and a half million dollars from the budget of CancerCare since he's taken off it–office.
We now learn through FIPPA that outlines the cuts that I've mentioned so far–I'll table them for the Premier's benefit–that he's also taken CancerCare clinics out of the community, all so that he could save another $100,000.
Will the Premier reverse these cuts, and will he restore community cancer clinics for families in Manitoba?
Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Doesn't matter how many times he says it, Madam Speaker, doesn’t make it any more true. The fact of the matter is 414 million more dollars are being invested this year in health care than the NDP ever spent.
But the more important thing is that we're improving outcomes for patients. We're making wait times shorter. We're concentrating resources so people can get the care they need without being re-transported around the city, which happened to thousands of city residents and rural residents too, Madam Speaker.
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So these improvements in services were made on the basis of expert advice. The member speaks against asking for expert advice, which is interesting because it was actually the NDP government who asked for this expert advice and then didn't act on the advice.
Madam Speaker, I don't know why. Maybe the member can offer an explanation in his preamble for why he cares so little about Manitobans' health care that he wouldn't bother to demonstrate the courage of acting on expert advice.
They made a mess of the health-care system and we are cleaning it up.
Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question.
Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): The Premier should have the courage to listen to the experts when it comes to opening a safe consumption site in Winnipeg.
Now, when we get back to the cuts that he's made in health care, it's very clear that he's cut $36 million from the Winnipeg health region when it comes to health care just in the last year. The cuts that I've presented so far in question period add up to only some $4 million, which means that's only some 10 per cent of the impact of the cuts to health care that this Premier is making.
We know that the emergency room wait times are increasing month over month and year over year, ever since he started to close emergency rooms in the city of Winnipeg–and an urgent-care centre–and we know the situation's going to get a whole lot worse.
So will the Premier please stop cutting health care in Manitoba, beginning with abandoning his plan to close the emergency rooms at Concordia and Seven Oaks hospitals?
Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): The phoney compassion and the fake stats don't change the fact that the NDP worsened the system to the point where it was 10th out of 10. Wait times at Concordia were the longest in Canada. The member knows that; he just doesn't want to talk about that.
He wants to talk about going backward. We're going forward. We're going forward to better care for Manitobans and sooner.
Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary.
Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Wait times are increasing under this–[interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order.
Mr. Kinew: –Premier's watch. Wait times have increased at emergency rooms since he started–[interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order.
Mr. Kinew: –closing ERs in the city of Winnipeg.
We knew that surgery wait times are also increasing for–when it comes to knees, when it comes to hips, when it comes to cataract surgeries, and when you look at heart surgeries, those are just plain out being cancelled. That is the record of this Premier.
If you want to reduce wait times in emergency rooms, you need to invest in primary care. If people can't see a family doctor or a nurse practitioner, they have to go to the ER, yet even on that side they're closing clinics, QuickCare clinics, Family Medical Centre, the clinic on Corydon; the list goes on.
The Premier is causing much chaos with his cuts to health care.
Will he simply stop the chaos?
Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Finally, a question which references something the member has expertise on: chaos. The fact is the chaos in his own caucus is not something that's being demonstrated throughout the system. Our health-care system and its front-line workers are reacting well to the changes that have to occur to move our system forward, to move it forward where it's patient centred, not opposition centred.
Madam Speaker, the fact of the matter is we're investing over $400 million more in health care this year than the NDP ever did, in spite of the mess they left us and the billion-dollar debt-service costs they left us.
Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): Yesterday I asked the minister why he's cut 87 positions in the administration of justice; no answer, Madam Speaker. Just this year 40 positions were cut in Court Operations and in Custody Corrections. It makes no sense in the midst of a crime wave.
That's what police are saying; that's what statistics show. The most recent data from Statistics Canada show that thousands more adults are charged with crime every year than just a few years ago.
Why is the minister cutting critical justice positions?
Hon. Cliff Cullen (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I want to talk about the mess that was left after 17 years of NDP in the justice system. We had a budget out of control in justice; we had crime rates going through the roof and no results happening.
Madam Speaker, we've been able to get our budget under–[interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order.
Mr. Cullen: –control. We've been able to get our budget under control with no layoffs. As a result of that, we've been making strategic investments in policing: $6.8 million last year's budget; we've set aside $2.3 million this year to deal with Illicit Drug Task Force.
Madam Speaker, we have much more work to do though. [interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order.
The honourable member for St. Johns, on a supplementary question.
Ms. Fontaine: Manitobans don't believe what this minister and this Premier (Mr. Pallister) are trying to peddle. We know that crime statistics are going way up under their watch, Madam Speaker.
Their poverty plan is inadequate and nonexistent.
There's a lack of provincial leadership in dealing with the meth crisis, Madam Speaker. The budget for crime prevention has been frozen for three years, and it was underspent last year by nearly 10 per cent. It's pretty clear the Premier and this Justice Minister are not serious about dealing with the root causes, but they're also not serious about dealing with the administration of justice.
Eighty-seven positions cut.
When will the minister circle back and reinstate these positions?
Mr. Cullen: Well, Madam Speaker, I would welcome an integrity quiz any time.
Madam Speaker, we are investing in Victim Services. We've set aside $2.3 million for the illicit drug trade. We've invested $1.4 million from the proceeds of crime to help police officers do their job. We've invested money in a Strategic Innovation Unit to provide better outcomes for Manitobans.
Madam Speaker, I know there was a mess inherited here a few years ago. We're on the right path, the road to recovery, and we are getting the job done.
Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, on a final supplementary.
Ms. Fontaine: This is the last chance for the minister to try and give this House and Manitobans an answer into why and how he's justifying cutting 87 positions in the administration of justice in Manitoba in the midst of a crime wave.
Forty positions, again, Madam Speaker, just this year in court operations and custody operations. It's also troubling that there are less supports to help divert cases from the formal justice system. Staff have been cut in Community Corrections every year.
Put altogether: less staff administering, more changes–more charges in the midst of a crime wave, less resources to formally divert cases out of an overburdened court system.
Why does the minister care more about cuts than protecting–
Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired.
Mr. Cullen: Well, Madam Speaker, there is a stark contrast between the previous government and our government. We actually have a plan to proceed in terms of dealing with public safety. We have a criminal modernization strategy, going forward. Crime prevention is No. 1. Number 2 is targeted resources against serious criminal activity.
Madam Speaker, we're making investments where it's due. We're also–have 16 transformation capital projects under way here within justice alone: good investments returning good results for Manitobans.
Madam Speaker, we were left a mess. We're turning the corner. We will have more work to do, but we are getting the job done on behalf of Manitobans.
Ms. Amanda Lathlin (The Pas): I see first-hand in my constituency the toll living paycheque to paycheque can take on an individual. Make Poverty History Manitoba has given this government a failing a grade on poverty reduction.
Their report summarizes key issues that we continue to press this government on: their lack of creating affordable child-care spaces as the wait list continues to grow; their lack of edu–lack of ac–sorry–their lack of action to treat mental health and addictions; their lack of investment and repairs to social housing; and their lack of providing a livable wage.
Will the minister commit today to producing a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy?
