THIRD SESSION - TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan ____________ DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS ____________ (HANSARD) Published under the authority of The Honourable P. Myron Kowalsky Speaker N.S. VOL. XLIX NO. 47A TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2007, 1:30 p.m. MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN Speaker — Hon. P. Myron Kowalsky Premier — Hon. Lorne Calvert Leader of the Opposition — Brad Wall Name of Member Political Affiliation Constituency Addley, Hon. Graham NDP Saskatoon Sutherland Allchurch, Denis SP Rosthern-Shellbrook Atkinson, Hon. Pat NDP Saskatoon Nutana Beatty, Hon. Joan NDP Cumberland Belanger, Hon. Buckley NDP Athabasca Bjornerud, Bob SP Melville-Saltcoats Borgerson, Lon NDP Saskatchewan Rivers Brkich, Greg SP Arm River-Watrous Calvert, Hon. Lorne NDP Saskatoon Riversdale Cheveldayoff, Ken SP Saskatoon Silver Springs Chisholm, Michael SP Cut Knife-Turtleford Cline, Hon. Eric NDP Saskatoon Massey Place Crofford, Joanne NDP Regina Rosemont D’Autremont, Dan SP Cannington Dearborn, Jason SP Kindersley Draude, June SP Kelvington-Wadena Duncan, Dustin SP Weyburn-Big Muddy Eagles, Doreen SP Estevan Elhard, Wayne SP Cypress Hills Forbes, Hon. David NDP Saskatoon Centre Gantefoer, Rod SP Melfort Hagel, Hon. Glenn NDP Moose Jaw North Hamilton, Doreen NDP Regina Wascana Plains Harpauer, Donna SP Humboldt Harper, Ron NDP Regina Northeast Hart, Glen SP Last Mountain-Touchwood Heppner, Nancy SP Martensville Hermanson, Elwin SP Rosetown-Elrose Higgins, Hon. Deb NDP Moose Jaw Wakamow Huyghebaert, Yogi SP Wood River Iwanchuk, Andy NDP Saskatoon Fairview Junor, Judy NDP Saskatoon Eastview Kerpan, Allan SP Carrot River Valley Kirsch, Delbert SP Batoche Kowalsky, Hon. P. Myron NDP Prince Albert Carlton Krawetz, Ken SP Canora-Pelly Lautermilch, Hon. Eldon NDP Prince Albert Northcote McCall, Hon. Warren NDP Regina Elphinstone-Centre McMorris, Don SP Indian Head-Milestone Merriman, Ted SP Saskatoon Northwest Morgan, Don SP Saskatoon Southeast Morin, Sandra NDP Regina Walsh Acres Nilson, Hon. John NDP Regina Lakeview Prebble, Peter NDP Saskatoon Greystone Quennell, Hon. Frank NDP Saskatoon Meewasin Serby, Hon. Clay NDP Yorkton Sonntag, Hon. Maynard NDP Meadow Lake Stewart, Lyle SP Thunder Creek Taylor, Hon. Len NDP The Battlefords Thomson, Hon. Andrew NDP Regina South Toth, Don SP Moosomin Trew, Kim NDP Regina Coronation Park Van Mulligen, Hon. Harry NDP Regina Douglas Park Wakefield, Milton SP Lloydminster Wall, Brad SP Swift Current Wartman, Hon. Mark NDP Regina Qu’Appelle Valley Weekes, Randy SP Biggar Yates, Kevin NDP Regina Dewdney LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN 1301 April 17, 2007 [The Assembly met at 13:30.] communities of Herschel, Rosetown, and Zealandia. And I am pleased to present this petition on their behalf. [Prayers] The Speaker: — The Chair recognizes the member for ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Thunder Creek. PRESENTING PETITIONS Mr. Stewart: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to present a petition signed by citizens concerned with the dangerous The Speaker: — The Chair recognizes the member for practice of transferring patients from one ambulance to another Moosomin. on the highway. And the prayer reads: Mr. Toth: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your Hon. today to present to this Assembly petitions regarding a dialysis Assembly may be pleased to cause the government to take unit in the Broadview Union Hospital. And I read the prayer: the necessary action to cease the transfer of patients from one ambulance to another while en route. Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your Hon. Assembly may be pleased to cause the government to take And as in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray. the necessary action to implement a strategy that will see a dialysis unit placed in Broadview Union Hospital. Mr. Speaker, this petition is signed by individuals all from the community of Central Butte. I so present. And as in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray. The Speaker: — The Chair recognizes the member for Mr. Speaker, the petition I present today is signed by folks from Estevan. the communities of Grenfell, Cowessess, Neudorf, and Grayson. I so present. Ms. Eagles: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I rise to present a petition on behalf of constituents of The Speaker: — The Chair recognizes the member for mine who are petitioning the government for increased signage Cannington. at the junction of Highway 6 and 39. And the prayer reads: Mr. D’Autremont: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also have a Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your Hon. petition to present today. The prayer reads: Assembly may be pleased to cause the government to take the necessary actions to increase highway signage at the Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your Hon. junctions of 6 and 39. Assembly may be pleased to cause the government to take the necessary action to ensure that the Maryfield School And as in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray. remains