LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Friday, November 21, 2014
Mr. Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen.
Good morning, everyone. Please be seated.
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I would like to apologize for inadvertently misleading the House through statements I made on May 9th, 2012. The information I put on the record was incomplete, and for that I apologize.
I attended a Jets game on December 29th, 2011, at the invitation of an elected member of the Saskatchewan Legislature. I offered to pay for the ticket directly but was refused, and instead I made a donation to a housing non-profit on February 7th, 2012.
I inadvertently failed to disclose this fact to the House on May 9th, 2012. I have made it clear that the old way of distributing tickets is unacceptable, which is why I introduced new guidelines to ensure that all MLAs and ministers are treated the same for attending professional sporting events.
Mr. Speaker, I sincerely apologize to the members of this Chamber for this unintentional omission and wish to set the record straight. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker: I thank the honourable minister for his point of order, but I must respectfully rule that I didn't hear that there was a breach of a particular rule, so I must rule that there is, indeed, no point of order but, nevertheless, thank him for his comments.
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
Mr. Speaker: Now, we'll move on to introduction of bills.
Mr. Speaker: Seeing no bills, we'll move on to petitions.
Grace Hospital Emergency Room Upgrade and Expansion
Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.
These are the reasons for this petition:
The provincial government promised to upgrade and expand the Grace Hospital emergency department in 2011 and to complete it by 2015.
The Grace Hospital was left as the last of all Winnipeg hospitals to be slated for an emergency room upgrade.
The provincial government has broken another promise to Manitobans by delaying the start of this upgrade by three years, as failure to begin construction in 2013 has left patients and hospital employees facing long wait times, overcrowding and the risk of unsafe conditions and care.
This provincial government has allowed ER wait times at the Grace Hospital to become the worst in Canada at triple the amount of time that emergency physicians recommend.
Ambulances in Winnipeg, including at the Grace Hospital, continue to face excessive patient off-load delays that are getting longer every year.
Last year the Grace Hospital in Winnipeg had over 23,000 patients seeking emergency care through the ER department and over 2,000 of those patients left the ER without being seen because they became too frustrated waiting to be seen.
Instead of fixing hallway medicine, there are now numbered hallway spaces.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government and the Minister of Health to keep their promise to the people of Manitoba and make the upgrade and expansion of the Grace ER an immediate priority.
This is signed by L. Wray, J. Long, Y. Zhang and many others.
Mr. Speaker: In keeping with our rule 132(6), when petitions are read they are deemed to have been received by the House.
Highway 10 North and 3rd Street North in Swan River–Traffic Signals
Mr. Stuart Briese (Agassiz): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
And these are the reasons for this petition:
Local residents have expressed concerns regarding properties located at the intersection of Highway 10 north and 3rd Street North in Swan River, including the Swan Valley regional high school, Tim Hortons and the Co-op gas bar quadrisect.
There are no traffic lights or pedestrian crosswalks at this intersection. Students from the high school run across the highway to access Tim Hortons and the Co-op gas bar. When the daycare centre opens, children will need to cross the highway if they wish to access the wellness centre.
Highway 10 north is a major haul route for farmers and logging trucks, increasing potential for a collision involving students and/or motorists.
This intersection is a dangerous corner for motorists, including school buses making left-hand turns onto the highway from either direction, especially in the hours before and after school and at lunchtime.
The traffic on this highway and at this intersection will only increase in the near future with the opening of the wellness centre and the daycare facility.
Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation is only offering to provide a painted-line crosswalk with unlit signage, but nothing to actually stop the traffic for pedestrian crossing safety. Motorists often disregard painted-line crosswalks, creating a false sense of security for pedestrians who use them.
On October the 3rd, 2013, Winkler mourned the loss of one of their 16-year-old students killed at a crosswalk consisting only of signage.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To request that Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation consider installing a set of traffic lights, including pedestrian lights, at the intersection of Highway 10 north and 3rd Street North in Swan River.
This petition is signed by B. Hunt, L. Muller, B. Karton and many, many other fine Manitobans.
Election Request
Mr. Cliff Graydon (Emerson): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.
And the background to this petition is as follows:
In 2015 the current provincial government will be in its fourth year of its mandate.
(2) There is a crisis of leadership unfolding on the government side of the House.
(3) According to the media reports, the member for Minto stated that the Premier is more concerned about remaining leader than doing things in the best interests of the province.
(4) According to media reports, the member for Seine River stated, if you are in a position where you support the point of view of the Premier, your priorities and your projects move up the queue.
(5) According to the media reports, the members for Southdale, Dauphin, Seine River, Minto and Fort Rouge stated that the Premier has stopped listening to our advice.
(6) According to media reports, the members for Southdale, Dauphin, Seine River, Minto and Fort Rouge stated, we can no longer work for a Premier who refuses to hear us; he refuses to hear us not just on the leadership issue but also on a ride–wide range of issues in our portfolios.
(7) The concerns over the Premier's leadership have not been confined just to government members. NDP provincial council member Darlene Dziewit has been reported as saying, we have a crisis here in that I don't think the people of Manitoba trust our leadership anymore.
We petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:
To urge the Premier to immediately consider calling an election so that Manitobans can decide who is best placed to govern in the best interests of Manitobans.
* (10:10)
And this petition has been signed by C. Kyle, A. Micklefield and S. Friesen and many, many more fine Manitobans.
Mr. Bidhu Jha (Chairperson): I wish to present the First Report of the Standing Committee on Crown Corporations.
Clerk (Ms. Patricia Chaychuk): Your Standing Committee on Crown Corporations presents–
Mr. Speaker: Dispense?
Some Honourable Members: Dispense.
Mr. Speaker: Dispense.
Your Standing Committee on CROWN CORPORATIONS presents the following as its First Report.
Meetings
Your Committee met on the following occasions in the Legislative Building:
· April 18, 2012 (1st Session – 40th Legislature)
· April 4, 2013 (2nd Session – 40th Legislature)
· October 21, 2013 (2nd Session – 40th Legislature)
· September 30, 2014 (3rd Session – 40th Legislature)
Matters under Consideration
· Annual Report of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2011
· Annual Report of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 29, 2012
· Annual Report of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2013
· Annual Financial Statement of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2013
Committee Membership
Committee Membership for the April 18, 2012 meeting:
· Mr. Caldwell (Vice-Chairperson)
· Mr. Dewar
· Mr. Gaudreau
· Mr. Graydon
· Mr. Helwer
· Mr. Jha (Chairperson)
· Hon. Ms. Marcelino
· Mr. Pedersen
· Mr. Saran
· Mr. Schuler
· Hon. Mr. Swan
Committee Membership for the April 4, 2013 meeting:
· Mr. Briese
· Ms. Crothers (Vice-Chairperson)
· Mr. Dewar
· Mr. Ewasko
· Mr. Gaudreau
· Mr. Helwer
· Mr. Jha (Chairperson)
· Mr. Maloway
· Mrs. Rowat
· Hon. Mr. Robinson
· Hon. Mr. Swan
Committee Membership for the October 21, 2013 meeting:
· Mr. Caldwell
· Mr. Dewar
· Mr. Eichler
· Mr. Ewasko
· Mr. Helwer
· Mr. Jha (Chairperson)
· Mr. Maloway
· Mr. Marcelino (Vice-Chairperson)
· Mr. Smook
· Hon. Mr. Swan
· Mr. Wiebe
Committee Membership for the September 30, 2014 meeting:
· Hon. Mr. Chomiak
· Ms. Crothers
· Mr. Eichler
· Mr. Goertzen
· Mr. Jha
· Hon Ms. Marcelino
· Mr. Pedersen
· Mr. Rondeau
· Mr. Schuler
· Hon. Mr. Swan
· Mr. Wiebe
At the September 30, 2014 meeting, your Committee elected Mr. Jha as the Chairperson.
At the September 30, 2014 meeting, your Committee elected Mr. Rondeau as the Vice-Chairperson.
Officials Speaking on Record
Officials speaking on the record at the April 18, 2012 meeting:
· Ms. Marilyn McLaren, President and Chief Executive Officer
· Mr. Jake Janzen, Board Chairperson
Officials speaking on the record at the April 4, 2013 meeting:
· Ms. Marilyn McLaren, President and Chief Executive Officer
· Mr. Jake Janzen, Board Chairperson
Officials speaking on the record at the October 21, 2013 meeting:
· Ms. Marilyn McLaren, President and Chief Executive Officer
· Mr. Jake Janzen, Board Chairperson
Officials speaking on the record at the September 30, 2014 meeting:
· Mr. Dan Guimond, President and Chief Executive Officer
Report Considered and Passed
Your Committee considered and passed the following report as presented:
· Annual Report of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2011
Reports Considered but not Passed
Your Committee considered the following reports but did not pass them:
· Annual Report of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 29, 2012
· Annual Report of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2013
· Annual Financial Statement of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2013
Mr. Jha: I move, seconded by the honourable member from Interlake, that the report of the committee be received.
Motion agreed to.
Mr. Bidhu Jha (Chairperson): I wish to present the Second Report on the Standing Committee on Crown Corporations.
Clerk (Ms. Patricia Chaychuk): Your Standing Committee on Crown Corporations presents–
Mr. Speaker: Dispense?
Some Honourable Members: Dispense.
Mr. Speaker: Dispense.
Your Standing Committee on CROWN CORPORATIONS presents the following as its Second Report.
Meetings
Your Committee met on the following occasions in the Legislative Building:
· June 6, 2011 (5th Session – 39th Legislature)
· April 11, 2012 (1st Session – 40th Legislature)
· October 23, 2013 (2nd Session – 40th Legislature)
· October 15, 2014 (3rd Session – 40th Legislature)
Matters under Consideration
· Annual Report of The Workers Compensation Board for the year ending December 31, 2012
· Annual Report of The Workers Compensation Board for the year ending December 31, 2013
· Annual Report of the Appeal Commission and Medical Review Panel for the year ending December 31, 2011
· Annual Report of the Appeal Commission and Medical Review Panel for the year ending December 31, 2012
· Annual Report of the Appeal Commission and Medical Review Panel for the year ending December 31, 2013
· Five Year Plan of The Workers Compensation Board for 2011 to 2015
· Five Year Plan of The Workers Compensation Board for 2012 to 2016
· Five Year Plan of The Workers Compensation Board for 2013 to 2017
· Five Year Plan of The Workers Compensation Board for 2014 to 2018
Committee Membership
Committee Membership for the June 6, 2011 meeting:
· Mr. Altemeyer
· Ms. Brick
· Mr. Briese
· Mr. Dewar (Vice-Chairperson)
· Mr. Graydon
· Hon. Ms. Howard
· Hon. Ms. Marcelino
· Mr. Reid (Chairperson)
· Mrs. Rowat
· Mrs. Taillieu
· Hon. Ms. Wowchuk
Substitutions received during committee proceedings:
· Mr. Cullen for Mr. Graydon
· Hon. Mr. Struthers for Mr. Altemeyer
Committee Membership for the April 11, 2012 meeting:
· Ms. Blady
· Mr. Briese
· Hon. Mr. Chief
· Mr. Dewar
· Mr. Goertzen
· Hon. Ms. Howard
· Mr. Jha (Chairperson)
· Mrs. Rowat
· Mr. Saran
· Mr. Schuler
· Ms. Wight (Vice-Chairperson)
Substitutions received during committee proceedings:
· Mr. Eichler for Mrs. Rowat
Committee Membership for the October 23, 2013 meeting:
· Hon. Ms. Braun
· Mr. Briese
· Mr. Caldwell (Vice-Chairperson)
· Mr. Dewar
· Hon. Ms. Howard
· Hon. Ms. Marcelino
· Mr. Pettersen (Chairperson)
· Hon. Mr. Robinson
· Mrs. Rowat
· Mr. Schuler
· Mr. Wishart
Committee Membership for the October 15, 2014 meeting:
· Hon. Ms. Braun
· Mr. Cullen
· Mr. Dewar
· Mrs. Driedger
· Mr. Gaudreau
· Mr. Jha (Chairperson)
· Hon. Mr. Mackintosh
· Mr. Marcelino
· Mr. Saran
· Mr. Smook
· Mr. Wishart
Your Committee elected Mr. Marcelino as the Vice‑Chairperson at the October 15, 2014 meeting
Officials Speaking on Record
Officials Speaking on Record at the June 6, 2011 meeting:
· Michael Werier, Chairperson of the Board
· Doug Sexsmith, President and CEO
Officials Speaking on Record at the April 11, 2012 meeting:
· Michael Werier, Chairperson of the Board
· Winston Maharaj, President and CEO
Officials Speaking on Record at the October 23, 2013 meeting:
· Michael Werier, Chairperson of the Board
· Winston Maharaj, President and CEO
Officials Speaking on Record at the October 15, 2014 meeting:
· Michael Werier, Chairperson of the Board
· Winston Maharaj, President and CEO
Reports Considered and Passed
Your Committee considered and passed the following reports as presented:
· Annual Report of The Workers Compensation Board for the year ending December 31, 2012
· Annual Report of the Appeal Commission and Medical Review Panel for the year ending December 31, 2011
· Annual Report of the Appeal Commission and Medical Review Panel for the year ending December 31, 2012
· Five Year Plan of The Workers Compensation Board for 2011 to 2015
· Five Year Plan of The Workers Compensation Board for 2012 to 2016
Reports Considered but not Passed
Your Committee considered the following reports but did not pass them:
· Annual Report of The Workers Compensation Board for the year ending December 31, 2013
· Annual Report of the Appeal Commission and Medical Review Panel for the year ending December 31, 2013
· Five Year Plan of The Workers Compensation Board for 2013 to 2017
· Five Year Plan of The Workers Compensation Board for 2014 to 2018
Mr. Jha: I move, seconded by the honourable member from Interlake, that the report of the committee be received.