Hon. Heather Stefanson (Minister of Families): I thank the member for the question and, in fact, Madam Speaker, we're committed to making measurable progress in reducing poverty through targeted and innovative initiatives across departments that include helping Manitobans transition into jobs and financial independence.
In fact, we're already well ahead of where we were during the dark days of the previous NDP government. According Statistics Canada, the child poverty rate's reduced by 20 per cent in one year.
Now, we recognize there's still more work to be done but, Madam Speaker, we're working with stakeholders in the community to ensure that we get that job done for Manitobans.
Madam Speaker: The honourable member for The Pas, on a supplementary question.
Ms. Amanda Lathlin (The Pas): People who work full time should not have to live in poverty, yet thousands of Manitobans struggle every day to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. But we have seen little action by this government to produce a comprehensive poverty reduction plan.
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Pathways to a Better Future strategy did not provide a detailed plan of action; rather, their strategy was simply statements.
Make Poverty History wants to share their ideas for a poverty reduction plan with the minister, but their requests to meet have been declined.
Will the minister commit to meeting with Make Poverty History Manitoba?
Hon. Heather Stefanson (Minister of Families): We meet with all sorts of stakeholders in the community on a daily basis, and I know that this particular organization did come forward, did contact my office. I wanted to ensure that they had a timely meeting with us, and that's why the deputy minister did meet with them, along with other department officials. We work together as a team, Madam Speaker.
The important thing here is to ensure–[interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order.
Mrs. Stefanson: –that we move in a direction of reducing poverty in Manitoba. I will remind members opposite that we don't want to go back to the dark days of the NDP government where we were the child-poverty capital of Canada. We won't take any lessons from members opposite. We're getting the job done.
Madam Speaker: The honourable member for The Pas, on a final supplementary.
Ms. Amanda Lathlin (The Pas): This government has a poor track record on assisting low-income Manitobans. They haven't committed to a single new unit of social housing since being elected.
They cut the maintenance budget for Manitoba Housing by $78 million. They increased rents for Manitoba Housing residents. They decreased the Rent Assist benefit and made cuts to post-secondary education and training.
Will the minister stop the cuts to Manitoba's most vulnerable and commit to investing in new poverty reduction initiatives today?
Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): The member's just wrong in her preamble, sadly, Madam Speaker. We've got 750 new social housing units since we came to government just three years ago.
It was Tommy Douglas, I believe, who used to say, the best social program is a job. And so, Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to let the member opposite and her colleagues know, if they would listen, that the jobs situation for Manitobans has never been better. Full-time employment increased last year by 2.7–[interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order.
Mr. Pallister: –per cent. That is the second highest among all the provinces. Part-time employment also increased by 2.4 per cent. That is also the second highest among all Canadian provinces. And, Madam Speaker, private sector self-employment, which is an important area as well, increased by 5 per cent last year and that, too, is the second highest. We're number two and we're trying harder.
Mr. Dougald Lamont (Leader of the Second Opposition): The Premier is once again showing his hypocrisy towards the City of Winnipeg by announcing an independent fiscal review of the City's operations. The single greatest factor in the provincial government's reducing the deficit is that the federal government has increased transfers by hundreds of millions of dollars in new funding every year, after a half-decade of frozen federal funding under the Conservatives.
The City of Winnipeg has a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure deficit on roads, bridges, sewers and water treatment–[interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order.
Mr. Lamont: –that have been largely ignored by provincial governments for years, and, in addition to these costs this government is clawing back and denying funding to the City. If the Premier goes ahead with this study, is he going–[interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order.
Mr. Lamont: –to make sure that his own government's cancellations of funding programs and reneging on budget commitments are included for consideration?
Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Okey-dokey, Madam Speaker. What we have here is a situation where the member wants to praise the federal government for helping us. Fine, I'm happy to take help from the federal government and I thank the federal government for their support. But they are not the only reason that this government has reduced the growth of debt, which would have occurred in this province under the NDP in just three years by $5 billion.
The City of Winnipeg–[interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order. Order.
Mr. Pallister: It’s a tremendous accomplishment, Madam Speaker, and I know the members opposite understand that and are fearful of it. But they should not be because it benefits Manitobans. It actually reduces our debt-service costs by close to–each year and on a sustainable basis–$200 million less of debt-service costs.
So we're going in the right direction, Madam Speaker. We'll work with Ottawa when they're right. They're wrong on a few things, but they're right on some, too, and we'll keep working in partnership with them, just like we will the City of Winnipeg.
Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Second Opposition, on a supplementary question.
Mr. Lamont: We know the City of Winnipeg has incredibly serious issues because there is an ongoing criminal investigation into the construction of the police headquarters. A fire hall was built on land the City didn't own. When–audits found the administration misled council and a profitable City parkade was sold off for pennies on the dollar.
These resulted in multi-million-dollar cost overruns for the City, yet the Premier is, once again, turning a blind eye to those issues. There is already an investigation into a few inspectors slacking off at work, but the Premier is going to launch a review of his own into permits and approvals. That seems like small potatoes compared to putting a fire hall on land you don't own.
Now, I don't want to think the worst of people, Madam Speaker; what may seem malicious can also be explained by sheer incompetence.
Is the Premier afraid to call an inquiry into these events because it might prove embarrassing for his political allies?
Mr. Pallister: I'm not going to–Madam Speaker, I'm not going to hold it against the member. After all, this is his first job, but the fact remains that foisting incompetence on other people, when you fail to demonstrate any competence in your own life, is not a wise thing to do.
I would encourage the member to be generous in his appraisals of the City's performance. I am. We are going to work with the City to make sure that they're able to manage their expenditure side of their balance sheet a little bit better and get better value for money out of the inspection process.
We're going to take over the investigation because that's the right thing to do. It should be done at arm's length from the City itself. We'll build on the work they've done initially and we will encourage the member to understand that a better inspection process done in a timely manner is a way to build our economy, which is good for Winnipeggers and good for all Manitobans, as well. It creates jobs–jobs that he has never done but many Manitobans would like to be doing.
Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Second Opposition, on a final supplementary.
Mr. Lamont: The Premier's made a habit of meddling in the affairs of others. Even his budget document lectures other levels of government–should act exactly as the Province is.
There are key differences, Madam Speaker. One is that other levels of government recognize they actually have to invest to grow and lay the foundation of a better economy, something this government doesn't. The other is that other levels of government, unlike the Premier, are not being offered hundreds of millions of dollars in new funding every year.
The Premier is continually trying to micromanage Crown corporations, to the point that board members quit or tell other levels of government what they should be doing.
It took this Premier 18 months to sign a health accord for which we gained nothing. He's left one point win–one billion dollars in funding on the table.
Has it occurred to him he could get more done if he spent his time running his own government, instead of trying to run others?
Mr. Pallister: There isn't adequate time to respond to the inadequacies in that preamble, Madam Speaker. The fact is that the member speaks–throws stones from a house extremely made of glass. Attacking someone's integrity is not a strategy of any kind.
The fact is that our government is getting results. [interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order.
