DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS
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Third Session - Fortieth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Daryl Reid Speaker Vol. LXVI No. 33B - 1:30 p.m., Thursday, March 20, 2014 ISSN 0542-5492 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Fortieth Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALLAN, Nancy St. Vital NDP ALLUM, James, Hon. Fort Garry-Riverview NDP ALTEMEYER, Rob Wolseley NDP ASHTON, Steve, Hon. Thompson NDP BJORNSON, Peter, Hon. Gimli NDP BLADY, Sharon, Hon. Kirkfield Park NDP BRAUN, Erna, Hon. Rossmere NDP BRIESE, Stuart Agassiz PC CALDWELL, Drew Brandon East NDP CHIEF, Kevin, Hon. Point Douglas NDP CHOMIAK, Dave, Hon. Kildonan NDP CROTHERS, Deanne St. James NDP CULLEN, Cliff Spruce Woods PC DEWAR, Gregory Selkirk NDP DRIEDGER, Myrna Charleswood PC EICHLER, Ralph Lakeside PC EWASKO, Wayne Lac du Bonnet PC FRIESEN, Cameron Morden-Winkler PC GAUDREAU, Dave St. Norbert NDP GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Liberal GOERTZEN, Kelvin Steinbach PC GRAYDON, Cliff Emerson PC HELWER, Reg Brandon West PC HOWARD, Jennifer, Hon. Fort Rouge NDP IRVIN-ROSS, Kerri, Hon. Fort Richmond NDP JHA, Bidhu Radisson NDP KOSTYSHYN, Ron, Hon. Swan River NDP LEMIEUX, Ron, Hon. Dawson Trail NDP MACKINTOSH, Gord, Hon. St. Johns NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Flor, Hon. Logan NDP MARCELINO, Ted Tyndall Park NDP MARTIN, Shannon Morris PC MELNICK, Christine Riel Ind. MITCHELSON, Bonnie River East PC NEVAKSHONOFF, Tom Interlake NDP OSWALD, Theresa, Hon. Seine River NDP PALLISTER, Brian Fort Whyte PC PEDERSEN, Blaine Midland PC PETTERSEN, Clarence Flin Flon NDP PIWNIUK, Doyle Arthur-Virden PC REID, Daryl, Hon. Transcona NDP ROBINSON, Eric, Hon. Kewatinook NDP RONDEAU, Jim Assiniboia NDP ROWAT, Leanne Riding Mountain PC SARAN, Mohinder The Maples NDP SCHULER, Ron St. Paul PC SELBY, Erin, Hon. Southdale NDP SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St. Boniface NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Verendrye PC STEFANSON, Heather Tuxedo PC STRUTHERS, Stan, Hon. Dauphin NDP SWAN, Andrew, Hon. Minto NDP WHITEHEAD, Frank The Pas NDP WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WIGHT, Melanie Burrows NDP WISHART, Ian Portage la Prairie PC 1131 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, March 20, 2014 The House met at 1:30 p.m. here this afternoon, and I hope that the trend of co-operation will continue through the coming weeks Mr. Speaker: Please be seated. of the Legislature. Point of Order ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Hon. Andrew Swan (Government House Leader): INTRODUCTION OF BILLS On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker: Now, on the next order of business, Mr. Speaker: On a point of order. routine proceedings, introduction of bills. Mr. Swan: I just want to recognize–because we Bill 48–The Sioux Valley Dakota Nation don't always get a chance to do this in this House, as Governance Act we sometimes use hyperbole, sometimes we may all go over the top–we had a great discussion this Hon. Eric Robinson (Minister of Aboriginal and morning, a great debate on a motion brought forward Northern Affairs): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for Brandon West (Mr. Helwer), by the Minister of Mineral Resources (Mr. seconded by the member for St. James (Ms. Chomiak), that Bill 48, The Sioux Valley Dakota Crothers), and this House unanimously adopted a Nation Governance Act, be now read a first time. resolution calling on the federal government to work Motion presented. with us on trying to come up with a driver's licence for military personnel. Mr. Robinson: It's indeed an honour to welcome– So I realize this afternoon we may be a little bit and I know you'll be doing the official announcement less co-operative. I just wanted to put on the record of Chief Vince Tacan and members of his com- that it was a really great moment for this Legislature. munity to this Chamber, and I'm very happy to welcome on behalf of our government as well. Mr. Speaker: The honourable Official Opposition House Leader, on the same point of order. This agreement that we've just introduced, Mr. Speaker, is the first ever self-government agreement Mr. Kelvin Goertzen (Official Opposition House in the prairie provinces, and this may be a model for Leader): While technically it doesn't fall under the other First Nations in the province of Manitoba. rules of a point of order, I expect you'll find–not to Negotiations have been ongoing since 1991. do your job, Mr. Speaker–but I also want to echo the Manitoba came to the table in 1993. fact that it was a great motion brought forward by the member for Brandon West, who always in our And there are two main agreements in this: first caucus and in the community advocates strongly for of all, the governance agreement between Sioux the appreciation and the rights of our fine men Valley Dakota Nation and Canada which recognizes and women who serve us overseas, at