Legislative Assembly of Alberta the 29Th Legislature Fourth Session Standing Committee on Families and Communities
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Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 29th Legislature Fourth Session Standing Committee on Families and Communities Ministry of Community and Social Services Consideration of Main Estimates Monday, April 16, 2018 7 p.m. Transcript No. 29-4-7 Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 29th Legislature Fourth Session Standing Committee on Families and Communities Goehring, Nicole, Edmonton-Castle Downs (NDP), Chair Smith, Mark W., Drayton Valley-Devon (UCP), Deputy Chair Drever, Deborah, Calgary-Bow (NDP) Ellis, Mike, Calgary-West (UCP) Hinkley, Bruce, Wetaskiwin-Camrose (NDP) Horne, Trevor A.R., Spruce Grove-St. Albert (NDP) Luff, Robyn, Calgary-East (NDP) McKitrick, Annie, Sherwood Park (NDP) McPherson, Karen M., Calgary-Mackay-Nose Hill (AP) Miller, Barb, Red Deer-South (NDP) Orr, Ronald, Lacombe-Ponoka (UCP) Renaud, Marie F., St. Albert (NDP) Shepherd, David, Edmonton-Centre (NDP) Swann, Dr. David, Calgary-Mountain View (AL) Westhead, Cameron, Banff-Cochrane (NDP)* Yao, Tany, Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo (UCP) * substitution for Barb Miller Also in Attendance Aheer, Leela Sharon, Chestermere-Rocky View (UCP) Cooper, Nathan, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills (UCP) Fraser, Rick, Calgary-South East (AP) Support Staff Robert H. Reynolds, QC Clerk Shannon Dean Law Clerk and Director of House Services Stephanie LeBlanc Senior Parliamentary Counsel Trafton Koenig Parliamentary Counsel Philip Massolin Manager of Research and Committee Services Sarah Amato Research Officer Nancy Robert Research Officer Corinne Dacyshyn Committee Clerk Jody Rempel Committee Clerk Aaron Roth Committee Clerk Karen Sawchuk Committee Clerk Rhonda Sorensen Manager of Corporate Communications Jeanette Dotimas Communications Consultant Tracey Sales Communications Consultant Janet Schwegel Managing Editor of Alberta Hansard Transcript produced by Alberta Hansard Standing Committee on Families and Communities Participants Ministry of Community and Social Services Hon. Irfan Sabir, Minister Shannon Marchand, Deputy Minister April 16, 2018 Families and Communities FC-935 7 p.m. Monday, April 16, 2018 Opposition and the minister may speak. For the next 20 minutes Title: Monday, April 16, 2018 fc members of the third party, if any, and the minister may speak. For [Ms Goehring in the chair] the next 20 minutes members of any other party represented in the Assembly or any independent members and the minister may speak. Ministry of Community and Social Services For the next 20 minutes private members of the government caucus Consideration of Main Estimates and the minister may speak. For the time remaining, we will follow the same rotation just outlined to the extent possible; however, the The Chair: Good evening. I would like to call the meeting to order speaking times are then reduced to five minutes, as set out in and welcome everyone. The committee has under consideration the Standing Order 59.02(1)(c). estimates of the Ministry of Community and Social Services for the Members wishing to participate must be present during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019. appropriate portion of the meeting. Members may speak more than I’d ask that we go around the table and have all MLAs introduce once; however, speaking times for the first rotation are limited to themselves for the record. Minister, please introduce the officials 10 minutes at any one time. A minister and a member may combine that are joining you at the table. I’m Nicole Goehring, MLA for their time for a total of 20 minutes. For the rotations that follow, Edmonton-Castle Downs and the chair of this committee. We’ll with speaking times of up to five minutes, a minister and a member start to my right. may combine their speaking time for a total of 10 minutes. Discussion should flow through the chair at all times regardless Mr. Smith: Mark Smith, MLA for Drayton Valley-Devon and of whether or not the speaking time is combined. Members are vice-chair. asked to advise the chair at the beginning of their rotation if they Mrs. Aheer: Leela Aheer, Chestermere-Rocky View. wish to combine their time with the minister’s time. If members have any questions regarding speaking times or the rotation, please Mr. Cooper: Nathan Cooper, the MLA for the outstanding feel free to send a note or speak directly with either the chair or constituency of Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. committee clerk about this process. A total of three hours has been scheduled to consider the Mr. Ellis: Mike Ellis, MLA, Calgary-West. estimates of the Ministry of Community and Social Services. With the concurrence of the committee I will call a five-minute break Mr. Orr: Ron Orr, MLA, Lacombe-Ponoka. near the midpoint of the meeting; however, the three-hour clock Mr. Sabir: Irfan Sabir, Minister of Community and Social Services. will continue to