Mr. Pallister: Attacking someone's integrity is not a strategy one should employ, Madam Speaker, when one is frequently in this House defending a federal Liberal government that has tried to circumvent the rule of law, that has caused the resignation or firing of people who have stood up for the rule of law, that has demonstrated incompetence and poor management on a number of files, that has demonstrated its complete inability to actually fulfill its promises.
Now, Madam Speaker, we're keeping our word. The members opposite broke theirs, and I think Manitobans understand that distinction.
Ms. Flor Marcelino (Logan): A recent freedom of information request reveals the Pallister government's unfair and unjust head tax has cost newcomers over $5 million, yet the minister plans on providing just a small fraction of that annually in service to newcomers.
Why is the minister forcing newcomers to bear these additional costs?
Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, on Friday, last Friday, I was pleased to be in Steinbach and I was pleased to be at Welcome Place.
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It's always nice to be in Steinbach and then it was worth the trip to come into Winnipeg to Welcome Place, Madam Speaker, where, at Welcome Place, we were able to announce $3.1 million of funding from the fees that were generated to go to help those who are coming to Canada.
They were extremely grateful for the support. They said it was a game changer for them and, of course, those announcements were replicated across Manitoba and other places in Winnipeg as we provided more than $3.1 million so that there can be additional services for newcomers to Manitoba.
Madam Speaker: I am going to ask the member for Southdale (Mr. Smith) and the member for Point Douglas (Mrs. Smith) to come to order. There has been increasing comments throughout this whole oral questions and I would ask them to please come to order.
The honourable member for Logan, on a supplementary question.
Ms. Marcelino: Opening quote: Every dollar that we collect stays in the immigration file. It is not a cash grab by the government. Unquote. That's what the former minister of Education said and committed to when he brought in this new fee. Yet now over $5 million has been taken from newcomers.
The new minister's recent commitment will be stretched over three years. It represents just a small fraction of what is being taken from newcomers.
Why has this minister and this government broken trust with newcomers?
Mr. Goertzen: Madam Speaker, the member is wrong. We committed to annual funding for the various programs that were announced on Friday. And I want to tell you that at the many places that me and my colleagues were at announcing the funding right across Manitoba, but particularly at Welcome Place, the individuals that I met with, new families who've come to Manitoba, said they couldn't be happier with the support that they were receiving from Welcome Place, from other places across Manitoba.
And those who are on the front lines, who are helping the newcomers said that this money was a game changer for them; and now to hear the member opposite say that if they were re-elected they would claw that money back, that is a very, very said thing, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Logan, on a final supplementary.
Ms. Marcelino: The first part of their response was not according to the freedom of information that–received, but, anyway, Madam Speaker.
The new Minister of Education recently wrote his local media. He reaffirmed the previous minister's statements that this wasn't a cash grab.
Now, the minister could clear this all up and point to the line in his budget that includes a $5‑million increase specifically for newcomers, but he can't because there's no such increase. It's made up.
Why is this minister forcing newcomers to bear–[interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order.
Ms. Marcelino: –this additional cost and why has he misled Manitobans?
Mr. Goertzen: Madam Speaker, I'm happy to write to my local media; I'd be happy to write to the Winnipeg media; I'd be happy to write to any media to tell them about the great news that our government is doing.
Not only did we see a record number of applications last year when it comes to the Provincial Nominee Program, we are going to see a record number of applications this year, Madam Speaker, the highest number ever, and we need that because of the economic growth that is happening in Manitoba.
And then we're returning the money, because of those applications, to those who need the services. We provided that money to Welcome Place–[interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order.
Mr. Goertzen: –and different organizations right across Manitoba.
What I'm hearing from the member opposite is they'd like to reduce the number out of the PNP program and claw back the money that is helping those who are coming to Manitoba. Shame on the member.
Mr. Reg Helwer (Brandon West): When we formed government in 2016, one of our government's priorities was to rebuild Manitoba's economy after 17 years of NDP mismanagement.
Under the NDP the–private sector investment fled the province at an alarming rate, hampering job growth and our ability to keep our young people here in Manitoba.
Unlike the NDP, who view the private sector as an enemy and a piggy bank to raid, our government believes in working with the private sector to attract new investment and grow our economy to create good jobs in Manitoba.
Can the Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade please update the House on private sector investment in Manitoba under our government?
Hon. Blaine Pedersen (Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade): Happy third anniversary to the Progressive Conservative Party and a great government in Manitoba.
Madam Speaker, the most recent economic performance indicator is that Manitoba is now leading the country on private capital investment; overall private sector capital spending increased by 10 per cent in 2018, No. 1 in the country.
Capital spending on machinery and equipment will grow by 6 per cent this year alone. Investment in manufacturing has grown 17 per cent annually since 2015. In the mining, oil and extraction, private capital spending has increased by 22.9 per cent annually since 2016.
Manitoba's on a roll–
Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired.
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, the recent report of greenhouse gas emissions in Manitoba for 2017, a year that the Pallister government was fully in government, shows that one of the largest jumps in emissions was from buildings. Commercial buildings showed a 15 per cent increase in carbon dioxide emissions, and residential buildings showed a 10 per cent increase in carbon dioxide emissions.
The results show that Manitoba is not doing enough to modernize its building infrastructure.
Why has the government, and its predecessor, not acted sufficiently to ensure that our building infrastructure is up to date and doesn't produce as much greenhouse gas emissions?
Hon. Rochelle Squires (Minister of Sustainable Development): I appreciate the member's opposite question and pointing out the fact that our government inherited a mess from the previous NDP, who failed to reduce emissions, who failed to get their building practices in line with bending the cost–the emissions curve and failed to take any action against climate change.
Our government has been committed to climate change since we took office. That's why we established a $102-million Conservation Trust. That's why we established a $40-million Climate and Green Plan implementation act. That's why we have representatives from the building community providing advice through our expert advisory council.
We're going to listen to them and get our emissions down.
Madam Speaker: The honourable member for River Heights, on a supplementary question.
Heavy Duty Vehicles and Agriculture Industry
Mr. Gerrard: Madam Speaker, the–it's true that the previous government didn't do very well, but it's also true that this government–and this is a year this government was in power–is failing as well.
The recently report–released report of greenhouse gas emissions in Manitoba is positive in showing small decreases in carbon dioxide emissions from light-duty cars and trucks. But there is a 7 per cent increase in emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicles.
Why has Manitoba, overall, performed so poorly under this government with respect to greenhouse gas–[interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order.
Mr. Gerrard: –emissions, and why has the government, in its plans, not even worked with industry to establish targets and programs for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from these heavy-duty vehicles?
Ms. Squires: Again, the member opposite, he points out, rightfully, that we're dealing with cumulative emissions based on the former government's performance and all the emissions that they failed to reduce during their time in office, and our government is taking action on this. And the member opposite, the only other point that he was right on is that we are seeing increase in our heavy-duty sector.
We are growing our economy, and we recognize that there are challenges when we grow our economy and protect our environment at the same time. It requires a very sustained effort, and that's exactly what this government is doing.
That's why we have a $40-million Climate and Green Plan implementation plan to work with our–all of our sectors, including our heavy-duty transportation sector, to help them reduce their emissions and getting action on the environment.