Motion agreed to.
Mr. Bidhu Jha (Chairperson): I wish to present the Third Report of the Standing Committee on Crown Corporations.
Clerk (Ms. Patricia Chaychuk): Your Standing Committee on Crown Corporations presents the following–
Mr. Speaker: Dispense?
Some Honourable Members: Dispense.
Mr. Speaker: Dispense.
Your Standing Committee on CROWN CORPORATIONS presents the following as its Third Report.
Meetings
Your Committee met on the following occasions in the Legislative Building:
· April 15, 2013 (2nd Session – 40th Legislature)
· October 16, 2013 (2nd Session – 40th Legislature)
· October 28, 2014 (3rd Session – 40th Legislature)
Matters under Consideration
· Annual Report of the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission for the year ended March 31, 2012
· Annual Report of the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission for the year ended March 31, 2013
· Annual Report of the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013
Committee Membership
Committee Membership for the April 15, 2013 meeting:
· Mr. Allum
· Mr. Cullen
· Mr. Eichler
· Mr. Jha (Chairperson)
· Hon. Ms. Marcelino
· Mr. Marcelino
· Hon. Mr. Rondeau
· Mr. Smook
· Mr. Wiebe
· Ms. Wight (Vice-Chairperson)
· Mr. Wishart
Committee Membership for the October 16, 2013 meeting:
· Mr. Allum (Vice-Chairperson)
· Hon. Mr. Chief
· Mr. Cullen
· Mr. Dewar
· Mr. Friesen
· Mr. Gaudreau
· Mr. Graydon
· Mr. Jha (Chairperson)
· Hon. Mr. Rondeau
· Mr. Saran
· Mr. Wishart
Committee Membership for the October 28, 2014 meeting:
· Mr. Altemeyer
· Mr. Cullen
· Mr. Dewar
· Mr. Ewasko
· Mr. Friesen
· Mr. Jha (Chairperson)
· Hon. Mr. Lemieux
· Mr. Maloway
· Mr. Marcelino (Vice-Chairperson)
· Mr. Saran
· Mr. Smook
Officials Speaking on Record at the April 15, 2013 meeting:
· Winston Hodgins, President and CEO
· Tannis Mindell, Chairperson of the Board
Officials Speaking on Record at the October 16, 2013 meeting:
· Winston Hodgins, President and CEO
· Corrine Scott, Director Regulatory Services
Officials Speaking on Record at the October 28, 2014 meeting:
· Winston Hodgins, President and CEO
· Corrine Scott, Director of Compliance with the Liquor and Gaming Authority
Report Considered and Passed
Your Committee considered and passed the following report as presented:
· Annual Report of the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission for the year ended March 31, 2012
· Annual Report of the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission for the year ended March 31, 2013
· Annual Report of the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013
Mr. Jha: I move, seconded by the honourable member from Interlake, that the report of the committee be received.
Motion agreed to.
Mr. Dave Gaudreau (Chairperson): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the Fifth Report on the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development.
Clerk (Ms. Patricia Chaychuk): Your Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development–
Mr. Speaker: Dispense?
Some Honourable Members: Dispense.
Mr. Speaker: Dispense.
Your Standing Committee on SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT presents the following as its Fifth Report.
Meetings
Your Committee met on September 23, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building.
Matters under Consideration
· Bill (No. 69) – The Technical Safety Act/Loi sur la sécurité technique
· Bill (No. 71) – The Animal Diseases Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les maladies des animaux
Committee Membership
· Mr. Altemeyer
· Hon. Ms. Braun
· Mr. Dewar
· Mr. Gaudreau (Chairperson)
· Mr. Helwer
· Hon. Mr. Kostyshyn
· Mr. Marcelino
· Mr. Piwniuk
· Mr. Saran (Vice-Chairperson)
· Mr. Smook
· Mr. Wishart
Public Presentations
Your Committee heard the following two presentations on Bill (No. 69) – The Technical Safety Act/Loi sur la sécurité technique:
Betty McInerney, Mechanical Contractors Association of Manitoba
Scott McFadyen, Canadian Propane Association – Manitoba Propane Committee
Your Committee heard the following four presentations on Bill (No. 71) – The Animal Diseases Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les maladies des animaux:
Karl Kynoch, Manitoba Pork Council
Dr. Randy Aitken, Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association
Cory Rybuck, Manitoba Egg Farmers
James Battershill, Keystone Agricultural Producers
Written Submissions
Your Committee received the following two written submissions on Bill (No. 71) – The Animal Diseases Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les maladies des animaux:
Heinz Reimer and Melinda German, Manitoba Beef Producers
Brent Achtemichuk, Dairy Farmers of Manitoba
Bills Considered and Reported
· Bill (No. 69) – The Technical Safety Act/Loi sur la sécurité technique
Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment.
· Bill (No. 71) – The Animal Diseases Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les maladies des animaux
Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment.
Mr. Gaudreau: I move, seconded by the honourable member for Tyndall Park (Mr. Marcelino), that the report of the committee be received.
Motion agreed to.
Mr. Dave Gaudreau (Chairperson): I wish to present the Sixth Report on the Standing Committee of Social and Economic Development.
Clerk (Ms. Patricia Chaychuk): Your Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development–
Mr. Speaker: Dispense?
Some Honourable Members: Dispense.
Mr. Speaker: Dispense.
Your Standing Committee on SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT presents the following as its Sixth Report.
Meetings
Your Committee met on October 20, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building.
Matters under Consideration
· Bill (No. 70) – The Real Estate Services Act/Loi sur les services immobiliers
Committee Membership
· Ms. Allan
· Mr. Cullen
· Mr. Gaudreau (Chairperson)
· Hon. Mr. Lemieux
· Hon. Ms. Marcelino (Logan)
· Mr. Marcelino (Tyndall Park)
· Mr. Martin
· Mrs. Mitchelson
· Mr. Schuler
· Hon. Mr. Struthers
· Ms. Wight
Public Presentations
Your Committee heard the following four presentations on Bill (No. 70) – The Real Estate Services Act/Loi sur les services immobiliers:
Brian M. Collie, Manitoba Real Estate Association
David Powell, Winnipeg Realtors
Gloria Desorcy, The Consumers Association of Canada - Manitoba Branch
Stewart Elston, Private Citizen
Bills Considered and Reported
· Bill (No. 70) – The Real Estate Services Act/Loi sur les services immobiliers
Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment.
Mr. Gaudreau: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Tyndall Park (Mr. Marcelino), that the report of the committee be received.
Motion agreed to.
Mr. Reg Helwer (Chairperson): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the Second Report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
Clerk (Ms. Patricia Chaychuk): Your Standing Committee on Public Accounts–
An Honourable Member: Dispense.
Mr. Speaker: Dispense? Dispense.
Your Standing Committee on Public Accounts presents the following as its Second Report.
Meetings
Your Committee met on the following occasions:
· February 9, 2011 (5th Session, 39th Legislature)
· March 16, 2011 (5th Session, 39th Legislature)
· May 25, 2011 (5th Session, 39th Legislature)
· March 21, 2012 (1st Session, 40th Legislature)
· April 25, 2012 (1st Session, 40th Legislature)
· October 24, 2012 (1st Session, 40th Legislature)
· March 20, 2013(2nd Session, 40th Legislature)
· June 25, 2013 (2nd Session, 40th Legislature)
· January 13, 2014 (3rd Session, 40th Legislature)
· June 26, 2014 (3rd Session, 40th Legislature)
Matters under Consideration
· Auditor General's Report – Annual Report to the Legislature – dated January 2013
o Chapter 2 – Citizen Concerns – "Part 2 – Disaster Financial Assistance"
· Auditor General's Report – Annual Report to the Legislature – dated March 2014
o Chapter 9 – Northern Airports and Marine Operations
· Auditor General's Report – Report to the Legislative Assembly: Performance Audits – dated December 2010
o Chapter 1 – Managing Climate Change
· Auditor General's Report – Follow-Up of Previously Issued Recommendations – dated March 2011
o Section 18 – Maintenance Enforcement Program
· Auditor General's Report – Annual Report to the Legislature – dated January 2013
o Chapter 3 – Information Technology (IT) Security Management
o Chapter 4 – Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care Program
o Chapter 5 – Manitoba eHealth Procurement of Contractors
o Chapter 8 – Senior Management Expense Policies
Committee Membership
Committee Membership for the February 9, 2011 meeting:
· Ms. Braun
· Ms. Brick
· Mr. Derkach (Chairperson)
· Mr. Dewar (Vice-Chairperson)
· Mrs. Driedger
· Hon. Mr. Gerrard
· Mr. Martindale
· Mr. Pedersen
· Mrs. Stefanson
· Mr. Whitehead
· Hon. Ms. Wowchuk
Committee Membership for the March 16, 2011 meeting:
· Mr. Borotsik
· Ms. Braun
· Mr. Derkach (Chairperson)
· Mr. Dewar (Vice-Chairperson)
· Mrs. Driedger
· Hon. Mr. Gerrard
· Mr. Jha
· Mr. Martindale
· Mrs. Stefanson
· Mr. Whitehead
· Hon. Ms. Wowchuk
Substitutions made during the committee proceedings on March 16, 2011:
· Mr. Pedersen for Mrs. Driedger
Committee Membership for the May 25, 2011 meeting:
· Mr. Borotsik
· Ms. Braun
· Mr. Derkach (Chairperson)
· Mr. Dewar (Vice-Chairperson)
· Mrs. Driedger
· Mr. Jha
· Mr. Martindale
· Mr. Whitehead
· Ms. Stefanson
· Hon. Ms. Wowchuk
Substitutions made prior to committee proceedings on May 25, 2011:
· Ms. Brick for Mr. Whitehead
· Mr. Dyck for Mrs. Driedger
Committee Membership for the March 21, 2012 meeting:
· Mr. Allum
· Ms. Braun
· Mr. Dewar (Vice-Chairperson)
· Hon. Mr. Gerrard
· Mr. Helwer
· Mr. Jha
· Mr. Maguire (Chairperson)
· Mr. Pedersen
· Mrs. Stefanson
· Hon. Mr. Struthers
· Mr. Whitehead
Substitution made prior to committee proceedings on March 21, 2012:
· Mr. Friesen for Mrs. Stefanson
Committee Membership for the April 25, 2012 meeting:
· Mr. Allum
· Ms. Braun
· Mr. Dewar (Vice-Chairperson)
· Hon. Mr. Gerrard
· Mr. Helwer
· Mr. Jha
· Mr. Maguire (Chairperson)
· Mr. Pedersen
· Mrs. Stefanson
· Hon. Mr. Struthers
· Mr. Whitehead
Substitution made prior to committee proceedings on April 25, 2012:
· Mr. Friesen for Mrs. Stefanson
· Ms. Wight for Mr. Jha
Committee Membership for the October 24, 2012 meeting:
· Mr. Allum
· Ms. Braun
· Mr. Cullen
· Mr. Dewar (Vice-Chairperson)
· Mrs. Driedger
· Hon. Mr. Gerrard
· Mr. Helwer (Chairperson)
· Mr. Jha
· Mr. Pedersen
· Hon. Mr. Struthers
· Mr. Whitehead
Committee Membership for the March 20, 2013 meeting:
· Mr. Allum
· Ms. Braun
· Mr. Cullen
· Mr. Dewar (Vice-Chairperson)
· Mrs. Driedger
· Hon. Mr. Gerrard
· Mr. Helwer (Chairperson)
· Mr. Jha
· Mr. Pedersen
· Hon. Mr. Struthers
· Mr. Whitehead
Substitution made prior to committee proceedings on March 20, 2013:
· Mr. Ewasko for Mrs. Driedger
Committee Membership for the June 25, 2013 meeting:
· Mr. Allum
· Ms. Braun
· Mr. Cullen
· Mr. Dewar (Vice-Chairperson)
· Mrs. Driedger
· Hon. Mr. Gerrard
· Mr. Helwer (Chairperson)
· Mr. Jha
· Mr. Pedersen
· Hon. Mr. Struthers
· Mr. Whitehead
Committee Membership for the January 13, 2014 meeting:
· Mr. Dewar (Vice-Chairperson)
· Mr. Friesen
· Hon. Mr. Gerrard
· Mr. Helwer (Chairperson)
· Hon. Ms. Howard
· Mr. Jha
· Mr. Pedersen
· Mr. Schuler
· Mr. Whitehead
· Mr. Wiebe
· Ms. Wight
Committee Membership for the June 26, 2014 meeting:
· Mr. Dewar
· Mr. Friesen
· Hon. Mr. Gerrard
· Mr. Helwer (Chairperson)
· Hon. Ms. Howard
· Mr. Jha
· Mr. Marcelino
· Mr. Pedersen
· Mr. Schuler
· Mr. Wiebe (Vice-Chairperson)
· Ms. Wight
Substitution made prior to committee proceedings on June 26, 2014:
· Hon. Mr. Allum for Hon. Ms. Howard
· Mr. Saran for Mr. Dewar
· Mr. Briese for Mr. Friesen
· Mr. Cullen for Mr. Pedersen
Officials Speaking on Record
Officials speaking on the record at the February 9, 2011 meeting:
· Ms. Carol Bellringer, Auditor General of Manitoba
· Mr. Fred Meier, Deputy Minister of Conservation
· Mr. Hugh Eliasson, Deputy Minister of Finance
Officials speaking on the record at the March 16, 2011 meeting:
· Ms. Carol Bellringer, Auditor General of Manitoba
· Mr. Grant Doak, Deputy Minister of Family Services and Consumer Affairs
Officials speaking on record at the May 25, 2011 meeting:
· Ms. Carol Bellringer, Auditor General of Manitoba
· Hon. Mr. Chomiak, Minister of Innovation, Energy and Mines
· Mr. John Clark, Deputy Minister of Innovation, Energy and Mines
· Mr. Hugh Eliasson, Deputy Minister of Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade and Deputy Minister of Finance
Officials speaking on the record at the March 21, 2012 meeting:
· Carol Bellringer, Auditor General of Manitoba
· Hon. Ms. Selby, Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy
· Mr. Gerald Farthing, Deputy Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy
· Ms. Joy Cramer, Deputy Minister of Housing and Community Development
· Mr. Jeffrey Schnoor, Q.C, Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Officials speaking on record at the April 25, 2012 meeting:
· Carol Bellringer, Auditor General of Manitoba
· Hon. Ms. Oswald, Minister of Health
· Mr. Milton Sussman, Deputy Minister of Health
Officials speaking on record at the October 24, 2012 meeting:
· Ms. Carol Bellringer, Auditor General of Manitoba
· Hon. Mr. Struthers, Minister of Finance
· Mr. Fred Meier, Deputy Minister of Conservation and Water Stewardship
· Ms. Linda McFadyen, Deputy Minister of Local Government
Officials speaking on record at the March 20, 2013 meeting:
· Ms. Carol Bellringer, Auditor General of Manitoba
· Mr. Hugh Eliasson, Deputy Minister of Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade
Officials speaking on record at the June 25, 2013 meeting:
· Carol Bellringer, Auditor General of Manitoba
· Hon. Ms. Oswald, Minister of Health
· Mr. Milton Sussman, Deputy Minister of Health
Officials speaking on record at the January 13, 2014 meeting:
· Ms. Carol Bellringer, Auditor General of Manitoba
· Hon. Mr. Struthers, Minister of Finance
· Mr. Fred Meier, Deputy Minister of Conservation and Water Stewardship
Officials speaking on record at the June 26, 2014 meeting:
· Mr. Brian Wirth, Assistant Auditor General of Manitoba
· Hon. Mr. Ashton, Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation
· Mr. Doug McNeil, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation
Agreements:
Your Committee agreed to conclude consideration of the following chapters of the Auditor General's Report – Report to the Legislative Assembly: Performance Audits – dated December 2010:
· Chapter 1 – Managing Climate Change at the June 26, 2014 meeting.
· Chapter 2 – Economic Development: Loans and Investments under The Development Corporation Act at the March 20, 2013 meeting.
· Chapter 3 – Special Audit: Society for Manitobans with Disabilities at the March 16, 2011 meeting.
· Chapter 4 – Special Audit: Rural Municipality of St. Laurent at the January 13, 2014 meeting.
Your Committee agreed to conclude consideration of the following sections of the Auditor General's Report – Follow-Up of Previously Issued Recommendations – dated March 2011:
· Section 1 – Audit of the Pharmacare Program at the June 25, 2013 meeting.
· Section 3 – The Protection of Well Water Quality in Manitoba at the October 24, 2012 meeting.
· Section 6 – University of Winnipeg – Investment in Information Technology at the March 21, 2012 meeting.
· Section 7 – University of Winnipeg – Financial Review at the March 21, 2012 meeting.
· Section 8 – Department of Advanced Education – Student Financial Assistance Program at the March 21, 2012 meeting.
· Section 9 – Keewatin Community College – Investment in Information Technology at the March 21, 2012 meeting.
· Section 10 – Red River College of Applied Arts, Science and Technology IT Audit at the March 21, 2012 meeting.
· Section 14 – Department of Family Services and Housing – Public Housing Program at the March 21, 2012 meeting.
· Section 15 – Investigation of the Maintenance Branch of Manitoba Housing at the March 21, 2012 meeting.
· Section 18 – Maintenance Enforcement Program at the June 26, 2014 meeting.
Your Committee agreed to conclude consideration of Chapter 2 – Citizen Concerns – "Part 2 – Disaster Financial Assistance" of the Auditor General's Report – Annual Report to the Legislature dated January 2013 at the June 26, 2014 meeting.
Your Committee agreed to conclude consideration of Chapter 9 – Northern Airports and Marine Operations of the Auditor General's Report – Annual Report to the Legislature – dated March 2014 at the June 26, 2014 meeting.
Report Considered and Adopted:
Your Committee has considered the following reports and has adopted the same as presented:
· Auditor General's Report – Report to the Legislative Assembly: Performance Audits – dated December 2010
· Auditor General's Report – Follow-Up of Previously Issued Recommendations – dated March 2011
Reports Considered but not Passed:
Your Committee has considered the following reports but did not pass it:
· Auditor General's Report – Annual Report to the Legislature dated January 2013 (Part 2 of Chapter 2 – concluded consideration of)
· Auditor General's Report – Annual Report to the Legislature – dated March 2014 (Chapter 9 – concluded consideration of)
Mr. Helwer: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Morris (Mr. Martin), that the report of the committee be received.
Motion agreed to.
Mr. Speaker: Any further committee reports?
Mr. Speaker: Seeing none, I am moving on to tabling of reports.
I am pleased to table the annual reports of the Legislative Assembly Management Commission for the years ending March 31st, 2013, and March 31st, 2014. Copies of the reports have been placed on members' desks, I believe.
And also, in compliance with section 4 of the Members' Salaries, Allowances and Retirement Plans Disclosure Regulation, I am pleased to table the reports of amounts claimed and paid for members for the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
Ministerial statements?
Mr. Speaker: Prior to oral questions, I'd like to draw the attention of members to the Speaker's Gallery where we have six individuals who are serving on the Manitoba legislative intern program for the year 2014-2015, and they're seated in the Speaker's Gallery.
In accordance with the established practice, three interns were assigned to the government caucus and three to the official opposition caucus. Their term of employment is 10 months, and they will be performing a variety of research and other tasks for private members. These interns commenced their assignments on September the 8th, 2014, and will complete them in June.
And they are Ms. Stephanie Rempel of the University of Winnipeg, Mr. Gabriel Pelletier of the University of Manitoba and Mr. Max Griffin-Rill of the University of Winnipeg, and they're with the government caucus. And also, working with the caucus of the official opposition, we have Ms. Jessica Rebizant of the University of Manitoba and Mr. Michael Juce of the Brandon University and Mr. Neil Exell of the University of Winnipeg.
On behalf of honourable members, thank you for your intern work.
Professor Kelly Saunders of the university–Brandon University is the academic director of the program, and the administration of the program on a day-to-day basis is carried out by our own Clerk, Ms. Patricia Chaychuk. And the caucus representatives on the intern administration committee are the member for Concordia (Mr. Wiebe) and the member for Spruce Woods (Mr. Cullen).
And, of course, we welcome our interns in the performance of their duties for the various caucuses. Thank you.
I'd also like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the public gallery where we have with us today from the North East Winnipeg Historical Society Jim Smith, Donna Cudmore and Ruth Wright, who are the guests of the honourable Minister of Labour and Immigration (Ms. Braun).
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And also in the gallery today we have with us Bill and Diane Heather, who are the guests of the honourable Minister of Tourism, Culture, Sport and Consumer Protection.
On behalf of all honourable members, we welcome you here this morning.
Resignations
Mr. Brian Pallister (Leader of the Official Opposition): Two days ago, Mr. Speaker, we saw an unprecedented and selfish action by five failed ministers of a ineffective government which caused serious–has caused serious embarrassment to our province and is dangerous and shameful, and the reality is, of course, that they have assumed new roles now as the unofficial opposition within our province and in this place.
When they had their press conference, did these members focus on record waits for health care? No. Or 10th out of 10 on educational achievement for young people? No. Job loss over the past year–we have fewer jobs available in this province than we did before the PST was invoked by this government. The reality is, Mr. Speaker, they didn't focus on any of those things at all.
So the question remains what motivation–what was behind all this, especially when all these members now claim they'll prop up the same government that they said was most ineffective?
Would the Premier agree with our observation that the decision by his five former front-benchers was thoughtless, selfish and dangerous?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for the question.
What I agree with is that we are here to serve the people of Manitoba, which is why we brought forward a Throne Speech yesterday that focused on some very key priorities of Manitobans. The No. 1 priority was to make sure young people had the opportunity to have good jobs, a good education and good training in Manitoba.
And the Throne Speech had a–some very significant ideas on how to advance that agenda: reform of the education system so that there's targeted growth, so that there are no wrong doors and no dead ends for students; students being able to get the kind of education in high school that gives them advanced standing at a college or a university or a job experience which allows them to be immediately employable. And we saw a living example of that at Sisler High School, one of the top 10 high schools in Canada, where they have set up Manitoba's first cyber-security academy.
Young people are getting good jobs, good experiences and advanced standing for the future. That's what we're here for, Mr. Speaker, and I know the members opposite will support that when they vote for the Throne Speech.
Government Priorities
Mr. Brian Pallister (Leader of the Official Opposition): Well, Leslie Turnbull, as a long-time pollster for the New Democratic Party–and she reported to the members opposite and the former Cabinet ministers as well that they were entering, quote, annihilation territory.
Now, the MLA for Seine River, future leadership contender the Premier needs to watch out for, alleged that the Premier–she alleged in the press conference itself where she resigned her post, where she deserted her post, she said, quote, the Premier's personal priorities are being placed ahead of Manitoba's priorities.
That is a very, very serious allegation, and so I have to ask the Premier: How many of the dozens and dozens of so-called priorities, most of which are repeat promises in yesterday's Throne Speech, were actually the priorities of the people of Manitoba, and how many were designed solely to prop up his tenuous leadership?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Later on today I will be driving to Morris, Manitoba, to announce very significant investments in strategic infrastructure for the province. Strategic infrastructure is one of the priorities that Manitobans have said is important to us. We've brought forward legislation just five years ago to create an organization called CentrePort, a multimodal transportation hub.
Nineteen billion dollars of goods and services flows to the United States through Highway 75. The commitment we have made is to upgrade that highway to make it one of the most efficient flood proof 'highdways', flood proofed at the level of international standards, to the same standard as to the roads in the United States which hook up to that highway.