run. Does anyone oppose having the break? Thank I have Cynthia Farmer, ADM, delivery services; Aaron Neumeyer, you. ADM; Shannon Marchand, deputy minister; and Mahmud Dhala, Committee members, ministers, and other members who are not senior financial officer. committee members may participate; however, only a committee member or an official substitute may introduce an amendment Mr. Shepherd: David Shepherd, MLA, Edmonton-Centre. during a committee’s review of the estimates. Ministry officials may be present and at the direction of the Ms Renaud: Marie Renaud, MLA for St. Albert. minister may address the committee. Ministry officials seated in the gallery, if called upon, have access to a microphone in the gallery Drever: Deborah Drever, MLA for Calgary-Bow. area. Ministry officials are reminded to introduce themselves prior Ms McKitrick: Bonsoir. Annie McKitrick, députée for Sherwood to responding to a question or questions. Pages are available to Park. deliver notes or other materials between the gallery and the table. Attendees in the gallery should not approach the table. Members’ Ms Luff: Robyn Luff, MLA for Calgary-East. staff may be present and seated along the committee room wall. Space permitting, opposition caucus staff may sit at the table to Mr. Hinkley: Good evening. Bruce Hinkley, MLA, Wetaskiwin- assist their members; however, members have priority to sit at the Camrose. table at all times. If debate is exhausted prior to three hours, the ministry’s Mr. Horne: Good evening. Trevor Horne, MLA for Spruce Grove- estimates are deemed to have been considered for the time allotted St. Albert. in the schedule, and the committee will adjourn. The scheduled end Mr. Westhead: Cameron Westhead, MLA for Banff-Cochrane. time of today’s meeting is 10 p.m. Points of order will be dealt with as they arise, and the clock will The Chair: Thank you. continue to run. I’d like to note the following substitution for the record: Mr. Any written material provided in response to questions raised Westhead for Ms Miller. during the main estimates should be tabled by the minister in the Please note that the microphones are operated by Hansard and Assembly for the benefit of all members. that the committee proceedings are being live streamed on the The vote on the estimates and any amendments is deferred until Internet and broadcast on Alberta Assembly TV. Please set your consideration of all ministry estimates has concluded and will occur cellphones and other devices to silent for the duration of the in Committee of Supply on April 19, 2018. meeting. Amendments must be in writing and approved by Parliamentary Hon. members, the standing orders set out the process for Counsel prior to the meeting at which they are to be moved. The consideration of the main estimates, including the speaking original amendment is to be deposited with the committee clerk, rotation. As provided for in Standing Order 59.01(6), the rotation is and 20 copies of the amendment must be provided at the meeting as follows. The minister or the member of Executive Council acting for committee members and staff. on the minister’s behalf may make opening comments not to exceed I would now like to invite the Minister of Community and Social 10 minutes. For the hour that follows, members of the Official Services to begin with his opening remarks. You have 10 minutes. FC-936 Families and Communities April 16, 2018 Mr. Sabir: Thank you, Chair. I’m pleased to be here to present my will represent the rights, interests, and viewpoints of Albertans with ministry’s 2018 estimates and answer any questions that members disabilities. In advance of establishing the office and recruiting an may have. Budget 2018 supports a recovery that is built to last, one advocate, a survey was launched to hear from the community to that will benefit all Albertans. My ministry’s budget demonstrates help guide our recruitment this spring, and we heard from over our government’s commitment to continue to protect and improve 1,300 Albertans on what the priorities of this office should be. This vital public services to ensure Albertans get the support they need. will be the first advocate for persons with disabilities in Alberta’s When faced with a choice, our government chose to invest in history, and we are very excited to move forward with this Albertans, not make reckless cuts that would hurt persons with recruitment this spring. disabilities, Albertans in need of financial assistance, and Albertans Turning to AISH, assured income for the severely handicapped, facing homelessness, family violence, or sexual violence. This another vital program that supports Albertans, through Budget 2018 budget provides stability and shows that we won’t turn our backs nearly 62,000 Albertans will receive financial and health benefits on the people of this province. through AISH to help them meet their daily needs. That’s 3,000 We are providing stable and predictable funding for services and more Albertans than last year. Budget 2018 ensures that AISH support to make life better for all Albertans.