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Madam Speaker: Order, please.
I'm going to take a moment now to call the member for Wolseley (Mr. Altemeyer) to order, as well. Continuous heckling throughout somebody responding is not acceptable, and I would urge members on the other side as well, that as people are asking questions that we respectfully listen to them, as well.
The honourable member for River Heights, on a final supplementary.
Mr. Gerrard: This was the year that the Pallister government was there and they fell short. The recently released report of greenhouse gas emissions in Manitoba show that agricultural greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise.
Production of methane from livestock has gone up 4.4 per cent. The conversion of nitrogen in fertilizer and manure to nitrous oxide has gone up 6.4 per cent.
Since every molecule of nitrogen converted to nitrous oxide is a wasted molecule going up in the air instead of to fertilize crops, why has the government failed our province so badly in not working co‑operatively with people and organizations in the agricultural industry to set targets and to provide programs to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions?
Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired.
Ms. Squires: Our government is working with all sectors, including the agriculture sector. That's why we have representatives on our expert advisory council providing advice; that's why we're acting on the advice. Where the former government failed to have the courage to act on expert advice on how to bend the emissions curve, our government is taking action.
It would also be helpful if members opposite would support helping the Manitoba government protect the environment while growing the economy at the same time. Considering that this member is advocating for a $50 rising carbon price which is going to have lasting impacts on the economy, he has absolutely no right to stand in his place and take issue with the Climate and Green Plan while he's advocating for Ottawa's position in Manitoba. [interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order.
Mrs. Bernadette Smith (Point Douglas): Every day I hear from front-line health-care workers about the straight chaos that this Premier and his government is causing in the health-care system. Simply put, they have created a valley of despair. The minister has received letters and seen countless statements in the media from nurses and patients expressing the dangers that this government is putting on the health-care system. But do they care? No.
Will the Premier listen to Manitoba nurses and Manitoba patients? Will he back off his plan and keep Concordia and Seven Oaks ERs open? [interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order.
Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): I know the NDP's happy today, Madam Speaker, because of their subsidy. I know they're pleased with that.
Manitobans want a lower PST and they've tried to get the NDP to understand that. Front-line health-care workers want a lower PST, nurses and teachers across the province want a lower PST and we made the right decision when we promised to reverse the PST hike the NDP foisted on every working family, every senior, every single mom in the province.
We're taking steps, Madam Speaker, to put more money on the kitchen table. The member should understand that, whether it's a front-line health-care worker in government or a private sector employer out there in the private world, they want lower taxes.
The NDP are standing up for higher taxes for everyone else and subsidies for themselves, and they should be ashamed of themselves.
Madam Speaker: The time for oral questions has expired.
Mr. Cliff Graydon (Emerson): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. [interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order.
Mr. Graydon: And the background to this petition is as follows:
(1) The loss of sleep associated with the beginning of daylight saving time has serious consequences for physical and mental health and has been linked to increased traffic accidents and workplace injuries.
(2) According to Manitoba Public Insurance news release, collision data collected in 2014 showed that there was a 20 per cent increase in collisions on Manitoba high–roadways following the spring daylight savings time change when compared to all other Mondays in 2014.
(3) Daylight saving time is associated with a decrease in productivity the day after the clocks are turned forward with no corresponding increase in productivity when the clocks are turned back.
(4) There is no conclusive evidence that daylight savings time is effective in reducing energy consumption.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to amend The Official Time Act to abolish daylight saving time in Manitoba effective November 4th, 2019, resulting in Manitoba remaining on Central Standard Time throughout the year and in perpetuity.
And this petition is signed by Judy Antonovich, Deroch Reimer [phonetic], Darren Barkmen [phonetic] and many, many more fine Manitobans.
Madam Speaker: In accordance with our rule 133(6), when petitions are read they are deemed to be received by the House.
Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Burrows): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
These are the reasons for this petition:
(1) The United Nations declared water and sanitation as human rights in July 2010, and yet there still exist 174 drinking water advisories in over 100 First Nations communities.
(2) Single-use plastics are ending up in oceans, polluting and killing the marine life and being buried in many landfills to stay there for an eternity.
(3) The federal government has signed on to the Paris Agreement, which outlines targets and goals for the environment.
(4) Canada has one of the highest carbon emissions per capita in the whole world.
(5) Climate change scientists are now recognizing the daily results of the present climate crisis.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
(1) To urge the provincial government to request that the federal government create an independent climate change action agency to be funded at the same level as the military, with the mandate to take immediate action to phase out fossil fuel extraction and restore all natural environments to a healthy state.
(2) To urge the provincial government to call upon all provincial and municipal governments to enact the necessary legislation and/or policies to match the European Union on their ban on unnecessary single-use plastics.
This petition is signed by many, many Manitobans.
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.
The background to this petition is as follows:
Early learning and child-care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.
Licensed, not-for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.
High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.
The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.
The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.
Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child-care programs must be available–[interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order.
Mr. Gerrard: –to all children and families in Manitoba. [interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order.
Mr. Gerrard: We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, not-for-profit child‑care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce.
Vanessa Ferdinand, Louise Healey, Shawn Healey and many others.
Mr. James Allum (Fort Garry-Riverview): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.
The background to this petition is as follows:
(1) Early learning and child-care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.
(2) Licensed, not-for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.
(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.
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(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.
(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.
(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child-care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, not-for-profit child‑care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce.
This petition is signed by Lucy Chagos, Rilla Drobot, Cynthia Szkop and many other Manitobans.
Mr. Rob Altemeyer (Wolseley): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.
The background to this petition is as follows:
(1) On March 11, 2019, the Manitoba government announced steps to address the sustainability of the Lake Winnipeg fishery. As part of this initiative, the Manitoba government offered the option of voluntary individual quota entitlement buybacks to fishers working on Lake Winnipeg. Fishers were given until March 21, 2019 (11 days, eight business days) to decide whether to voluntarily surrender their individual quota entitlement. The deadline for completed documentation is March 31, 2019 (21 days or 15 business days). The quota entitlement surrender is permanent.
(2) The Manitoba Department of Sustainable Development states that it is committed to "develop comprehensive shared management strategies in consultation with First Nations, Metis and licensed hunters and anglers to give local communities a greater voice and ensure long-term sustainability of our fish and wildlife populations."
(3) The Manitoba government did not consult with fishers prior to the March 11th announcement. A 30‑day consultation period was announced at the same time as the voluntary quota entitlement buyback initiative.
(4) Fishers did not receive copies of the documentation and data regarding the state fish stocks in Lake Winnipeg that were the basis of the Manitoba government's decision to proceed with the quota entitlement buyback initiative.
(5) The quota entitlement buyback will have a significant impact on the economy and well-being of the Fisher River Cree Nation and other First Nations communities.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
(1) In support of the Fisher River Cree Nation, we request that the government of Manitoba begin a process of consultation with indigenous peoples about the future of commercial fisheries on Lake Winnipeg.
This petition is signed by Christina Thanisch-Smith, Tiffany Godard, Catherine Lentz and many other fine Manitobans.
