Second 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. LXV No. 29 - 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 24, 2013 ISSN 0542-5492 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Fortieth Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALLAN, Nancy, Hon. St. Vital NDP ALLUM, James Fort Garry-Riverview NDP ALTEMEYER, Rob Wolseley NDP ASHTON, Steve, Hon. Thompson NDP BJORNSON, Peter, Hon. Gimli NDP BLADY, Sharon Kirkfield Park NDP BRAUN, Erna 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 MAGUIRE, Larry Arthur-Virden PC MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Flor, Hon. Logan NDP MARCELINO, Ted Tyndall Park NDP MELNICK, Christine, Hon. Riel NDP 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 REID, Daryl, Hon. Transcona NDP ROBINSON, Eric, Hon. Kewatinook NDP RONDEAU, Jim, Hon. 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 Vacant Morris 703 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Wednesday, April 24, 2013 The House met at 1:30 p.m. enhance accessibility for everyone. This bill will lay out a framework for the development and Mr. Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from implementation of accessibility standards that will Whom all power and wisdom come, we are improve the independence and social inclusion of assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as Manitobans where they live, learn, work and play. may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our While this bill alone will not eliminate every barrier, province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that it is an important step in moving Manitoba towards we may desire only that which is in accordance with full accessibility. Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom, know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the Nearly every Manitoban has a disability, knows glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of someone with a disability or will acquire a disability all our people. Amen. as they age. By preventing new barriers and implementing long-term plans to remove existing Good afternoon, everyone. Please be seated. ones, all Manitobans will benefit. The introduction of ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS this bill will move our province towards the goal of an inclusive society and produce a lasting legacy INTRODUCTION OF BILLS which will make all Manitobans proud. Bill 26–The Accessibility for Manitobans Act As I've worked with members of the community Hon. Jennifer Howard (Minister responsible for and members of this House to bring this legislation Persons with Disabilities): I move, seconded by the forward, I've been guided by the following quote Minister of Conservation and Water Stewardship from Helen Keller, and I just want to close with that: (Mr. Mackintosh), that Bill 26, The Accessibility for I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do Manitobans Act, be now read a first time. everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the Motion presented. something I can do. Thank you. Ms. Howard: I am exceptionally pleased today to be Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt able to introduce Bill 26, The Accessibility for the motion? [Agreed] Manitobans Act. This historic bill moves us forward towards our goal of a fully accessible province. And before we move on to the next order of business, I just want to remind our guests who are As I introduce this bill today, I want to with us here this afternoon that there is to be no personally acknowledge and thank all the people participation. That includes applause. So I ask for who've worked very hard to get us to this point, your co-operation, please. including a number who have joined us today in the gallery. I want to thank the Accessibility Advisory Bill 29–The Land Surveyors and Related Council, which includes people with disabilities and Amendments Act advocates, as well as representatives of the hotel, Hon. Jim Rondeau (Minister of Healthy Living, restaurant, retail industries and municipalities who Seniors and Consumer Affairs): I move, seconded have given their time and wisdom to the by the Minister of Innovation, Energy and Mines recommendations that serve as the basis for this bill. (Mr. Chomiak), that Bill 29, The Land Surveyors and I also wish to acknowledge the representatives of Related Amendments Act, now be read a first time. Barrier-Free Manitoba, who, since 2008, have pushed us to go further and faster and who have Motion presented. promised to continue to do so. And, finally, thanks to Mr. Rondeau: Mr. Speaker, this bill will modernize the hundreds of members of the public who wrote the governing statute of the profession of land and emailed supporting the call for this legislation. surveying in Manitoba. The current governing statute Mr. Speaker, this bill's purpose is to remove is rather outdated and dates back to 1881. This barriers by working with the public and private legislation is based on recent models for governance sectors to make proactive long-range plans that of professions in Manitoba. The new legislation is 704 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 24, 2013 also in compliance with the mobility provision in the The provincial government recently announced Internal Trade Agreement and moves the profession plans to amalgamate any municipalities with fewer forward. I highly recommend it. than 1,000 constituents. Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt The provincial government did not consult with the motion? [Agreed] nor notify the affected municipalities of this decision prior to the Throne Speech announcement on Any further introduction of bills? Seeing none, November 19th, 2012, and has further imposed we'll move on with– unrealistic deadlines. PETITIONS If the provincial government imposes St. Ambroise Beach Provincial Park amalgamations, local democratic representation will be drastically limited while not providing any real Mr. Ian Wishart (Portage la Prairie): I wish to improvement in cost savings. present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. * (13:40) And these are the reasons for this petition: Local governments are further concerned that amalgamation will fail to address the serious issues The St. Ambroise provincial park was hard hit currently facing municipalities, including an absence by the 2011 flood, resulting in the park's ongoing of reliable infrastructure funding and a timely flood closure, the loss of local access to Lake Manitoba, as compensation. well as untold harm to the ecosystem and its wildlife in the region. Municipalities deserve to be treated with respect. Any amalgamations should be voluntary in nature The park's closure is having a negative impact in and led by the municipalities themselves. many areas, including disruptions to the local tourism, hunting and fishing operations, diminished We petition the Legislative Assembly of economic and employment opportunities and Manitoba as follows: potential loss of the local store and decrease in To request that the Minister of Local property values. Government afford local governments the respect Local residents and visitors alike want St. they deserve and reverse his decision to force Ambroise provincial park to be reopened as soon as municipalities with fewer than 1,000 constituents to possible. amalgamate. We petition the Legislative Assembly of This petition's signed by G. Zimmer, Manitoba as follows: P. Neuhofer, M. Nermberg and so many more Manitobans, Mr. Speaker. To request the appropriate ministers of the Provincial Road 520 Renewal provincial government consider repairing St. Ambroise provincial park and its access points to Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): I wish to their preflood condition so the park can be reopened present the following petition to the Legislative for the 2013 season or earlier if possible. Assembly. Signed by D. McKay, L. Allard and K. Stephens The background to this petition is as follows: and many, many more fine Manitobans. The rural municipalities of Lac du Bonnet and Alexander are experiencing record growth due Mr. Speaker: In accordance with our rule 132(6), especially to an increasing number of Manitobans when petitions are read they are deemed to have been retiring in cottage country. received by the House. The population in the RM of Lac du Bonnet Municipal Amalgamations–Reversal grows exponentially in the summer months due to Mrs. Leanne Rowat (Riding Mountain): I wish to increased cottage use. present the following petition to the Legislative Due to population growth, Provincial Road 520 Assembly of Manitoba. experiences heavy traffic, especially during the The background to this petition is as follows: summer months. April 24, 2013 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 705 PR 520 connects cottage country to the Pinawa This petition is signed by B.