open. And, Mr. Speaker, this is signed by folks from Radville and And as in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray. Minton. I so present. Thank you. These petitions, Mr. Speaker, come from the good people in the The Speaker: — The Chair recognizes the member for Biggar. communities of Maryfield and Fairlight. I so present. Mr. Weekes: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to The Speaker: — The Chair recognizes the member for present another petition from citizens of Biggar who are Rosetown-Elrose. concerned about their possible loss of health care services. The prayer reads: Mr. Hermanson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have yet another petition from people who want the government to Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your Hon. maintain full service of the SaskPower office in Rosetown. Mr. Assembly may be pleased to cause the government to take Speaker, they are concerned that the banks cannot accept the necessary steps to ensure that the Biggar Hospital, payment if the customer doesn’t have documentation, a service long-term care home, and ambulance services maintain at which the office supplies. Mr. Speaker, the prayer of the the very least their current level of services. petition reads: As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray. Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your Hon. Assembly may be pleased to cause the government to take Signed by the good citizens of Biggar and district. I so present. the necessary action to keep the SaskPower office in Rosetown open to provide full service to the community The Speaker: — The Chair recognizes the member for and surrounding areas. Saskatoon Silver Springs. And as in duty bound, your petitioners ever pray. Mr. Cheveldayoff: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to once again rise today to present a petition on behalf of Mr. Speaker, the signatures on this petition come from the frustrated parents across Saskatchewan who for the past eight 1302 Saskatchewan Hansard April 17, 2007 years have been lobbying this government for a dedicated Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your Hon. children’s hospital within a hospital in Saskatoon. The prayer of Assembly may be pleased to cause the government to take the petition reads as follows: the necessary action to implement an allocation of financial resources in this year’s budget to build an Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your Hon. elementary school in Stonebridge. Assembly may be pleased to cause the government to take the necessary action to implement an allocation of And as in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray. financial resources this year to build a provincial children’s hospital in Saskatoon. Mr. Speaker, this petition is signed by citizens from Stepney Crescent and Martin Crescent in the Stonebridge area of And as in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray. Saskatoon Southeast. I so present, Mr. Speaker. The petitioners today come from the provincial constituencies The Speaker: — The Chair recognizes the member for of Saskatoon Sutherland and Saskatoon Silver Springs. I so Weyburn-Big Muddy. present, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Duncan: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m The Speaker: — The Chair recognizes the member for pleased today to rise a petition, or to present a petition, calling Batoche. on the government to fund the cancer drug Avastin. And I’ll read the prayer: Mr. Kirsch: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition from Saskatchewan people who are deeply Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your Hon. concerned about the presence of sexual predators that present a Assembly may be pleased to cause the government to take threat to our communities and: the necessary action to fully fund the cancer drug Avastin. Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your Hon. And as in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray. Assembly may be pleased to cause the government to take all steps available to speed up the public disclosure Mr. Speaker, this petition is signed by people from Radville, process so that communities are alerted to the presence of Gladmar and Minton. And I’m very pleased to present it. known sex offenders in their community as soon possible. READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS And is duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray. Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel: — According to And, Mr. Speaker, this is signed by the good people of order the petitions received at the last sitting have been Prud’homme and Cudworth. I so present. reviewed and pursuant to rule 15(7) are hereby read and received. The Speaker: — The Chair recognizes the member for Arm River-Watrous. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Mr. Brkich: — Mr. Speaker, I have a petition calling on the The Speaker: — The Chair recognizes the member for Regina Government of Saskatchewan to upgrade Highway 20 to Dewdney. primary weight status: Mr. Yates: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your Hon.