Ms. Amanda Lathlin (The Pas): I wish to read the following petition.
The background to this petition is as follows:
(1) Early learning and child-care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.
(2) Licensed, not-for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.
(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.
(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.
(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators have continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.
(6) Accessible, affordable and early–quality early learning and child-care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, not-for-profit child‑care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce.
This petition has been signed by many, many, many Manitobans.
Ms. Flor Marcelino (Logan): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
The background to the petition is as follows:
(1) Early learning and child-care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.
(2) Licensed, not-for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.
(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.
(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.
(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.
(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child-care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, not-for-profit child-care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will improve quality and stability in the workforce.
Signed by many, many Manitobans. Thank you.
Mr. Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
The background to this petition is as follows:
(1) Access to quality health care is a fundamental right of all Manitobans, no matter where they live.
(2) The Premier has slashed budgets and cancelled projects for northern communities, making it harder for families to get the primary health care they need.
(3) The budget of the northern regional health authority has been slashed by over $6 million, which has negatively affected doctor retention programs and the Northern Patient Transportation Program.
(4) With the limited services in the North, the Premier is forcing families and seniors to travel further for the health care they need.
(5) On November 6, 2018, the northern regional health authority announced that obstetric delivery services at the Flin Flon General Hospital would be suspended, with no discussion regarding when they will be reinstated.
(6) The result of this decision is that mothers in Flin Flon and the surrounding area will have to travel at least an hour and a half to The Pas, creating unnecessary risk for mothers and babies.
(7) The people of Flin Flon are concerned for the health and safety of mothers-to-be and their babies, including the extra physical and financial stress that will be placed upon them by this decision of the provincial government.
(8) There has been no commitment from this provincial government that mothers and their escorts who have to travel to The Pas will be covered by the northern patient transport program.
(9) Flin Flon General Hospital is a regional hub that serves several communities on both sides of the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border.
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(10) Because this provincial government has refused to invest in much needed health-care services in The Pas, the hospital in The Pas may not be able to handle the extra workload created by this decision.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to reinstate obstetric delivery services at Flin Flon General Hospital and work with the government of Saskatchewan and the federal government to ensure obstetric services continue to be available on a regional basis.
And this petition has been signed by Cheryl Hanna, Shaun Kassilbash [phonetic] and Kim Ross, and many other Manitobans.
Mr. Ted Marcelino (Tyndall Park): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.
And the background to this petition is as follows:
(1) Early learning and child-care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.
(2) Licensed, not-for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.
(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.
(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.
(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.
(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child-care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, not-for-profit child‑care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce.
This petition was signed by Roselyn Greyeyes, Melissa LaVallee and Jason Squires.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Andrew Swan (Minto): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.
The background to this petition is as follows:
(1) Early learning and child-care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.
(2) Licensed, not-for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.
(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.
(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.
(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.
(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child-care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, not-for-profit child‑care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce.
This petition is signed by Donna Freeman, Nathan Freeman, Mark Reyes, and many other Manitobans.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Matt Wiebe (Concordia): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
And the background to the petition is as follows:
(1) Early learning and child-care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.
(2) Licensed, not-for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.
(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.
(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.
(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.
(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child-care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, not-for-profit child‑care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce.
And this petition is signed by many Manitobans.
Madam Speaker: Any further petitions?
Mr. Gerrard: I rise on a matter of urgent public importance.
Madam Speaker: The honourable member for River Heights, on a matter of urgent public importance.
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): I move, seconded by the MLA for Kewatinook, that under rule 38(1), the ordinary business of the House be set aside to discuss a matter of urgent public importance, namely the need for urgent attention to the fact that the delays in signing the Health Accord, and in taking action to address the methamphetamine epidemic and other brain-health needs of Manitoba, have resulted in extraordinary suffering, including deaths, because of insufficient and inadequately focused investment made to address addictions and to improve mental health and to prevent mental illness, starting when the provincial government was elected in 2016.
Madam Speaker: Before recognizing the honourable member for River Heights, I should remind members that under rule 38(2), the mover of a motion on a matter of urgent public importance and one member from the other recognized parties in the House are allowed not more than 10 minutes to explain the urgency of debating the matter immediately.
As stated in Beauchesne's citation 390, urgency in this context means the urgency of immediate debate, not of the subject matter of the motion. In their remarks, members should focus exclusively on whether or not there is urgency of debate and whether or not the ordinary opportunities for debate will enable the House to consider the matter early enough to ensure that the public interest will not suffer.
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Mr. Gerrard: It was claimed yesterday in the Legislature that earlier investments at the beginning of the Pallister government's mandate would not have made a difference and that nothing was lost by delaying the signing of the federal-provincial accord dealing with the funding to address mental health and addictions issues.
The evidence is clear that the Premier (Mr. Pallister) and his government are wrong in making this claim, and that the delays that claim that there is no impact on mental health and the mental well-being of Manitobans is just wrong. This delay clearly has had a very significant impact.
This is a critical issue which is very important because the mental health and well-being of Manitobans is important and we have a very clear, polarized difference of opinion. It is urgent to have a full debate on this matter. I will present facts which show why this is such a critical issue.
Now, the government has, itself, admitted that there was a delay in signing the federal-provincial accord on mental health-care and addictions funding, as we all, in fact, know.
Let me review some of the facts here. First of all, the government, when it was elected, had no clear plan to implement and so they had to put out a request for proposals to have a plan. There was a delay of many, many months before putting out a request for proposals.
There was then a long delay in getting a VIRGO report. When the VIRGO report was presented, the government said it needed more delays yet to have an implementation plan, because the VIRGO report was not an implementation plan.
The delays all the way along in addressing mental health and addictions issues, and particularly the delay in signing the accord have led, I suggest, to a lot of suffering and–death included–in–by Manitobans.
I want to put on the table that there are, on average, more than 200 deaths each year by suicide in Manitoba. In the 2017-2018 year, there were 20 suicide deaths in Manitoba for children and youth up to age 19. This was greater than the average of 13 deaths a year over the previous six years. But what is important here is that too many children and youth and adults are dying by suicide each year in Manitoba.
I suggest it is just simply not credible for the Premier (Mr. Pallister) to claim and the Minister of Health to claim, as they did yesterday, that the money wisely invested sooner could not have been invested in a way that would have prevented a suicide, more than one suicide, and helped decrease the suffering of people in Manitoba.
It is very clear that if this money had been used wisely two years ago, it would have had a significant impact. Let me give you some examples.
Let me start with the community of St. Theresa Point. People in St. Theresa Point were exposed in late August to early September, 2017–when there was a forest fire and they were evacuated to Winnipeg–to people who were selling, marketing, giving away meth.
This exposure to meth by young people in St. Theresa Point led to an epidemic of meth use in St. Theresa Point. And I have visited St. Theresa Point twice in the last two years. And the evidence there, and the pleading notes which are on the walls of the buildings in St. Theresa Point talking for action and asking for action, make it quite clear how important this is and what a huge impact it has had on that community.