We will be in Morris, Manitoba, today to advance that priority. That's a priority of Manitobans. If it's a priority of Manitobans, it's a priority of this government, and we look forward to many other significant initiatives that will address the priorities of Manitobans for good jobs for young people, the strategic infrastructure to protect against floods, to grow the economy, to protect core services and to do it in a way that keeps Manitoba affordable.
Economic Impact of Resignations
Mr. Brian Pallister (Leader of the Official Opposition): Well, Mr. Speaker, if his own people don't trust him and his priorities, why would Manitobans?
It's a dangerous situation. We're already near the bottom of the barrel in this province, thanks to this administration, on attracting investment in our province and within our province. We are already ninth over the last five years on job creation, on average weekly wage growth.
Political instability, Mr. Speaker, repels opportunities. Political instability repels investment. And Manitoba could be sinking even lower in the rankings, and these dissident people, when they made their decision, failed, it seems, to give any thought to the hurt that they could cause Manitobans, to the hurt they could cause the provincial economy when they made their decision.
So I have to ask the Premier: As he met with each one of them individually, did the Premier specifically alert his rebel caucus members to the dangerous economic consequences of their actions?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Mr. Speaker, the Manitoba economy has performed in the top three over the last decade, average growth of 2 and a half per cent. Private sector investment in Manitoba has been among the strongest in the country, unemployment rate's third lowest in the country, with one of the highest participation rates in the economy.
Manitoba's economy's doing very well, Mr. Speaker, and it will continue to do well with our steady-growth, good-jobs agenda, which will create jobs for young people, build strategic infrastructure, target initiatives that build the new economy and create good jobs for young people in this province at the same time as we protect core services and look after the elderly, doing it in a way that keeps Manitoba affordable.
And we note today, Mr. Speaker, that the inflation rate in Manitoba, third lowest in the country. Good signs for the future growth of the province.
Mr. Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question.
Manitobans' Support for Government
Mr. Brian Pallister (Leader of the Official Opposition): The only place there's steady growth is in dissension within the NDP caucus, Mr. Speaker, and the only jobs they've created are five new ones for Cabinet ministers on their side of the House.
The Premier's not listening. It's not me saying that; it's his own caucus members. His own caucus members, at their press conference, said that the Premier has stopped listening to them–stopped listening to them.
If he's not even listening to his own Cabinet ministers, Mr. Speaker, why would Manitobans believe that he's actually listening to them?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): I have to say I appreciate the question from the Leader of Opposition, because we have been listening to Manitobans and they have told us, make sure there's good opportunities for young people to live and work in Manitoba.
When we did the skills tour this summer, Mr. Speaker, we went out to Peguis First Nation where we had a training program for young people in the Interlake sponsored by the municipalities, the community development corporations, the local businesses that were training young people right in the heart of the Interlake for good jobs for the manufacturers there.
We proceeded on to Gimli with the skills forum that evening where people said, Gimli has shown tremendous progress in the last several years and there are good trades jobs here.
We went to Portage la Prairie and we met with Chabot enterprises where they need apprentices for heavy equipment, heavy mechanical equipment that they repair there, and they're expanding their business.
We went on to Brandon, Manitoba, where we visited Behlen Industries, and they need dozens of new welders every year.
We went on to Dauphin, Manitoba, and Swan River, and everywhere we went they said, there's good opportunities for here, let's train young people to get those jobs.
And that's what we're doing, because the people of Manitoba have said, listen to us and create those opportunities. And we are proceeding to do that for the people of Manitoba.
Mr. Speaker: First Minister's time has expired.
Former Comments
Mr. Brian Pallister (Leader of the Official Opposition): And the people who know best about the listening skills of the Premier, I would suggest, are the people who have worked alongside him for 15 years, and when they say he's not listening to them, that carries some resonance with the people of Manitoba, Mr. Speaker.
However, there's a little confusion here, because less than one year ago, at the press conference where the Premier expelled the member from Riel, the Premier was asked, she describes you as heavy–as a heavy-handed premier, how would you respond? And the member for Fort Rouge (Ms. Howard) actually interjected and said, quote, I am actually in caucus–which she was at the time, Mr. Speaker–nothing is further from the truth.
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Okay, apart from plummeting polls and entering annihilation territory, was the member for Fort Rouge wrong then, or is she wrong now?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Mr. Speaker, members of this caucus are seized with the priorities of the people of Manitoba. That's why we come to work. That's what we come to work to do every day, every member of this caucus, and I would say that you will see that when they vote for the Throne Speech because the Throne Speech has the priorities of Manitobans at the top of our list.
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite has put forward an alternative throne speech. Did he announce–and I'm pleased that he did that because that allowed us to show again to Manitobans the real difference. Not one word–not one word–in that alternative, there was not one new teacher hired in Manitoba, not one new nurse hired, what–not one new doctor trained or recruited. Manitobans have said they want family physicians; they ignored that priority. Manitobans have said they want better schools; they ignored that priority.
Mr. Speaker, we put forward a vision and a plan that the people of Manitoba have asked for, and now we will follow through on it. Thank you.
PST Support
Mr. Brian Pallister (Leader of the Official Opposition): Well, you know, I think they're seized with a priority all right, but it's the priority of simple self-preservation, and the reality is that the plan which the Premier and his colleagues all put forward prior to the last election differed somewhat from the plan they invoked on Manitobans when they hiked the PST, when they broadened it, when they raised fees at a record level. They departed from their plan, and Manitobans have no faith in this government's ability to follow through on any plan, any empty words.
The member for Fort Rouge (Ms. Howard) said at the dissidents' press conference she did not like how the PST increase was handled, yet she and her rebel colleagues and every member opposite supported it. They all promoted it. Every Cabinet minister was part of the decision to invoke it, and now they all blame the Premier for it.
Could the Premier explain the principle of Cabinet solidarity to his colleagues?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Mr. Speaker, I remember, before the budget, that every member of the opposition was up asking for the road in their community to be paved. They wanted that road to be paved. They wanted–they wanted–more flood protection around Lake Manitoba. They were demanding that, and we have moved forward to address those priorities. We are paving a record number of municipal roads all throughout Manitoba.
This Throne Speech announced that the outlet from Lake Manitoba will have a high capacity of 7,500 cubic feet a second, Mr. Speaker, the equivalent of six Olympic-sized swimming pools going through it every second. That's the kind of commitment that will keep the people of the Interlake safe from flooding in the future.
Will the member support that in the Throne Speech? I dare say they will vote against it.
Mr. Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question.
Government Promises
Mr. Brian Pallister (Leader of the Official Opposition): Well, if you could pave our roads with empty promises they'd all be paved. They'd be pothole-free.
The reality is this government doesn't keep its promises, and now it's making another one to the flood victims around the Lake Manitoba basin. It says it'll help them eventually, in a decade. That's not right.
Mr. Speaker, the MLA for Minto, at the dissidents' press conference, said, quote, the Premier has become more concerned about remaining leader than necessarily doing things in the best interests of the province.
Which begs the question, how many of the Throne Speech promises were designed simply to secure delegate support for the Premier's leadership bid?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Mr. Speaker, this July–we had a very unusual June and July–we had a very unusual set of events in Manitoba. We saw record rainfall and we saw a flood like we've never seen before in the summer, and as we moved on addressing that flood with the support of everybody in the Legislature, with the support of the members on this side and with a tremendous effort from communities, local leaders and civil servants, what did we find? We found that the additional investments we'd made in Brandon served that community extremely well. We saw that the fortifications we'd made on the Assiniboine River dikes served us well. We saw that the investment in improving the diversion channel served us extremely well. We saw that the community dikes in communities like St. Laurent served us extremely well. We saw that the money that we had made available to homeowners and cottage owners had lifted their properties up and moved them back so they were better protected.
We have been fulfilling the promises we have made every single day in making Manitoba a safer place for communities at risk of floods, and the members opposite, hollow rhetoric, and they vote against those resources every single time. They vote against it and then they go missing in action when it counts.
Mr. Pallister: Well, I have to respond to the photo op Premier. Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter here is that the Premier's position is that he cares about Manitobans' safety when in fact he cares about his own. He didn't answer my question.
He'd like us to think that there was absolutely zero consideration given in the Throne Speech to his tenuous hold on the leadership, but he's trying, Mr. Speaker, to wear two hats at the same time. He's trying to be a contender to keep his leadership and he's trying to be a premier at the same point in time, and the fact is, of course, that you can't wear both those hats at the same time.
There were 21–21–specific references to different ridings by name in yesterday's speech, and the Premier would have us believe and Manitobans believe that that was purely coincidental, that his intentions were purely altruistic, that he's as pure as the driven snow.
I have to ask him: If it wasn't his speech, who else helped prepare it? What percentage of the Throne Speech was prepared by the dissident five ministers? What specific role did they play in the preparation of the Throne Speech?
Mr. Selinger: Mr. Speaker, I again–I enjoyed the question from the member opposite. He's obviously threatened by our commitment to make better roads in Morris, Manitoba. I invite him to come to that announcement today. I don't think he's been in that community very often lately. Perhaps he should come out of there. It may be a swing seat now, given his lack of attention to their priorities.
I was in Steinbach this summer where we opened up a new regional–a regional high school, one of the largest secondary facilities in the province, where they are offering real good opportunities for high school and post-secondary education. We visited the shops there and we saw the young students building new homes right in their own community. It was very impressive, Mr. Speaker.
I know the member of Steinbach might be a little nervous about our trip out there, but I don't remember it–and I look forward to the people of Steinbach–including the mayor of Steinbach, a well‑known, well-regarded member of the community named Chris Goertzen–saying it's encouraging to see improvements for the bridge program and municipal roads program in that swing seat of Steinbach.
Mr. Pallister: An empty vessel, Mr. Speaker, makes a lot of noise too, but the fact remains that the Premier did not address the question.
He is abusing the office of premier by hanging on to it. He's abusing the office of premier by trying to use it as a campaign vehicle. That is wrong, and the member for Fort Rouge (Ms. Howard) knows it. The member for Fort Rouge said, and I quote: We can no longer work with a premier who refuses to hear us. He refuses to hear us on a wide range of issues in our portfolios.
And the reality is his own members know him better than most Manitobans do, but Manitobans are catching on to the reality of this Premier, a clanging gong.
Much of the Throne Speech was in preparation long before the defection of the dissidents, however, and so I again ask the Premier: Did the attorney general–the former attorney general, minister of Finance, Health, Jobs, Hydro, Municipal Government, did they not participate in the preparation of the Throne Speech? Either they did or they didn't. Was he listening to them or was he not?
I give him the opportunity to put on the record if in fact he was listening to them. He should put that on the record now.
Mr. Selinger: Mr. Speaker, I'm very pleased with the input we had from people in the Throne Speech because it allowed us to serve all the people of Manitoba–all the people of Manitoba–regardless of where they live.
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When we hire more doctors, Mr. Speaker, all Manitobans benefit from that. When we put urgent care clinics in place, all Manitobans benefit from that. When we have a CancerCare hub in southern Manitoba, the people of southern Manitoba benefit from that, and that's what we're doing–that's what we're doing. Whether it's the North, whether it's the Interlake, whether it's the south, whether it's Winnipeg and all of its seats in Winnipeg, the programs we're putting forward will benefit all the citizens of Manitoba. Every educated young person makes a contribution to our economy. When that happens, all Manitobans benefit.
I invite the Leader of the Opposition to lift his eyes up and see the big picture instead of dealing in the pettiness that he's pursuing all through this question period.
Mr. Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question.
Performance Record
Mr. Brian Pallister (Leader of the Official Opposition): I don't know, Mr. Speaker. Historians might know, but I don't believe there's any precedent in Canadian history for a premier campaigning for–to hold his seat while in the premier's office, and if the Premier calls that petty, he's deeply misguided–deeply misguided.
His own caucus, his former Cabinet ministers say that the priorities of the Premier are not theirs. They say that he's not listening to them, and yet they go out in the hall and tell the media they're all behind him 100 per cent. Someone here is sacrificing their principles in the name of self-preservation, and I think I know who.
Now, the dissidents were supposed to be his top performers. They occupied–formerly occupied the top rung of power in this Cabinet opposite, and now they're at the bottom of the ladder. But wait, maybe they were at the bottom of the ladder before they resigned. Maybe they were part of the polling problems that government is experiencing now themselves.
There were fewer jobs last month than in June of last year. The Jobs minister has a horrible record. How much did he really lose when she resigned?
