Third Session – Forty-Second Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Myrna Driedger Speaker Vol. LXXV No. 30A - 10 a.m., Thursday, March 4, 2021 ISSN 0542-5492 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Forty-Second Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ADAMS, Danielle Thompson NDP ALTOMARE, Nello Transcona NDP ASAGWARA, Uzoma Union Station NDP BRAR, Diljeet Burrows NDP BUSHIE, Ian Keewatinook NDP CLARKE, Eileen, Hon. Agassiz PC COX, Cathy, Hon. Kildonan-River East PC CULLEN, Cliff, Hon. Spruce Woods PC DRIEDGER, Myrna, Hon. Roblin PC EICHLER, Ralph, Hon. Lakeside PC EWASKO, Wayne, Hon. Lac du Bonnet PC FIELDING, Scott, Hon. Kirkfield Park PC FONTAINE, Nahanni St. Johns NDP FRIESEN, Cameron, Hon. Morden-Winkler PC GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GOERTZEN, Kelvin, Hon. Steinbach PC GORDON, Audrey, Hon. Southdale PC GUENTER, Josh Borderland PC GUILLEMARD, Sarah, Hon. Fort Richmond PC HELWER, Reg, Hon. Brandon West PC ISLEIFSON, Len Brandon East PC JOHNSON, Derek, Hon. Interlake-Gimli PC JOHNSTON, Scott Assiniboia PC KINEW, Wab Fort Rouge NDP LAGASSÉ, Bob Dawson Trail PC LAGIMODIERE, Alan Selkirk PC LAMONT, Dougald St. Boniface Lib. LAMOUREUX, Cindy Tyndall Park Lib. LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas-Kameesak NDP LINDSEY, Tom Flin Flon NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Malaya Notre Dame NDP MARTIN, Shannon McPhillips PC MICHALESKI, Brad Dauphin PC MICKLEFIELD, Andrew Rossmere PC MORLEY-LECOMTE, Janice Seine River PC MOSES, Jamie St. Vital NDP NAYLOR, Lisa Wolseley NDP NESBITT, Greg Riding Mountain PC PALLISTER, Brian, Hon. Fort Whyte PC PEDERSEN, Blaine, Hon. Midland PC PIWNIUK, Doyle Turtle Mountain PC REYES, Jon Waverley PC SALA, Adrien St. James NDP SANDHU, Mintu The Maples NDP SCHULER, Ron, Hon. Springfield-Ritchot PC SMITH, Andrew Lagimodière PC SMITH, Bernadette Point Douglas NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Vérendrye PC SQUIRES, Rochelle, Hon. Riel PC STEFANSON, Heather, Hon. Tuxedo PC TEITSMA, James Radisson PC WASYLIW, Mark Fort Garry NDP WHARTON, Jeff, Hon. Red River North PC WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WISHART, Ian Portage la Prairie PC WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC 1349 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, March 4, 2021 The House met at 10 a.m. SECOND READINGS–PUBLIC BILLS Madam Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from Bill 213–The Reporting of Supports for Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled Child Survivors of Sexual Assault Act here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to (Trained Health Professionals and the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, O Evidence Collection Kits) merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only Ms. Amanda Lathlin (The Pas-Kameesak): This that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may bill requires– seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Madam Speaker: Order. Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen. The member needs to make a motion and have a seconder, which I will acknowledge, and then she can Please be seated. Good morning, everybody. speak to the bill. ORDERS OF THE DAY Ms. Lathlin: I move, seconded by the honourable member for Thompson (Ms. Adams), that Bill 213, PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS The Reporting of Supports for Child Survivors of Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (Official Opposition House Sexual Assault Act, now be read for the second time. Leader): Could you call Bill 213 for second reading Madam Speaker: It has been moved by the debate this morning? honourable member for The Pas-Kameesak, seconded by the honourable member for Thompson, that House Business Bill 213, The Reporting of Supports for Child Ms. Fontaine: I'll get all of the House business done. Survivors of Sexual Assault Act (Trained Health Professionals and Evidence Collection Kits), be now Madam Speaker: All right. read a second time and be referred to a committee of this House. Ms. Fontaine: Madam Speaker, pursuant to rule 33(8), I am announcing that the private member's Ms. Lathlin: Madam Speaker, this bill requires the resolution to be considered on the next Thursday of minister to report annually, by health authority, on the private members' business will be one put forward by number of health professionals with special training to the honourable member for The Maples (Mr. Sandhu). examine children who have been sexually assaulted The title of the resolution is Creation of an and on sexual assault evidence kit inventory. Independent Seniors Advocate Office. Sexual assault causes acute physical, psycho- Miigwech. logical and emotional trauma to survivors, particularly to child survivors. This trauma can affect survivors for Madam Speaker: It has been announced that their entire lives, especially if