I suggest that even modest actions at the time the people were evacuated, at a time that it was well-known that a major increase in meth use and a meth epidemic was underway in the summer of 2017, could have made a significant difference. I suggest that it could have prevented at least one person from using meth and probably could have prevented many people in St. Theresa Point from using meth.
The cumulative effect of people in St. Theresa Point using meth has been additive. That is to say that–when you start with one or two, and it builds and it builds over time. It gets to be more and more people affected.
Madam Speaker, over the last six months there have been at least four suicides in St. Theresa Point, and one, maybe more of these were related to meth use. Prompt action–when the Pallister government was first elected, prompt signing of the Health Accord, negotiating quickly, had the potential to decrease meth use and decrease suicides in St. Theresa Point.
Similarly, across the province we have seen a dramatic increase in methamphetamine use, a dramatic increase in violence, particularly in our institutions, in our hospitals. There has been an increase in crime and vandalism as a result of meth. Wise investment of these funds early on could have had an impact, should have had an impact, to decrease this meth epidemic and decrease the suffering and the death that has been experienced in Manitoba.
And it is not just meth. Depression, suicide, PTSD and many other mental and brain health conditions are the cause of extraordinary suffering in Manitoba. And they cause not only individual suffering, but they have a huge impact on the economic activity and the economic productivity in Manitoba, as the Conference Board has so clearly shown in its report, showing economic cost of depression and anxiety alone in Canada of about $50 billion a year.
So for Manitoba that's a billion and a half dollars in lost costs because of all the depression and anxiety. The–when you act early on a matter like this you can have an effect which is not only the immediate impact; you can have a cumulative effect.
People talk about the emergent ability. In other words, if you work and prevent and work initially, you may prevent one suicide in the first year, and then it may get to two in the second year and then four and then eight and then 16. You can have an important cumulative impact from early investments.
There is a large impact on money well invested early to decrease. The potential is there, and wisely invested it would have decreased a lot of suffering. It would have decreased suicides. It would have had a major impact.
I suggest, and I will say this once more, it is just not credible for the Minister of Health and the Premier (Mr. Pallister) to suggest that wise investments early on would not have prevented a suicide, prevented more suicides, would not have prevented suffering by one person, would not have prevented suffering by more people.
It is clear that this is a polarized debate, Madam Speaker, and that's why we need to have it in a thorough way. It needs to be clear that the government made a major mistake in not investing early, in not signing the accord early on and that we as a province and the people of our province have lost 'immeasuralybly' as a result.
I would suggest to you, Madam Speaker, that it would appear that what the Premier and his government have done is to hold back money from when it could have been used really effectively. Rather than working quickly to save lives, the Premier appears to have deliberately held it back so that he could announce the spending of the money right before an election. This is unconscionable. It is offensive. This is why we need a debate.
* (15:00)
Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Government House Leader): Madam Speaker, to speak to the issue raised on the matter of urgent public importance, I don't think anybody in this House would dispute that it is an important issue, although that alone is not the test of whether or not a MUPI should be allowed.
I do need to speak to some of the misinformation that the member put on the record; there was lots of it, but I'll try to address the most egregious misinformation.
His suggestion and trying to impugn words into the mouth of members on this side, in particular the Premier, were certainly incorrect. What was stated and what is true is that–and it was also agreed by the federal Liberal government, Madam Speaker–is that the signing of the Health Accord when it did, did not cost any money to Manitobans. The value of the accord that was signed is as what it was–or, would have been, regardless of when it was signed.
And, of course, the member opposite will know there were many provinces that only signed on to the accord recently because of different challenges. Certainly one of the challenges was that there was an effort to get more support for issues like addictions. There was an effort to get more support for things like diabetes. I would think the member opposite would support those initiatives. Maybe he doesn't by virtue of his comments today, but that was a strong negotiation that was done by this government, Madam Speaker.
And so the words that were spoken by the Premier were to suggest that there wasn't a loss of funding within the accord because of when it was signed. And that was not only confirmed by the federal government but that was true for all provinces, no matter when they signed on.
The member also talked about the VIRGO report and seemed to be critical again of Dr. Rush, a renowned expert in Canada, and also critical of the fact that the government put forward and asked for a plan to bring together the mental health and addictions side of services. That was actually an election commitment that was made in 2016 that we would do exactly that, have a report to bring those two systems together.
Experts in the system have said repeatedly that those systems should be brought more together because there is a correlation between mental health and addiction, and now it seems that the Liberal member, the member for river east, would have–rather we break an election promise. He's used to, I'm sure, from his time in Ottawa, breaking promises, but that certainly isn't something that we were going to do on this side of the House, Madam Speaker.
Now, more broadly, on the issue of whether or not this is a–and I should also mention to remind the member, because he talks a little bit about methamphetamine, and all of us know that it is–certainly is a very, very difficult and challenging issue to Manitoba. It was the member opposite, the member for River Heights (Mr. Gerrard), who stood in this House not long ago and said that there was a correlation between the legalization of marijuana and methamphetamine.
He said in this House that he was hearing from law enforcement. Those are his very words. I can produce them for him, as I have in the past, when he said that in this House. And yet he, you know, hasn't raised that issue again or talked about what proactive steps that he's taken or the federal Liberal government took as a result of that, so I would leave him with his own words in–that he put on the record here in the Chamber.
But on the issue of whether or not this rises to the level of setting aside other business this afternoon, there are many other places where this important issue, and we acknowledge it's an important issue, can be debated.
Certainly one of those is question period, and I noticed today that the Liberals used their two questions that are allotted to them as the third official party to ask one about the City of Winnipeg and to try to defend the City of Winnipeg, and the second was regarding trying to defend the carbon tax that Ottawa's bringing forward.
It seems strange to me that the member opposite thinks that this is an issue that is of critical importance, and yet he didn't want to use either of his questions in question period to actually ask about it.
So, on the one hand he says this is the most important thing to him that he wants to set aside the day, and I recognize it's important. On the other hand, he didn't even bother to ask about it when he had the opportunity in question period today, Madam Speaker.
Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (Official Opposition House Leader): Madam Speaker, allow me just to put a couple of words on the record in respect of the member for fort–Riverview–no–River Heights–pardon me, pardon me, Madam Speaker–in respect of a matter of urgent public importance, the health care and meth crisis.
Certainly, on this side of the House, we would agree and understand that Manitobans deserve high-quality and accessible health care, which means, at the end of the day, putting patients first and not putting patients' care at risk by cuts that we have seen from this Pallister government, since taking office.
We know that, unfortunately, the Premier (Mr. Pallister) is solely concentrated on cost-cutting and, really, Madam Speaker, that their plan for services or their plan–lack of plan for services, actually–but their plan for balancing the budget actually involves starving services of funding. They have failed to address the growing mental health and addiction crisis in our province which, as you know, Madam Speaker, we do bring up every single–almost every single question period.
Certainly, we bring up every–almost every single question period the closures of Concordia and Seven Oaks hospitals' ERs. And we bring up every single question period and every opportunity, including when we debate bills in this House, the inaction of the Pallister government and the Premier in respect of the meth crisis.