Was the NDP Cabinet weaker before the MLA for Seine River resigned than it is now?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to be part of a caucus which has one of the most diverse, most talented, most experienced group of MLAs anywhere in Canada–anywhere in Canada. We have people in this caucus that have had varied experiences, experiences in every corner of the world, and they've brought their life to Manitoba to make a contribution to this province. We have people that have come from northwest Ontario to school in Manitoba and have put down roots here. We have people that have grown up in this province, three, four generations on the land, that are contributing to this province.
We have a very diverse and talented caucus, and I'm proud that they're serving the people of Manitoba with the offer they make every single day to put Manitobans' priorities No. 1, and I invite the Leader of the Opposition to do the same instead of continuing with his narrow-minded, petty approach to questions today.
Mr. Speaker: I just want to caution the honourable First Minister, in fact, all members of the House, the choice of words that is being used here is starting to degrade a little bit, and I don't want the debate here to go into a personal nature. So I'm asking all honourable members, please pick and choose your words very carefully so that we can continue in this debate in accordance with our rules that we follow.
Mr. Pallister: I have no small amount of empathy for the Premier's situation. Mr. Speaker, I understand he's deeply frustrated. I understand he's fearful. I do understand that, but that's no excuse for ignoring the reality that he's abusing the office of premier, no excuse whatsoever.
He says he has a diverse caucus. He has a divided caucus, and the two former Health ministers–the member for Southdale (Ms. Selby), the member for Seine River (Ms. Oswald)–increased spending in health care to record levels but did not increase results for Manitobans. They leached resources from other departments. They both saw record increases in waits. For hips, for knees, for specialists, for ER closures, for wait times, for ambulance drop-off times, we rank ninth or 10th across the country now.
And maybe they were part of the polling problem too. Maybe it wasn't just the Premier. What did he really lose when those two former ministers resigned?
I want to ask him again: Was the NDP Cabinet weaker before those members resigned than it is now?
Mr. Selinger: Mr. Speaker, first of all, I appreciate your advice, and I've noted it. Thank you very much.
Over the last several years we have invested $240 million on improving Highway No. 1 from Winnipeg to the border of Saskatchewan, which is why we've been able–with that highway being improved we've been able to increase the speed limit on it and at the same time make it safer. Those are the kinds of investments we're making. They benefit all of those communities along that highway, communities that are in various constituencies. Those constituencies represent the great diversity of all the members of Legislature. There's nothing partisan about that. That is an investment for all Manitobans–an investment for all Manitobans.
And I say again, the Leader of the Opposition and every member of his caucus voted against those amends, Mr. Speaker. They cried for them, they demanded them, but when the rubber hit the road, they voted against them.
We will do what Manitobans asked us to do to build a more prosperous province, a safer province, a province where young people have opportunities and we look after the elderly. We will do that because we're listening to Manitobans while the leader opposite pursues his divide-and-conquer agenda, which is not working.
Mr. Pallister: Well, his own caucus has a divide‑and-conquer agenda, Mr. Speaker, for heaven's sake.
Hundred and ten kilometres an hour so Manitobans can save 60 per cent on PST is hardly something to take credit for, Mr. Speaker. Rebels included two former Finance ministers who helped make sure that happened, and under them, the members for Dauphin and Fort Rouge, spending's up, deficits are up, but the bond rating, now we've got a warning on that. But certainly taxes were hiked and both voted for those things, and now, of course, both blame the Premier for that.
Now, I have to ask the Premier: Shouldn't he rise to his own defence here? Aren't they at least partly to blame for the low polling numbers? What did he really lose when those two Cabinet ministers resigned? Was his Cabinet weaker when they were there, or is it weaker now?
Mr. Selinger: Mr. Speaker, I'm so pleased with this opportunity to put the program for Manitobans in front of the members of this Legislature today.
Mr. Speaker, we have pursued an agenda that allows Manitobans to meet their objectives for a high-quality life in Manitoba. In some communities that means a personal-care home. In other communities that means a new high school. In some communities that means flood protection. In other communities it means job opportunities for young people, whether that's up in the Interlake.
And I haven't even mentioned that we have a commitment in this Throne Speech, a long-term vision to have universally accessible daycare available to every Manitoban. And we have increased the number of spaces available to Manitoba families by 14,000, Mr. Speaker, 14,000 additional spaces more in the last budget, and we will continue to expand the system at a reasonable rate in future budgets. Wages for daycare workers are up 60 per cent, and daycare workers, for the first time in the history of this province, now have a pension plan.
And what do the members opposite do when we put these programs in front of the people of Manitoba? They vote against them every single time, and now we're going to–
Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The honourable First Minister's time has elapsed.
The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question.
Mr. Pallister: Well, after 15 years, the government–15 years in power, the government has a vision for daycare which involves the establishment of a committee to look into it, Mr. Speaker.
The member for Minto (Mr. Swan) blames his leader. He blames his leader. He resigns in a huff. He deserts his post. But he's the minister who failed in his plan to get MPI into the curve-sign and speed‑bump business. He's the minister who encouraged MPI not to release information when they wanted a rate hike, and he's the minister who gave a $50,000 contract to Marilyn McLaren for doing no work.
Now, what did the Premier really lose when that minister resigned? Was his Cabinet weaker before the member for Minto left, or is it weaker now?
Mr. Selinger: Mr. Speaker, I'm so pleased that the member opposite has raised, you know, issue of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation.
This was an organization that candidates in the Conservative Party in the last election said they would seriously consider privatizing, Mr. Speaker. That's what they were musing about on the campaign trail, and the Leader of the Opposition has never denied that that might be one of his objectives. I give him the opportunity today to do that.
Now, Mr. Speaker, because we have strong Crown corporations in Manitoba, the bundle of home heating, the bundle of auto insurance and the bundle of electricity in Manitoba are the lowest in Canada, on average $2,100 lower for a Manitoba family compared to a Canadian average. That adds value to people's lives.
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Those are the kinds of policies we're pursuing. Those are the kinds of policies the members opposite are undermining with their approach to how we develop hydro in the province of Manitoba.
Government Responsibility
Mr. Brian Pallister (Leader of the Official Opposition): Well, Mr. Speaker, we've got a boogeyman premier now. He's trying to frighten everyone with a phony agenda he advances. He doesn't know his own agenda, but he thinks he knows ours.
The thing is, Manitobans don't take his agenda seriously because he had an agenda before the last election which he promptly deserted as soon as he had a chance. He jacked up taxes at the first opportunity, and the member for Minto (Mr. Swan) supported him in that, the former leadership candidate for the NDP, at least for a while. So he's left his post before.
He claimed when he was asked about the $50,000 contract to Marilyn McLaren for doing nothing that he was surprised–he was surprised. Maybe he wasn't in Cabinet that day. Maybe he wasn't paying attention. Maybe the Premier and his replacements won't miss him. What did he really lose? Now, Cabinet solidarity means nothing to the member from Minto. He's revealed Cabinet secrets, and the Premier knows that.
But I have to ask the Premier, because he can't get off the hook for the incompetence of the people he chose and put into Cabinet: Did he approve a $50,000 contract for Marilyn McLaren for doing nothing? Was he at least partly responsible for the decision?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Mr. Speaker, the former CEO for Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation paid all the money back, and I'm very pleased that she did that because that shows she understood that it's important to have public confidence in auto insurance in Manitoba.
And what is the–one of the most popular programs right now being offered by MPI? Low-cost loans on being able to put winter tires on your vehicle, one of the best initiatives we've seen. It's a great example of how a Crown corporation can serve the public. Winter tires keep drivers safer. Safer drivers mean less accidents. Less accidents mean less financial pressure on the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation which help keep rates down.
It's a win for everybody: safer Manitobans driving more safely on better roads keeping auto insurance rates low. That's what we expect from our Crown corporation. That's what we're getting. That's what the members opposite oppose and want to do something otherwise with. We will stop them from doing that as we build a better, more affordable, safer Manitoba.
NDP Election Campaign
Mr. Brian Pallister (Leader of the Official Opposition): Well, he'll have to start by building a safer caucus environment. This government–it's a government that needs snow tires on it. It's a dangerous and–dangerous place to be right now for the Premier and others.
Now, the member for Seine River (Ms. Oswald) expressed some rather ironic concerns this week. She said she was concerned about a level playing field and she was concerned about fair rules.
But this is the MLA who rushed, just prior to the last election, to break every rule in the book when it came to an air ambulance contract that's costing Manitobans five times as much as Saskatchewan and, according to the Auditor General, broke the rules. According to the elections commissioner, she then went and broke the rules during the election as well.
So this member broke the rules prior to the election, broke the rules during the election, didn't seem to care about a level playing field at all, but now, wow, she really cares about a level playing field.
Now, I have to ask the Premier: Since he wants to occupy the office of premier while campaigning for the leadership, which is unheard of, does the Premier believe in level playing fields any more than the member for Seine River does?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Mr. Speaker, when we put a Throne Speech in front of the people of Manitoba, we put it in front of all the people of Manitoba and we put forward proposals that will benefit all the people of Manitoba, which is why I'll be in Morris, Manitoba, this afternoon to announce major investments in Highway 75. I know the member is worried that it might be a swing seat, I understand that, but we will be down there to make that investment in an area that has never held–that has never been a seat for this side of the House, but it's an important part of Manitoba because it's the main artery for moving $19 billion of goods into our major export marketplace.
We are investing in that for the benefit of all people of Manitoba, and when we do that we create in Manitoba economic opportunities for all Manitobans. We put all Manitobans on the level playing field of growing economic prosperity.
I only hope the members opposite will have the courage to vote for the Throne Speech and to support that initiative, because it will make a difference for all Manitobans.
Mr. Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question.
Mr. Pallister: Well, every candidate for the government party lied to the people of Manitoba at their doors during the last election campaign to get a mandate and then they followed it up by breaking their promise to those people, and then they lied in respect of taking away the right of all Manitobans to vote which was given to them under legislation which the government itself brought in. They broke their own laws to deprive Manitobans not only of a legitimate sense that they were being honoured when they voted but to deprive them of the right to vote.
We will present a non-confidence motion and we will use the very words of the members, the dissenters, the former members of the NDP Cabinet in the preamble because we, like they, understand the pure selfishness of this Premier and the pure selfishness of this government's agenda.
Now, the dissidents claim that they are now going to vote to keep him in, but I would suggest to him that the question he should ask himself is for how long.
And I'll ask the Premier: Is he watching his back?
Mr. Selinger: Mr. Speaker, you know, this Throne Speech takes the back of all Manitobans by investing in education. That's what it does.
This Throne Speech invests in what Manitobans have told us through our consultations: good quality infrastructure to protect communities from floods, good quality infrastructure which will grow the economy, municipal infrastructure which will make for a higher quality of life in the neighbourhoods. That's what we're doing.
This Throne Speech addresses better services in the health-care system, Mr. Speaker, whether it's QuickCare clinics or ACCESS centres or–the member may have overlooked this–we have now delivered on our commitment to have 200 more doctors in Manitoba that we made in the last election. We have actually exceeded that commitment with 210 doctors. Those doctors are living in all parts of Manitoba. They are serving all the people of Manitoba and they're part of our long‑term commitment to have a primary health-care physician as part of a team available to all Manitobans, and they will be able to get access to a doctor within 30 days with our system that we have set up.
We've got the back of Manitobans. The member opposite wants to deal in pettiness. We're dealing with the priorities of the people of Manitoba.
Mr. Speaker: The First Minister's time has elapsed.
Government Responsibility
Mr. Brian Pallister (Leader of the Official Opposition): I understand the Premier's frustration, I really do.
Now, the dissidents–oh, the Premier referred to consulting with Manitobans, Mr. Speaker, but rather than consulting, he insulted Manitobans. In fact, last year he claimed and his Finance minister claimed that they have consulted with Manitobans and Manitobans wanted a higher PST, and I don't think Manitobans believe them. I don't think they believed them then. I don't think they believe them now, and I know that his former front-bench members don't believe a word he says.
So, Mr. Speaker, the dissident members–the dissident members–refuse to accept responsibility for the PST and they blame the Premier loudly for the decision. The loyalists alongside him for now and the ones behind him refuse to accept the responsibility for hiking the PST, and they blame the Premier too, but they do it more quietly, and all of them–all of them–voted to raise the PST and all of them said they would not, and all of them share the responsibility.