they don't get the help pursuant to rule 33(8), the private member's resolution they need. to be considered on the next Thursday of private We recognize that too many women and girls who members' business will be one put forward by the experience sexual assault or sexual violence are afraid honourable member for The Maples. The title of the to report their experiences or testify in court, resolution is Creation of an Independent Seniors which has led to widespread under-reporting of Advocate Office. sexual assault across Canada. Sexual assault survivors * * * need to be examined by specially trained health professionals and evidence of sexual assault needs to Madam Speaker: So, it has been announced that the be collected and preserved in a manner that furthers House will consider second reading of Bill 213 this the administration of justice. afternoon, The Reporting of Supports for Child Survivors of Sexual Assault Act (Trained Health Although this process is necessary, it could be Professionals and Evidence Collection Kits). traumatic for many victims. We should be working 1350 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 4, 2021 towards making this process as easy as possible. This inequality in access to resources for victims However, many Manitoba communities suffer from a of sexual assault has grave implications on the mental lack of specially trained health professionals and health and emotional health of young victims. sexual assault evidence kits. Madam Speaker, our children deserve better. This This lack of resources affects child survivors, government needs to invest in more resources for who force–who are forced to travel to Winnipeg for underage victims of sexual assault in north–in the the specialized medical attention they require. This North and ensure communities have an adequate drags out the process for victims, making it more supply of trained health professionals and in sexual traumatic for them. Often, victims will have to fly all assault examination kits. the way to Winnipeg without being able to take a Madam Speaker, it is my hope that this bill is shower until a health professional gathers the DNA supported unanimously to support our children and to evidence. finally bring the care and justice that is desperately needed in the North. This is also a very real obstacle to finding perpetrators of sexual assault. It is already hard for Ekosi. many victims to report their assault due to fear and guilt. This lack of resources only makes more youth Questions no longer want to report their sexual assault after Madam Speaker: A question period of up to learning that they must travel all the way to Winnipeg 10 minutes will be held. Questions may be addressed to do so. to the sponsoring member by any member in the following sequence: first question to be asked by a Travel can also be expensive and time- member from another party; this is to be followed by consuming, and children need someone to take them, a rotation between the parties; each independent which can be difficult to organize when parents, member may ask one question. And no question or guardians have to work or–unable to travel and answer shall exceed 45 seconds. can't afford it. The purpose of this bill is to help children and young people in northern and isolated Are there any questions? communities access crucial health care when they * (10:10) have been sexually assaulted. Ms. Lisa Naylor (Wolseley): I want to ask the Madam Speaker, Bill 213 will help protect member for The Pas-Kameesak, what led you to bring and seek justice for all victims of sexual assault this bill forward? in northern Manitoba. Currently, in northern communities like my community of The Pas, only Ms. Amanda Lathlin (The Pas-Kameesak): Thank adults have access to be examined by a nurse when you for that question. sexually assaulted. What led me to bring this bill forward: that I had a very, very personal connection into this incident, If a minor, a child reports a sexual assault, and as a mother, as an Indigenous woman, this was they're flown to the Health Sciences Centre in bought to my attention, and I thought what better way Winnipeg, where they are seen and where they're as a legislator to bring this matter forward, especially properly examined by a nurse practitioner who is as a mother. And that is why I think it's a true honour trained to do so. Health professionals use sexual to provide and fight for better protection for our assault examination kits to gather DNA evidence, children by pursuing this bill. which can later be used by police to charge the predators of sexual assault. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Dawson Trail. Madam Speaker, our children have to leave their homes and communities, without being able to take a The honourable member for Dawson Trail would shower, to be examined in Winnipeg. They are forced need to unmute. to leave their communities, after traumatic events Mr.