home, the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, Dakota Oyate First whether in areas of aggression or whether in areas Nation and their government, and it establishes a of peacekeeping, and I appreciate that the govern- government relationship between the Sioux Valley ment supported the motion. I give particular accolade Dakota Nation and the Government of Canada. to the member for Brandon West for not only this motion, but his continued support of our fine men The second one, which is very important, is the and women in the military. Tripartite Governance Agreement between Sioux Valley, Manitoba and Canada. It formalizes our Mr. Speaker: On the point of order raised by the province's agreement and makes Manitoba a party to honourable Government House Leader, I thank the self-government arrangements. honourable members for their contribution towards the point of order. I did not hear a specific rule that Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt may have been breached, so I must respectfully the motion? [Agreed] indicate or rule that there is no point of order. But I do appreciate the sentiments that were offered Any further introduction of bills? 1132 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 20, 2014 PETITIONS COMMITTEE REPORTS Mr. Speaker: Seeing none, we'll move on to Mr. Speaker: Seeing none, we'll move on to petitions. committee reports. Beausejour District Hospital– Standing Committee on Public Accounts Weekend and Holiday Physician Availability First Report Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): I wish to Mr. Reg Helwer (Chairperson): I wish to present present the following petition to the Legislative the First Report of the Standing Committee on Public Assembly. Accounts. And these are the reasons for this petition: Clerk (Ms. Patricia Chaychuk): Your Standing Committee on Public Accounts– (1) The Beausejour District Hospital is a 30-bed, acute-care facility that serves the communities of Some Honourable Members: Dispense. Beausejour and Brokenhead. Mr. Speaker: Dispense? Dispense. (2) The hospital and the primary-care centre Your Standing Committee on Public Accounts have had no doctor available on weekends and presents the following as its First Report. holidays for many months, jeopardizing the health and livelihoods of those in the Interlake-Eastern Meetings Regional Health Authority region. Your Committee met on the following occasions in (3) During the 2011 election, the provincial the Legislative Building: government promised to provide every Manitoban • February 25, 2013 (2nd Session, 40th Legislature) with access to a family doctor by 2015. • May 8, 2013 (2nd Session, 40th Legislature) • March 19, 2014 (3rd Session, 40th Legislature) (4) This promise is far from being realized, and Manitobans are witnessing many emergency rooms Matters under Consideration limiting services or closing temporarily, with the • majority of these reductions taking place in rural Auditor General's Report – Operations of the Manitoba. Office for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013 • Public Accounts for the fiscal year ending (5) According to the Health Council of Canada, March 31, 2011 (Volumes 1, 2, 3 and 4) only 25 per cent of doctors in Manitoba reported that their patients had access to care on evenings and • Public Accounts for the fiscal year ending weekends. March 31, 2012 (Volumes 1, 2, 3 and 4) We petition the Legislative Assembly of • Public Accounts for the fiscal year ending Manitoba as follows: March 31, 2013 (Volumes 1, 2, 3 and 4) Committee Membership To urge the provincial government and the Minister of Health to ensure that the Beausejour Committee Membership for the February 25, 2013 District Hospital and primary-care centre have a meeting: primary-care physician available on weekends and • holidays to better provide area residents with this Ms. CROTHERS essential service. • Mr. DEWAR (Vice-Chairperson) • Mrs. DRIEDGER This petition is signed by R. Hladur, R. Hladur, • Mr. EWASKO W.A. Zillman and many, many more fine • Hon. Mr. GERRARD Manitobans, Mr. Speaker. • Mr. HELWER (Chairperson) • Mr. JHA Mr. Speaker: In keeping with our rural 132(6), • Mr. PEDERSEN when petitions are read they are deemed to have been • received by the House. Hon. Mr. STRUTHERS • Mr. WHITEHEAD Any further introduction of petitions? • Ms. WIGHT March 20, 2014 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1133 Substitutions received prior to committee • Mr. John Clarkson, Deputy Minister of Finance proceedings on February 25, 2013: Officials Speaking on Record at the May 8, 2013 • Ms. CROTHERS for Mr. ALLUM meeting: • Ms. WIGHT for Ms. BRAUN • Ms. Carol Bellringer, Auditor General of • Mr. EWASKO for Mr. CULLEN Manitoba Committee Membership for the May 8, 2013 • Hon. Mr. STRUTHERS meeting: • Mr. John Clarkson, Deputy Minister of Finance • Mr. ALLUM Officials Speaking on Record at the • Ms. BRAUN March 19, 2014 meeting: • Mr. CULLEN • Ms. Carol Bellringer, Auditor General of • Mr. DEWAR (Vice-Chairperson) Manitoba • Mrs. DRIEDGER • Hon. Ms. HOWARD • ERRARD Hon.