I ask the Premier today: Will he take the responsibility he should take for all NDP MLAs, regardless of the colour of their flowers, Mr. Speaker, for hiking the PST?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Mr. Speaker, we clearly made some difficult decisions as a government, and we take responsibility for those decisions, and I take responsibility for those decisions, and we ensure that we are accountable for how we use those resources, and we brought forward last year an accountability document that said we would spend every dollar raised by the PST, every cent on the dollar, and we would put it into their priorities of key infrastructure, and we have fulfilled that.
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In the first year, Mr. Speaker, we created 8,100 jobs and we lifted the economy by $1.1 billion, and we said if there are any resources that, for whatever reason, were not expended in that year they would be rolled over to future years and we would then use it to ramp up further infrastructure expenditure, and that's exactly what we're doing.
So the Throne Speech showed another step along that path of building a better Manitoba. The 7,500‑cubic-feet-a-second outlet–
Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The honourable First Minister's time has elapsed.
Election Request
Mr. Brian Pallister (Leader of the Official Opposition): Well, all the NDP MLAs, not just some but all, were wrong when they promised not to raise the PST and then did, and then they were wrong again, Mr. Speaker, when three dozen people in this province, three dozen NDP members, took away the rights of a million Manitobans to vote on it. They were wrong again on that.
Now, all of those wrongs do not give the NDP the right to selfishly claim that they alone should be able to decide who is the next premier of Manitoba.
Will the Premier do the right thing? Will he demonstrate in deeds rather than in words that he respects Manitobans? Will he give Manitobans the right to choose the next premier of Manitoba? Will he call an election?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Mr. Speaker, we will fulfill our obligations to the people of Manitoba by providing the government that they have asked us to focus on their priorities, which is why you saw in the Throne Speech a commitment to better health care; which is why you saw in the Throne Speech the commitment to better opportunities for young people to get an education in high school, college, university and apprenticeships; which is why you saw in the Throne Speech next steps on investing in infrastructure; and which is why you saw in the Throne Speech specific initiatives to protect consumers, to keep the cost of living in Manitoba low, and we will do that with home renovations. We will do that with veterinarian services. We will do that with our bundle of services, and all of those things are intended to show Manitobans that we take their priorities seriously, that we listen to them.
And I only suggest to the members opposite, if they like those ideas, that they do the right thing and vote for the Throne Speech.
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Order, please. Order, please. Order, please.
Well, time for oral questions has elapsed.
By agreement, to–we afford the independent member the opportunity to ask one question and two supplementaries. So I'm going to recognize the honourable member for River Heights.
Access to Services
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, access to high-quality health care and good social well-being are very important to Manitobans, and yet the Broadbent Institute found that under today's NDP government Manitobans suffer from the lowest social well-being of any province. Most concerning is that Manitoba fared worst in the area of mental health.
Can the Premier explain why Manitoba has the poorest rating on mental health of any province? Why has he not supported better access to psychologists to address mental health issues? And why did the Premier continue in yesterday's Throne Speech in a direction which has already failed?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): We have the emergency centre available for people with mental health challenges at the Health Sciences Centre, first of its kind in Canada. I was very pleased to be there for its official opening. What I saw there were health professionals that work in the community on mental health issues with people that work in the hospitals forming teams, having a system that makes available care to people around the clock, Mr. Speaker, with specialized knowledge and skills, something not seen anywhere else in the country. That is a very significant advance forward.
We have early childhood development investments in Manitoba, and what we're seeing in those early childhood development investments is the research is showing that the mental health of young people that benefit from those programs carries with them throughout their entire lives, Mr. Speaker, whether it's elementary, junior high, high school and into their careers as adults. The investments we make in early childhood development have significant long-term mental health benefits.
In our smaller class size initiative in elementary schools, we've introduced a teaching methodology that we call PAX, P-A-X, and the results of that are very, very impressive, Mr. Speaker. Students are doing better. They feel better about themselves. They're resolving conflict in a more constructive–
Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The honourable First Minister's time has elapsed.
Mr. Gerrard: Mr. Speaker, surely the goal should be to address the mental health needs before people end up in crisis and have to go to emergency room.
Mr. Speaker, with the number of psychologists available per capita in Manitoba trailing far behind every other province, it's no wonder that Manitobans have greater anxiety and depression and a poor sense of social well-being. Psychological health is a critical factor in overall health, yet this NDP government refuses to acknowledge the fact by ignoring the need for better access to appropriate psychological services for all Manitobans, as the government did in yesterday's Throne Speech.
I ask the Premier: Can he tell Manitobans why he thinks people in our province should continue to suffer until they end up in crisis in our mismanaged emergency rooms?
Mr. Selinger: By the measure of one of the think tanks in the country, Manitoba has the shortest wait times in the country for psychiatrists, and that is very significant.
We also have the program for assertive community treatment, what we call the PACT teams, and they are out in the communities working very closely with people to allow them to do well in the community.
I was very pleased, Mr. Speaker, when Prince Charles arrived in Manitoba this spring that we were able to visit the Sara Riel housing project in the community of St. Boniface, an integrated housing project with people from the community living side by side with other people with mental health challenges in an environment where people were integrated. There was a high degree of dignity and acceptance of all the people there, a program started by a famous Grey Nun–not so famous, but maybe should be more famous–a woman named Sister Ell, and that program showed that we were investing in housing to stabilize the lives of people with mental health issues.
We're making other investments in housing projects all around Manitoba where people with mental health issues can have a housing-first approach where they stabilize their lives with safe housing. They get wraparound services which allows them to get a better sense of themselves, a better sense of functioning in the community, and those programs are making a real difference and I commend them–
Mr. Speaker: Order, please.
Closures
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, the Premier says that the wait times in emergency rooms are short, but we heard a report not long ago that Grace Hospital and other hospitals had some of the longest wait times in all of Canada. Which planet is the Premier on?
With this government it is not just long wait times, however. In too many instances the emergency rooms are not even open to help people.
I table a list of 750 days in 23 different hospitals in our province when emergency rooms were closed and inaccessible to Manitobans in need during the last four years.
Why is this government so consumed with internal bickering and internal conflict that it can't even keep our emergency rooms open, and why did yesterday's Throne Speech completely fail to adequately address this critical issue?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Yesterday's Throne Speech actually made very significant investments in health care, very significant investments including more physicians, including more nurses, including QuickCare clinics and ACCESS clinics, including mental health services in the community, Mr. Speaker, all of which are at risk, and if the members of the opposition get into power, because of their commitment to two-tier health care–and the member opposite knows. The member opposite knows very well that when he was in office there was a 39 per cent reduction in transfer payments for health care, social services and community-based programs in the province of Manitoba as well as across the country.
So, Mr. Speaker, I only say to the member opposite, if he cares about mental health services, vote for the Throne Speech and then he will be on the right path to better health care in Manitoba.
Mr. Speaker: Time for oral questions has expired.
Mr. Speaker: We have now time for member statements.
Ukrainian Election
Mr. Ron Schuler (St. Paul): Mr. Speaker, the past few weeks I've been in Ukraine as an election observer for their parliamentary elections. As you may know, in May of this year I monitored the Ukrainian presidential election; this trip followed up on that work and I was one of 190 observers Canada sent to observe the election held on October 26th. We were responsible for observing the election process and to report any inappropriate behaviour such as threatening or blocking someone from entering a polling station, for example.
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It was an absolute honour to represent Canada and the ideals we stand for, such as democracy, freedom and the rule of law. We're extremely fortunate to live in a country where these principles are well established, but it also means we must always stand up for them. Democracy is not something that gets built overnight. It is a long and arduous process.
One only has to look at the violent and anti‑democratic acts that occurred prior to the Ukrainian elections. These acts are unfortunate but still ongoing in some parts of the country. Voters in the Russian-annexed Crimea peninsula were unable to vote. This left 27 of the 450 seats in parliament unfilled. Opora, a Ukrainian non-governmental organization, estimated that 4.6 million people were unable to vote in the recent election. This election was an important step, but we must remember that more steps must be taken in the future.
This is also the Holodomor Awareness Week, which MLA Len Derkach was instrumental in passing a resolution on–the Holodomor, which saw the loss of 10 million people due to famine, created by Joseph Stalin's Communists.
On September 21st, 2014, I was in attendance at the unveiling of the Holodomor monument called Bitter Memories of Childhood here on the Legislative grounds. I am proud that this Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution strongly condemning any violent and anti-democratic acts which occur in or against the Ukraine. We must continue taking a stand against those who oppose democracy and freedom and continue supporting those who are working to ensure democracy and freedom's survival.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Assiniboine River Flood–Volunteer Recognition (Brandon)
Hon. Drew Caldwell (Minister of Municipal Government): The Assiniboine River flood of this past summer was amongst the greatest in provincial history, and is fitting that our government's first statement of this session of the Manitoba Legislature reflect upon that event.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the commitment of the many flood-fighting heroes, volunteers, members of the Canadian military, municipal and provincial staff and the citizens of Brandon and surrounding area who were affected during this year's Assiniboine River flooding. Together, we have faced two historic floods in western Manitoba during recent years. Once again, in 2014 the City of Brandon had to declare a state of local emergency due to flooding. Our government recognizes the difficult situation for those who live in western Manitoba and for those evacuated from their homes. Immediately, after this year's flood, the Province helped individuals, farms, small businesses, non-profit–
Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Order, please.
Mr. Speaker: The honourable member for River East, on a point of order.
Mrs. Bonnie Mitchelson (River East): Mr. Speaker, and on a point of order, I'd just like some clarification. My understanding is that private members' statements are not about what government has or hasn't done, and I would believe that the member for Brandon East (Mr. Caldwell) is crossing the line in his private member's statement. And I'd like you to take that under advisement, because he's mentioned what the government has done a couple of times, and I think that's inappropriate.
Mr. Speaker: The honourable Government House Leader, on the same point of order.
Hon. Steve Ashton (Government House Leader): Mr. Speaker, I would submit that the comments were entirely in order. We no longer have non-political members' statements. There's a broad range of issues are raised, some constituency-based, some deal with the broader situation in terms of politics in the province, some about international issues, so I would submit to the honourable member opposite that this is consistent with the rules.
And, quite frankly, Mr. Speaker, we should allow the member to put this on the record. I think the member has indicated very clearly how important this is, and that's why we have private members' hour, so if–private members' business–so members–in fact, government members, generally opposition members, can put on the record important developments in their constituency and in the province. So it's entirely in order.
Mr. Speaker: I thank the honourable members for their advice on the point of order raised by honourable member for River East, and I'm going to refresh my own memory and perhaps the memories of some members of the House to rule 26(2): A minister of the Crown may not use the time allotted for members' statements to comment on government policy or ministerial or departmental action.
And, while I listen to the advice of honourable members of the House, I'm going to caution the honourable member from River East that when he's making his comments–
An Honourable Member: No, Brandon East.
Mr. Speaker: Or Brandon–pardon me–the honourable member for Brandon East, that he confine his comments perhaps to areas that will make sure that we follow the rules that I've just mentioned. So I'm asking for the co-operation of the honourable member from River East in doing that–[interjection]–Brandon East.
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Mr. Caldwell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's–this is indeed the intent of the statement, is to thank the volunteers, the many volunteers throughout western Manitoba that worked so hard to ensure that communities were safe throughout that region of the province during the Assiniboine River floods of this past year.
I'm not sure where I was cut off, Mr. Speaker, my remarks, but I will pick up and hope that I pick up at a spot that's reflected in the Hansard so that there's consistency from the beginning of my statements before I was interrupted.
Mr. Speaker, the most important response to flooding is that of the volunteers. Volunteers provide tremendous on-the-ground assistance as they quickly spring into action to build emergency dikes or sandbag businesses, homes and community assets. A huge thank you is also due to the businesses who allowed their employees to take time off to help with the flood-response effort in communities throughout western Manitoba. Church groups, community organizations and many families also took time out of their daily lives to help protect our homes. Volunteers eased the stress during the difficult times of flooding, so thank you to every volunteer who made living through the 2014 flood manageable. The community of western Manitoba owes a great deal to these caring individuals.
Mr. Speaker, just as our government is dedicated to supporting Manitobans, so are volunteers. This summer every person who filled sandbags, cooked meals for volunteers and opened their homes to evacuees became a hero to Manitoba. Thank you.
Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame: Bob McNabb
Mrs. Leanne Rowat (Riding Mountain): Mr. Speaker, this past July, five individuals from all around the province were inducted into the Manitoba agriculture hall of fame, including Bob McNabb of Minnedosa. The inductees were nominated and evaluated on criteria that included local, provincial, national and international impact, service to agriculture and home life, lasting influence and innovative contributions.