And let me just take this minute to just reiterate something that I noted yesterday in respect of the–you know, the new narrative that the members opposite are trying to peddle to Manitobans in respect of us on this side of the House thinking or believing that, you know, dealing with the meth crisis is simply as easy as just establishing a safe consumption site.
Let me again put it on the record here that it is only one of a myriad of steps that need to be taken to address the meth crisis. Not the least in–to deal with it is to address the levels of poverty that we have here in Manitoba. And so, coupled with that, you know, coupled with the request for–and again, based on expertise and research, you know, the request for the establishment of a safe consumption site.
We also get up in this House almost every single day and, certainly, in opportunities for debate, for this government to present a real, comprehensive plan to eliminate poverty, which we have not seen.
And when we talk about, you know, the Pallister government's inability or inaction or lack of care of presenting action or a strategy on poverty, I know that when I stand in this House and when I say that out loud, the first kind of marker in my mind is that I think about Manitoba children, whose parents are struggling to put, you know, put those measures in place that they need to be able to take care of their families.
And so, you know, when–as I said, for me personally, I know that when I get up in the House and talk about a poverty plan, my default is always to Manitoba children. And so, when we bring that up in the House, we're really asking the Pallister government to deal with and ensure that Manitoba children have the resources and the means that they need to be able to have those opportunities and enjoy the full opportunities that Canada and Manitoba should have for children. And so we haven't seen that in three years, thus far.
We know that we–with the closures of the ERs thus far, and the closures coming in the next couple of months, if this Pallister government does get his way, it's leaving Manitobans with fewer health-care options. And I do want to put on the record here that, you know, members of my caucus–our caucus understands fully the urgency of dealing with the present chaos within the health-care system that the Premier (Mr. Pallister) has unfolded.
We actually hosted a town hall–a telephone town hall. And the member for Concordia (Mr. Wiebe), the member for Point Douglas (Mrs. Smith) and myself were on that and had the opportunity to hear from many Manitobans, where we specifically just spoke about the closures–well, health care in general, but certainly the closures of Concordia and Seven Oaks.
And on top of that, we–as my colleague–my colleague-sister from Point Douglas said today, we hear every single day about the chaos that these closures have created in the lives of Manitoba.
* (15:10)
And it's not some exercise in, you know, in respect of, like, we just throw things out there and that they have really no meaning. Literally the conditions that we are facing right now in Manitoba is creating enormous amounts of stress on Manitobans.
So either it's the stress that nurses are under, forced to work mandatory overtime–so the stress in executing their duties as a nurse, but also the stress in their home life.
Imagine, Madam Speaker, you know, working a full shift and then being forced to work more hours, and then coming home attempting to–and I would imagine being exhausted. We know that nurses are some of the hardest working people in Manitoba. So coming home and being utterly exhausted and still trying to maintain a family life. This is what the Premier is doing.
So we also know that the chaos in the health-care system is creating in the lives of individual Manitobans. I've had the opportunity to meet with several seniors in some of my senior complexes in St. Johns, and all of them spoke about navigating this current system and attempting to get resources and supports, and they were not able to. And then what does that mean for them.
And so, again, the stress of one woman in particular: because she couldn't get the home care that she needed for her husband, her husband had to be–ended up going into a personal-care home. And she didn't want him to, and now she spends every day driving to and from her home.
Those are the real consequences of what we talk about when we talk about the chaos in the health-care system. Never mind, as we've put on the record day in and day out about the wait times and how those wait times are increasing despite, again, whatever members opposite try to peddle to Manitobans.
Manitobans aren't buying it. Manitobans know what's going on because they use the health-care system and have a right to be able to echo and voice their concerns.
And I would suggest, Madam Speaker, everybody in this room–in this Chamber should know that health care is actually one of the fundamental concerns of all Manitobans.
Manitobans are concerned and have a right to be concerned about their health care and the infrastructure that goes into and the supports that go into the health-care system. And we know, we see very week new data coming out or new cuts to the health-care system. Manitobans get it, and they're concerned about that.
So I would, you know, the–I'll put those few words on the record and, you know, I would say that we understand the member for River Heights' (Mr. Gerrard) concern to bring this forward as a matter of urgent public importance today, and that we understand it in–every day in our roles as MLAs and the folks that come up to us with the stress and trying to navigate in our health-care system, not to mention the fact that Manitobans see that this government is doing nothing to address the meth crisis. And certainly, again, coupled with that, certainly nothing to address the mental health crisis that we have currently in Manitoba.
Miigwech.
Madam Speaker: I thank the honourable members for their advice to the Chair on the motion proposed by the honourable member for River Heights for a matter of urgent public importance.
The 90-minute notice prior to the start of routine proceedings required by rule 38(1) was provided, and I thank the honourable member for that.
Under our rules and practices, the subject matter requiring urgent consideration must be so pressing that the public interest will suffer if the matter is not given immediate attention. There must also be no other reasonable opportunities to raise the matter.
I have listened very carefully to the arguments put forward. Although the subjects of health care, challenges with methamphetamine use, brain health, mental health, and mental illness are important issues for our society, I do not believe the public interest will suffer if the issue is not debated today.
I would also note that there are other opportunities where these issues have already been raised, such as during the debate of the Throne Speech and budget motions, and consideration of legislation such as the Interim Supply bill.
In addition, there are also additional opportunities where these concerns could be raised, such as asking questions in oral question period, using these items as a subject matter of members statements and grievances and raising these issues when the Estimates process begins.
Also, there is a requirement in our rules that this afternoon the House is obligated to complete consideration of the second reading of specified government bills, and this must be a priority for the House over other business, according to the rules.
Therefore, with the greatest of respect, I rule this motion out of order as a matter of urgent public importance.
* * *
Madam Speaker: Grievances?
Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Government House Leader): For government business this afternoon, can you please call the following bills for second reading debate: bills 8, 17, 21, 6, 2, 19, 11, 13, 14, 15, 20 and 9.
Madam Speaker: It has been announced by the honourable Government House Leader that we will proceed to second reading debate on the following bills–and I may have missed one of those but I will try–is: 8, 17, 18, 21, 6, 2, 19, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 20 and 9.
Madam Speaker: So we will therefore start with Bill 8, The Referendum Act.
Are there any members to–that wish to speak on Bill 8, The Referendum Act? It's–it is open for debate.
Is the House ready for the question?
Some Honourable Members: Question.
Madam Speaker: The question before the House is bill number–is second reading of Bill 8, The Referendum Act.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? Agreed?
Some Honourable Members: Agreed.
Some Honourable Members: No.
Madam Speaker: I hear a no.
Voice Vote
Madam Speaker: All those in favour of the motion, please say yea.
Some Honourable Members: Yea.
Madam Speaker: All those opposed, please say nay.
Some Honourable Members: Nay.
Madam Speaker: In my opinion, the Yeas have it.
Recorded Vote
Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (Official Opposition House Leader): A recorded vote please, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker: A recorded vote having been called, call in the members.
Order. The one hour provided for the ringing of the division bells has expired. I am therefore directing that the division bells be turned off and the House proceed to the vote.
The question before the House is second reading of Bill 8, The Referendum Act.