As the MLA for Riding Mountain, I would like to recognize the contributions of Bob McNabb to agriculture. Bob was born and raised at a–on a farm in Minnedosa. He attended the University of Manitoba where he obtained a degree in agriculture, majoring in animal science. While at university, Bob took flying lessons and obtained his commercial flying licence. Following graduation, he spent eight years in northern Saskatchewan where he was the operations manager and chief pilot for an aviation company.
In 1976, Bob and his wife, Elaine, and young daughter, Dana, moved to Minnedosa to begin farming. Three more children followed–Lorrine, Robert and Michael. The couple operated a 1,000‑acre farm and was committed to conservation farming techniques for 36 years.
Bob was one of the first Manitoba farmers to adopt zero tillage in 1978. He was one of the founding members of the North Dakota Zero Tillage Farmers Association, a farm-based–focused, information-sharing organization supported by researchers and conservation districts.
He also spent time in Zimbabwe co-ordinating a CIDA-funded agriculture project, and also helped write manuals about zero tillage practices and conservation farming.
Bob continues to own and operate Minnagro Ltd., a small feed and farm supply business in Manitoba, which was recognized by the Minnedosa Chamber of Commerce for its–for his great business sense and involvement in the community.
Along with all of these responsibilities, Bob has continued to fly northern-based aircrafts, training and mentoring younger pilots throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
He is actively involved with the Minnedosa Kinsmen Club, Minnedosa Credit Union, 4-H, the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Bob McNabb is a very deserving–is very deserving of this recognition as he has given through a variety–has been received–or he has been given recognition through a variety of awards over the years. So today I'd like to congratulate him and thank him on behalf of all of the members of the Manitoba Legislature for the fine work he's done in agriculture. Thank you.
North East Historical Society
Hon. Erna Braun (Minister of Labour and Immigration): Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize the North East Winnipeg Historical Society. This group, led by historian Jim Smith, is dedicated to preserving and recording the histories of East Kildonan, North Kildonan and Elmwood for present and future generations.
The North East Winnipeg Historical Society does a wonderful job of engaging people in their history. They have done this with historical walking tours and free lectures with guest speakers. For Remembrance Day they compiled a roll call list of over 2,000 World War II soldiers who lived in East Kildonan, North Kildonan and Elmwood.
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One of the group's most important missions is to preserve the Henderson House. This house is North Kildonan's oldest surviving building and was built in the 1850s. It is a fabulous example of Red River frame construction. Red River homes were handcrafted in such a way that they could be deconstructed, moved and then rebuilt in another location.
The Henderson family has played an important role in Kildonan's rich history. The home originally belonged to Samuel Robert Henderson, his wife, Flora, and 10 children. Henderson family members went on to become an incredibly influential family in the late 1800s, serving as reeves, school trustees and town councillors. Nowadays, Henderson Highway and John Henderson Junior High School are just a few of the many landmarks that have been named for the members of the Henderson clan.
In 1979, the Henderson House was relocated from 2112 Henderson Highway to St. Norbert, where it's still located today. The North East Winnipeg Historical Society has worked tirelessly to restore and preserve the Henderson House. Those interested in supporting their cause can visit their Facebook page for more information.
Thank you to the North East Winnipeg Historical Society playing an important role in preserving our history.
Thank you.
Family Doctor Week
Mrs. Bonnie Mitchelson (River East): Good health and good health care contribute to an active and productive society. It is my pleasure today to recognize the positive contributions family physicians in Manitoba make every day to the lives of Manitobans.
This year the 10th anniversary of Family Doctor Week in Canada took place last week from November the 10th to the 15th.
Family physicians diagnose and treat both illness and injury. In many communities they provide care for patients not just in their offices, but in hospitals, emergency rooms and other community facilities. Sometimes that care even extends to patients' own homes.
Many family doctors are also involved in teaching students and residents and contributing research that furthers the practice of family medicine. Some work long nights in emergency rooms or on call. They must balance taking care of you and your family while finding quality time to spend with their own families.
Statistics Canada data and surveys have shown that there are 70,000 to 75,000 Manitobans who are looking for a family doctor. This problem is especially pronounced in rural areas where entire communities may not have access to a family physician.
It is my pleasure to inform the House that Dr. Sheldon Permack has been named the 2014 Manitoba Family Physician of the Year by the Manitoba College of Family Physicians. I am also pleased to announce that the centre de St. Boniface is the inaugural recipient of the Gary Beazley Patient's Medical Home award. Doctors Shelly Pidsadny and Bruce Martin also received Awards of Excellence from the Manitoba College of Family Physicians.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of the House to join me in thanking our family doctors for the valuable contribution they make to the health and well-being of all Manitobans and congratulate their organization on celebrating the 10th anniversary of Family Doctor Week in Canada.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker: I believe that concludes members' statements.
We'll move on to orders of the day, government business.
Hon. Ron Lemieux (Minister of Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection): I realize maybe this is a little unusual, but I ask for leave to give a member's statement. Guests have been invited to the gallery today to come, and I'm sorry for the confusion that this may have caused. And they've been invited from outside of Winnipeg to come here, and I do apologize for that. It is obviously my error that these people were invited, so I'm asking for leave if I could have a member's statement.
Mr. Speaker: Is there leave for the honourable Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture to have an additional member's statement during this sitting? [Agreed]
Heatherdale Farms
Mr. Lemieux: Well, first of all, let me thank the opposition for that. I really do sincerely thank them.
Mr. Speaker, I'm honoured to welcome the Heather family to the Legislature today to celebrate an incredible achievement of theirs. This week I was privileged to award the Heathers' farm, Heatherdale Farms, the heritage farm award. Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development provides heritage farm recognition to farms where a family has owned and operated the same parcel of land continuously over the course of 125 years or more.
Farms like Heatherdale have played a vital role in shaping rural life in this province over the years, and it's important to commemorate these crucial pieces of our history, our heritage.
The Heather family purchased 240 acres just outside the town of Lorette in 1889 for $800, and it has remained with the family since. It is currently a four-generation farm. Today the Heatherdale farm encompasses more than 640 acres in the RMs of Taché and Springfield.
Bill Heather grew up on the family farm, attended Heatherdale school, later graduated from Lorette Collegiate. After high school Bill went on to teachers' college and had a successful career in the Transcona-Springfield School Division as a teacher and administrator. In 1978, Bill and his wife, Diane, took over running the farm with help of his mother, Rhoda, and the Peril family. Bill and Diane still reside on the original farmstead. Today Bill serves as councillor for Ward 5 in Taché and Diane is writing a book about the history of the local community of Prairie Grove.
Individuals like Bill and Heather–Bill and Diane Heather, sorry, who give back to their community make our province a great place to call home.
I'd like to thank the entire Heather family for their work in the Taché area over the years and congratulate them on 125 years of Heatherdale Farms. Thank you. Merci.
Mr. Speaker: Now, reverting back to orders of the day and government business.
(First Day of Debate)
Mr. Rob Altemeyer (Wolseley): I move, seconded by the honourable member for Tyndall Park (Mr. Marcelino), that the following address be presented to His Honour the Lieutenant Governor: We, the members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, thank Your Honour for the gracious speech addressed to us this Fourth Session of the 40th Legislature of Manitoba.
Mr. Speaker: The honourable member for Wolseley referenced a seconder. It needs–[interjection] I may have misheard the honourable member for Wolseley and perhaps he could read the motion back for my purpose, please. Thank you.
Mr. Altemeyer: Take 2.
I–seconded–I move, seconded by the honourable member for Tyndall Park (Mr. Marcelino), that the following address be presented to His Honour the Lieutenant Governor: We, the members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, thank Your Honour for the gracious speech addressed to us this Fourth Session of the 40th Legislature of Manitoba.
It sounded better the second time.
Motion presented.
Mr. Altemeyer: Before I begin the content of my speech, I want to welcome all of my MLA colleagues back to this historic Chamber. My thanks, as well, extended to the table officers and the Clerks, to all of the new pages in the room. Congratulations on your new positions here. We will endeavour to show you a very good time, hopefully, not overly exciting, same also to all of the interns who are hard at work and have been for some number of months already in our respective caucuses.
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On a more sombre note, but no less significant, Mr. Speaker, I also want to pay special thanks to the security guards who work here at the Manitoba Legislature in light of the tragedy that happened in Ottawa and the absolutely essential and remarkable role that security personnel played in minimizing that tragedy. It brought into sharp relief the fact that they are people who are our friends. We know many of them by first name, but they are literally putting their lives on the line to enable us to do the work of the people of Manitoba, and I want to thank them very much for their professionalism and their service.
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to officially move the 2014 Throne Speech of our government. In my 11 years as an MLA, this is the first time I have been afforded this opportunity, but building as it does on the remarkable track record of our government, this Throne Speech is easily the one I would have chosen to attach my name to in this manner. Quite simply, I believe this to be the most progressive and also the most aggressive Throne Speech our government has yet delivered.
The theme for my reply to the Throne Speech is what we stand for and why it matters. Far too often in public discourse, whether it be in stories from corporate media outlets or on social media sites, we hear that it just doesn't matter which political party is in office because they're all the same. We also hear that there's no point in ever going to government to change things for the better because nothing changes ever, especially in government.
What utter nonsense. Using recent examples right here in Manitoba, right from this very Throne Speech, I and anyone else with at least two brain cells to rub together can easily blow both of these dangerous misperceptions right out of the water. What our government has set out to accomplish and what our New Democratic Party stands for is radically different and, I would argue, vastly superior to the selfish and narrow-minded objectives of our Conservative opponents.
Let's start with health care. We in the NDP are the proud founders of Canada's treasured medicare system. Fifty-two years ago, in 1962, the Saskatchewan NDP government, under the leadership of Tommy Douglas, introduced the first public health-care program in our country. Such was born the beautiful concept that it should not matter where a person lives, nor what the nature of their health challenge might be or the amount of money in their pocket, that person, by right of being in Canada, should receive the best medical care possible, free of charge. This then-radical concept is now taken for granted today. We need look no further for proof that our government's efforts to support and defend medicare are working than in my own Wolseley constituency, where the massive rehabilitation and expansion of the Misericordia Health Centre is nearly complete, or we can look to our Throne Speech commitment yesterday to redevelop the Grace Hospital, including a new emergency room.
The sad truth of the matter, however, is that medicare is under attack and has been by conservative forces throughout its history. And let us not forget that it was also a Liberal government under the leadership of someone named Trudeau in 1977 who first broke the original 50-50 per cent cost‑sharing agreement for medicare between federal and provincial governments. We should not–we should also not overlook the role that successive Conservative and Liberal and Conservative and Liberal and Conservative governments in Ottawa have actively played since then in reducing the federal share of medicare costs to well below 20 per cent that it is today.
The current Conservative government of Stephen Harper, in all their ideological zealotry, have promised to cut annual health funding to the provinces by billions more dollars should they tragically win the upcoming federal election, effectively starving medicare of the resources it needs and deserves to have to function. For anyone who mistakenly believes these direct assaults upon medicare don't matter, we need look only south of the border to the insanity of the American health‑care system to see what awaits us should medicare fall.
The very recent and tragic story of one Jennifer Huculak-Kimmel serves as a serious wake-up call for the complacent. Her only crime was to go on vacation in Hawaii while pregnant, only to end up giving birth there when her baby arrived two months early. This story just broke last week, Mr. Speaker, but a dispute over health insurance has left her and her family with a $950,000 medical bill courtesy of the US health system. Who on earth would believe the disastrous situation like this to be fair or appropriate or even moral, given these circumstances? I present to you none other than the Leader of the Manitoba Conservative Party who believes precisely that. On May 28th last year on CJOB radio, he called for nothing less than American-style, private, two-tiered health program would be, quote, a delivery system that we need and a better way to do things.
Under Conservative rule, Mr. Speaker, a medical bill of $950,000 to save the life of a baby will no longer be outrageous; it will be standard operating procedure, applied to all of us and to all of our loved ones. That is a stark contrast, and on this issue I know what I and my party and my NDP government stands for–the defence and ongoing enhancement of Medicare, that treasured birthright of all Canadians for all Canadians.
The historic role of New Democrats as the founders of Medicare is well known, of course, but our ambition to build a better future through universal programs does not stop there, Mr. Speaker. Just yesterday in this very Throne Speech that I am applauding today, we stated our commitment to build the first universally accessible child-care program in the history of Manitoba and the only such system in Canada outside of Quebec.
Most Manitobans are probably unaware that we would likely already have a universal child-care program in place were it not for the Harper Conservative government's decision to terminate the funding agreement the Manitoba NDP member for Riel (Ms. Melnick) had, in fact, played a key role in negotiating. The tragedy of this horrible decision is compounded by modern evidence from staff in our own Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet and from research around the world, demonstrating beyond a shadow of a doubt that the first five years of a child's life are crucially important to that child's eventual success in life. Effective support for families at the prenatal, postnatal and early-year stages of their child's life isn't just necessary so parents can obtain a return to full employment. This is one of many factors upon which hangs the very success of our present and future society.
Our Premier (Mr. Selinger) first announced this historic vision for universally accessible child care in Manitoba last week when he proudly shared the stage of a national child-care conference held right here in Winnipeg with our federal NDP leader, Mr. Tom Mulcair, and other staunch proponents of child care. The news from Manitoba's Premier was greeted with nothing less than a standing ovation from the hundreds of people in attendance, yet hardly a single media outlet spoke of it.
So here we are, yet again, being accountable, and in our Throne Speech stating quite clearly and with full determination that we will add to the 14,000 newly funded spaces, that we will add to the over 100 new centres already in place, that we will add to the 60 per cent increase in child-care worker wages and the creation of the only pension plan for such workers outside of Quebec in Canada by bringing the enormous benefits of child care to all who need and want it in our province.
Our Conservative opponents have voted against every single budget and every single child-care initiative that we have fought for. So again the contrast and the relevance is crystal clear; child care is what we stand for.
Mr. Speaker, no discussion of social justice can be complete without including the fundamental importance of environmental issues, which was actually my professional background prior to joining the Manitoba Assembly. I accept as simple truth the notion that absent a healthy and functioning planet, any modern economy is quite simply living on time borrowed from future generations.
Climate change is probably the most insidious current example from a depressingly long list of global environmental challenges now under way, and here again the contrast between Conservative and New Democratic political thought is striking. Put simply, the Conservatives in power in Ottawa at the moment and the Conservatives in opposition here would prefer to not think about climate change at all. Our nation's proud international reputation has been quite literally trashed by the Harper Conservatives' repeated efforts to block global treaties that would reduce emissions, and Stephen Harper has a large collection of fossil-of-the-year awards in his closet to show for it.
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Always keen to follow their federal masters, Manitoba's Conservatives are now actively trying to kill green energy projects that will reduce carbon emissions in our own province and beyond by many megatonnes every year, put thousands of Manitobans to work and earn billions of dollars in revenue for both Manitoba Hydro and their First Nations partners. If that sounds confusing, Mr. Speaker, it gets worse. Neither the federal nor the provincial Conservatives have, to my knowledge, ever even accepted the massive scientific evidence that climate change is happening, that humans are a driving part of it, and many of them have instead openly questioned that human activity plays a role at all, this despite the dramatic and extreme weather events, including multiple floods that have repeatedly hit our own province in historic proportions in recent years, to say nothing of the climatic change that is clearly under way in our province already, especially in Manitoba's North.
We in the NDP do not only wholeheartedly accept the science of climate change; our actions to date have reduced Manitoba's emissions below what they were when we first came to office over a decade ago, despite enormous growth in both our population and the size of our economy.
Our Throne Speech commits us to further action, most notably the creation of a new energy and water efficiency organization separate from Manitoba Hydro that will provide even more opportunities for Manitoba families, farms and businesses to save money and help save the planet at the same time.
While the current leader of the Manitoba Conservatives was a Cabinet minister in the previous government that saw climate emissions increase an average of 100,000 metric tonnes per year, New Democrats stand for the cleaner, greener future that anyone with half a brain knows is not only preferable but also absolutely achievable and fundamentally necessary, Mr. Speaker.
These three examples that I have just provided are but the tip of the iceberg. If time permitted, I could easily offer clear evidence of the contrast in our NDP's active–NDP's government's active support on a huge range of issues, all of them vehemently opposed by the Conservative Party of Manitoba. Topics that readily come to mind include our support for First Nations communities, the Inuit and the Metis, for our treasured seniors, for immigrants, refugees and all Canadians from all over the globe who now reside in Manitoba, for our rural and northern communities, for our farmers, for our success in protecting and cleaning up the environment, such as saving the Experimental Lakes Area from federal closure, reducing the nutrient load on our invaluable lakes through investments in new waste-water treatment plants in dozens of communities, with another 27 such plants announced in the Throne Speech, helping Manitoba families becoming the best recyclers in the country, and the Throne Speech now commits us to bring curbside composting services to Manitobans to help cut our waste totals in half by the year 2020.
Other topics include our efforts to build more low-income housing, more affordable housing, our rent support for low-income people and our new Throne Speech commitment to help improve rooming houses, for consistent increases to the minimum wage that we have made, now the second highest in Canada, for the many successful social enterprises now earning a profit while also accomplishing broader social or environmental goals, for the many neighbourhood renewal corporations actively turning community wish lists into reality across Manitoba, for the multiple food-security programs bringing more nutritious and healthy Manitoba food to our citizens through our schools, child-care centres, market gardens and local restaurants, for our K-to-12 education system and a high school graduation rate that has improved from 71 per cent to 85 per cent since we came to office.
Still more contrasts exist, Mr. Speaker, given the hundreds of millions of dollars invested into the campuses of our colleges and universities, opposed by members opposite, as they have opposed the reduced tuition costs for post-secondary students and will undoubtedly oppose the new Throne Speech pledge to make Manitoba the first province in western Canada to make student loans interest free; for making Manitoba the most affordable place to live in Canada with the average Manitoba family paying $2,100 less than the national average for their home heating, electricity and auto insurance, plus an additional annual savings of $3,800 for the average Manitoba family in tax savings brought in by our government since we came to power; for our low unemployment rate and strong economic performance throughout an era of global significant economic upheaval and risk; for our commitment to infrastructure, including the repair, this year alone, of enough kilometres of road to stretch from Winnipeg to Toronto; for our commitment to flood protection, both by way of a new outlet capable of moving the equivalent of five Olympic-size swimming pools safely every minute and through better use of wetlands as the natural water regulators of the prairie ecosystem.
Mr. Speaker, the contrasts are clear. What we stand for are clear. What they stand for is clear, and I would argue the public's choice is very, very clear.
How have we accomplished all of this and so very, very much more, Mr. Speaker? Quite simply, because we as New Democrats believe–we believe the simple truth that every single child, every single parent, every single grandparent and, indeed, every single person in this fine province deserves to live the best life possible and that a government does not ever have the right to abdicate its responsibilities to its citizens. This is the most fundamental contrast of all. Conservatives only act in their own narrow self‑interest, providing additional advantages to those already possessing enormous advantage. We in the NDP are the only ones with the will and the capacity to truly govern for everyone.
I say with absolute confidence, Mr. Speaker, that while this year's Throne Speech is our best one yet, next year's will be even better. This constant progress toward social justice is what we stand for. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker: Order, please.
Mr. Ted Marcelino (Tyndall Park): I have been practising for this time for the longest time since I was here on October 2011, and I am honoured that I was chosen to second the motion and approve this Speech from the Throne.
Our NDP government is focused on families–that's a key word–creating opportunities–another key word–for our kids here in Manitoba and protecting the services that matter most–another key word. Families are truly at the heart of the decisions and choices we make as MLAs and as a government; the key word there is heart. The NDP government has always been using the heart, not a calculator. For example, we knew how important having a strong home care system would be for families when we were the first province to introduce a universal home care 40 years ago. Last year we announced 5,000 of new child care spaces to be created throughout Manitoba over the next five years, keeping families in mind; that's the key word. Parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles care about the next generation and want to help create opportunities for young people. Those opportunities are so important to help our young people be able to find interesting, fulfilling, in-demand careers right here in our beloved province. I want my own grandchildren to get a good education, to find a good job, and to afford their own home, and not only do I want that for my own family, I want that for all Manitoba families.
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That's why I am very proud to stand up today and vote for this government's Throne Speech and to support the many ways that it will continue to create opportunities for families like mine and for the families of my constituents in Tyndall Park.
In Tyndall Park there are many ways this government has so far supported good jobs and opportunities for families. Every family deserves to have access to safe, affordable, high-quality child care. To give more families access to good daycare, we have invested $240,000 towards the construction of the Busy Bee Day Care Centre that's in the Punjabi Cultural Centre. We have also committed to provide continuing funding for this daycare centre by providing them with just over $290,000 in annual operating grants so that they can continue to provide a space and care for our children.
To make sure that our children are prepared for the future, we have to ensure that every child has access to quality education and training opportunities. Investing in education is our top priority. Quality education helps us build a bright economic future for our province. In my constituency École Stanley Knowles, that name rings a bell, received $78,000 in funding to construct a new, state-of-the-art basketball court for families. We are not only supporting the intellectual development of our youth but also their capacity to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Many youths from the Tyndall constituency attend Sisler High School right on Burrows. Our government has recently committed $300,000 towards renovating their classrooms. See, there's money for classrooms and providing new equipment. This will give students the opportunity to learn about the field of cybersecurity, preparing them for jobs in fields that are dynamic and growing.
When it comes to advanced learning at our colleges and universities, our government is committed to supporting these institutions while keeping them among the most affordable in Canada. In fact, we are set to make Manitoba the first province in western Canada to offer interest-free student loans.
We are helping Red River College meet our economy's labour market demand for skilled trades and technology training. In 2011 we committed $60 million in funding towards finishing their new 100,000-square-foot skilled trades and technology centre. This new facility will increase trades and technology education space at the Notre Dame campus by over 30 per cent.
To ensure that opportunities are extended to all Winnipeggers, we will work with other levels of government and community partners, such as the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development and Urban Circle Training Centre, to expand career planning and skills training for Aboriginal people.
Our investments into education are effective because we are also working to strengthen the communities around our schools by making sure that Manitobans have access to affordable housing options. In 2009 our NDP government committed to supporting 1,500 new affordable housing units and 1,500 new social housing units by the end of 2014. We are also committed to building another 500 affordable and 500 social housing units for families, seniors and vulnerable people in the next three years.
Brooklands is one of the communities in my constituency that is receiving a very important new housing co-operative. In March of this year, the Westlands Non Profit Housing Cooperative opened its doors. With over $5 million in funding from our government, this new complex is now housing 36 new affordable apartments for low-income seniors in the Brooklands community.
In Winnipeg, provincial investments in road and infrastructure have reached historic levels, and we look forward to participating in the mayor's new Build Winnipeg partnership to develop a long-term vision for priority investments, including better streets, rapid transit and an even more vibrant downtown.
Our NDP government has continued to– upgrading the infrastructure of Tyndall Park. I was caught up in traffic 30 minutes, and then I remembered construction, infrastructure by this government, right on King Edward.
We have also asphalted parts of Hekla Avenue and Manley Avenue to make it smoother and safer for drivers. We have approved $24,000 in funding to the Brooklands & Weston Legion Branch No. 2 for renovations of their ladies' room. We have also approved $10,000 in funding to Willow Park East Housing Co-op to replace their old playground with a newly renovated play structure for local families.
By continuing to invest in education, child care and infrastructure, our government is making life better for all Manitobans, not a select few. It's through these commitments that we can ensure Manitoba is strong today and in the future, making this province a great place to live and raise a family.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Kelvin Goertzen (Official Opposition House Leader): Mr. Speaker, on two matters: I'm seeking leave to have the debate stand in the name of the honourable member for Fort Whyte (Mr. Pallister), while I'm also putting forward a motion, seconded by the member for Lakeside (Mr. Eichler), that debate be now adjourned.
Mr. Speaker: Is there leave of the House to allow this matter to stand in the name of the honourable Leader of the Official Opposition (Mr. Pallister), the honourable member for Fort Whyte? [Agreed]
And is it the pleasure of the House to call it–it's been moved by the honourable member for Steinbach (Mr. Goertzen), seconded by the honourable member–Lakeside, that the House do now adjourn–[interjection]–that debate be now adjourned, pardon me. I'm getting ahead of myself here. [Agreed]
Debate is now adjourned, standing in the name of the honourable member for Fort Whyte.
Mr. Goertzen: Is it the will of the House to call it 12:30, Mr. Speaker?
Mr. Speaker: Is it the will of the House to call it 12:30? [Agreed]
Okay, thank you.
The hour being 12:30, this House stands adjourned–is adjourned and stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. on Monday.