Division
A RECORDED VOTE was taken, the result being as follows:
Yeas
Bindle, Clarke, Cox, Cullen, Eichler, Ewasko, Fielding, Friesen, Goertzen, Guillemard, Helwer, Isleifson, Johnson, Johnston, Lagassé, Martin, Mayer, Micklefield, Morley‑Lecomte, Nesbitt, Pallister, Pedersen, Piwniuk, Reyes, Schuler, Smith (Southdale), Smook, Squires, Teitsma, Wharton, Wishart, Yakimoski.
Nays
Allum, Altemeyer, Fontaine, Gerrard, Kinew, Lamoureux, Lathlin, Lindsey, Maloway, Marcelino (Logan), Marcelino (Tyndall Park), Smith (Point Douglas), Swan, Wiebe.
* (16:20)
Deputy Clerk (Mr. Rick Yarish): Yeas 32, Nays 14.
Madam Speaker: I declare the motion carried.
* * *
Madam Speaker: The time being past 4 p.m. I am now interrupting debate to put the remaining second reading questions on the following specified bills without further debate or amendment: bills 2, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20 and 21.
The House will not adjourn until all of the applicable questions have been put.
In accordance with our rules, all matters of privilege and points of order are deferred until after these actions have been concluded. The bills will be called in the order they appear on the Order Paper.
Bill 2–The Municipal Amendment Act
(Strengthening Codes of Conduct for Council Members)
Madam Speaker: I will now call the question on second reading of Bill 2, The Municipal Amendment Act (Strengthening Codes of Conduct for Council Members).
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
I declare the motion carried.
Bill 6–The Statutes Correction and Minor Amendments Act, 2018
Madam Speaker: I will now call the question on second reading of Bill 6, the statutes and minor corrections act.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
I declare the motion carried.
Bill 7–The Highway Traffic Amendment Act
(Immediate Roadside Prohibitions)
Madam Speaker: I will now call the question on second reading of Bill 7, The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Immediate Roadside Prohibitions).
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
I declare the motion carried.
Bill 9–The Family Law Modernization Act
Madam Speaker: I will now call the question on second reading of The Family Law Modernization Act.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
I declare the motion carried.
Madam Speaker: I will now call the question on second reading of Bill 11, The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment Act (Cider and Cooler Sales at Beer Vendors).
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
I declare the motion carried.
Bill 13–The Private Vocational Institutions Act
Madam Speaker: I will now call the question on second reading of Bill 13, The Private Vocational Institutions Act.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
I declare the motion carried.
Bill 14–The Reducing Red Tape and Improving Services Act, 2019
Madam Speaker: I will now call the question on second reading of Bill 14, The Reducing Red Tape and Improving Services Act, 2019.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
Some Honourable Members: Agreed.
Some Honourable Members: No.
Madam Speaker: I hear a no.
Voice Vote
Madam Speaker: All those in favour of the motion, please say yea.
Some Honourable Members: Yea.
Madam Speaker: All those opposed, please say nay.
Some Honourable Members: Nay.
Madam Speaker: In my opinion, the Yeas have it.
Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (Official Opposition House Leader): Madam Speaker, on division.
Madam Speaker: On division.
The motion is currently carried on division.
Bill 15–The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment
Act
(Cannabis Possession Restrictions)
Madam Speaker: I will now call the question on second reading of Bill 15, The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment Act (Cannabis Possession Restrictions).
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
I declare the motion carried.
Bill 17–The Police Services Amendment Act
(Institutional Safety Officers)
Madam Speaker: I will now call the question on second reading of Bill 17, The Police Services Amendment Act (Institutional Safety Officers).
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
Bill 19–The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act
Madam Speaker: I will now call the question on second reading of Bill 19, The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
I declare the motion carried.
Bill 20–The Courts
Modernization Act
(Various Acts Amended)
Madam Speaker: I will now call the question on second reading of Bill 20, The Courts Modernization Act (Various Acts Amended).
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
Some Honourable Members: Agreed.
Some Honourable Members: No.
Madam Speaker: I hear a no.
Voice Vote
Madam Speaker: All those in favour of the motion, please say yea.
Some Honourable Members: Yea.
Madam Speaker: All those opposed, please say nay.
Some Honourable Members: Nay.
Madam Speaker: In my opinion, the Yeas have it.
Recorded Vote
Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (Official Opposition House Leader): Madam Speaker, a recorded vote.
Madam Speaker: A recorded vote having been called, call in the members.
The question before the House is second reading of Bill 20, The Courts Modernization Act (Various Acts Amended).
Division
A RECORDED VOTE was taken, the result being as follows:
Yeas
Bindle, Clarke, Cox, Cullen, Eichler, Ewasko, Fielding, Friesen, Goertzen, Guillemard, Helwer, Isleifson, Johnson, Johnston, Lagassé, Martin, Mayer, Micklefield, Morley‑Lecomte, Nesbitt, Pallister, Pedersen, Piwniuk, Reyes, Schuler, Smith (Southdale), Smook, Squires, Stefanson, Teitsma, Wharton, Wishart, Yakimoski.
Nays
Allum, Altemeyer, Fontaine, Gerrard, Kinew, Lamont, Lamoureux, Lathlin, Maloway, Marcelino (Logan), Marcelino (Tyndall Park), Smith (Point Douglas), Swan, Wiebe.
Deputy Clerk (Mr. Rick Yarish): Yeas 33, Nays 14.
Madam Speaker: I declare the motion carried.
Bill 21–The Legislative Building Centennial Restoration and Preservation Act
Madam Speaker: I will now call the question on second reading of Bill 21, The Legislative Building Centennial Restoration and Preservation Act.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
I declare the motion carried.
* * *
Madam Speaker: The hour being 5 p.m., this House is adjourned and stands adjourned until 10 a.m. Tuesday.
And I would just like to take a moment to wish everybody a very happy Easter with your families and your communities.
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Thursday, April 18, 2019
CONTENTS
Bill 206–The Planning Amendment Act
Invasive Species Awareness Week
Concordia and Seven Oaks Hospitals
Provincial Crime Rate Increase
Provincial Nominee Program Fee
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction
Concordia and Seven Oaks Hospitals
Climate Change Action–Single-Use Plastics Ban
Early Learning and Child-Care Programs
Lake Winnipeg Fisheries Consultation
Early Learning and Child-Care Programs
Flin Flon General Hospital Obstetric Services
Early Learning and Child-Care Programs
Matter of Urgent Public Importance
Bill 2–The Municipal Amendment Act (Strengthening Codes of Conduct for Council Members)
Bill 6–The Statutes Correction and Minor Amendments Act, 2018
Bill 7–The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Immediate Roadside Prohibitions)
Bill 9–The Family Law Modernization Act
Bill 13–The Private Vocational Institutions Act
Bill 14–The Reducing Red Tape and Improving Services Act, 2019
Bill 15–The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment Act (Cannabis Possession Restrictions)
Bill 17–The Police Services Amendment Act (Institutional Safety Officers)
Bill 19–The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act
Bill 20–The Courts Modernization Act (Various Acts Amended)
Bill 21–The Legislative Building Centennial Restoration and Preservation Act