FOURTH SESSION - TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan ____________ DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS ____________ (HANSARD) Published under the authority of The Hon. Mark Docherty Speaker N.S. VOL. 61 NO. 47A MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2020, 13:30 MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN 4th Session — 28th Legislature Speaker — Hon. Mark Docherty Premier — Hon. Scott Moe Leader of the Opposition — Ryan Meili Beaudry-Mellor, Hon. Tina — Regina University (SP) Makowsky, Hon. Gene — Regina Gardiner Park (SP) Beck, Carla — Regina Lakeview (NDP) Marit, Hon. David — Wood River (SP) Belanger, Buckley — Athabasca (NDP) McCall, Warren — Regina Elphinstone-Centre (NDP) Bonk, Steven — Moosomin (SP) McMorris, Don — Indian Head-Milestone (SP) Bradshaw, Fred — Carrot River Valley (SP) Meili, Ryan — Saskatoon Meewasin (NDP) Brkich, Greg — Arm River (SP) Merriman, Hon. Paul — Saskatoon Silverspring-Sutherland (SP) Buckingham, David — Saskatoon Westview (SP) Michelson, Warren — Moose Jaw North (SP) Carr, Hon. Lori — Estevan (SP) Moe, Hon. Scott — Rosthern-Shellbrook (SP) Chartier, Danielle — Saskatoon Riversdale (NDP) Morgan, Hon. Don — Saskatoon Southeast (SP) Cheveldayoff, Hon. Ken — Saskatoon Willowgrove (SP) Mowat, Vicki — Saskatoon Fairview (NDP) Cox, Herb — The Battlefords (SP) Nerlien, Hugh — Kelvington-Wadena (SP) D’Autremont, Dan — Cannington (SP) Olauson, Eric — Saskatoon University (SP) Dennis, Terry — Canora-Pelly (SP) Ottenbreit, Hon. Greg — Yorkton (SP) Docherty, Hon. Mark — Regina Coronation Park (SP) Pedersen, Yens — Regina Northeast (NDP) Doke, Larry — Cut Knife-Turtleford (SP) Rancourt, Nicole — Prince Albert Northcote (NDP) Duncan, Hon. Dustin — Weyburn-Big Muddy (SP) Reiter, Hon. Jim — Rosetown-Elrose (SP) Eyre, Hon. Bronwyn — Saskatoon Stonebridge-Dakota (SP) Ross, Laura — Regina Rochdale (SP) Fiaz, Muhammad — Regina Pasqua (SP) Sarauer, Nicole — Regina Douglas Park (NDP) Forbes, David — Saskatoon Centre (NDP) Sproule, Cathy — Saskatoon Nutana (NDP) Francis, Ken — Kindersley (SP) Steele, Doug — Cypress Hills (SP) Goudy, Hon. Todd — Melfort (SP) Stewart, Lyle — Lumsden-Morse (SP) Hargrave, Hon. Joe — Prince Albert Carlton (SP) Tell, Hon. Christine — Regina Wascana Plains (SP) Harpauer, Hon. Donna — Humboldt-Watrous (SP) Vermette, Doyle — Cumberland (NDP) Harrison, Hon. Jeremy — Meadow Lake (SP) Weekes, Randy — Biggar-Sask Valley (SP) Hart, Glen — Last Mountain-Touchwood (SP) Wilson, Nadine — Saskatchewan Rivers (SP) Heppner, Nancy — Martensville-Warman (SP) Wotherspoon, Trent — Regina Rosemont (NDP) Hindley, Everett — Swift Current (SP) Wyant, Hon. Gordon — Saskatoon Northwest (SP) Kaeding, Hon. Warren — Melville-Saltcoats (SP) Young, Colleen — Lloydminster (SP) Kirsch, Delbert — Batoche (SP) Lambert, Lisa — Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood (SP) Vacant — Regina Walsh Acres Lawrence, Greg — Moose Jaw Wakamow (SP) Vacant — Saskatoon Eastview Party Standings: Saskatchewan Party (SP) — 46; New Democratic Party (NDP) — 13; Vacant — 2 Clerks-at-the-Table Clerk — Gregory A. Putz Law Clerk & Parliamentary Counsel — Kenneth S. Ring, Q.C. Hansard on the internet Principal Clerk — Iris Lang Hansard and other documents of the Clerk Assistant — Kathy Burianyk Legislative Assembly are available within hours after each sitting. Sergeant-at-Arms — Terry Quinn https://www.legassembly.sk.ca/Calendar LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN 7027 June 29, 2020 [The Assembly met at 13:30.] Government’s Grade on Education [Prayers] Ms. Beck: — For years the Sask Party has continued to let down our teachers and school-based staff, our children, and their TABLING OF REPORTS families. Our schools have huge maintenance deficits. Classrooms are crowded and complex and per-student funding The Speaker: — I’d like to table the 2019-2020 Information and has dropped year after year. Mr. Speaker, this was all before a Privacy Commissioner annual report: global pandemic upended education as we know it. Family, students, staff, and teachers have gone the extra mile in the last Pursuant to section 62 of The Freedom of Information and several months to ensure that the best was made of these Protection of Privacy Act; section 52, The Local Authority challenging times. For these efforts, we are truly grateful. Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act; and section 60 of The Health Information Protection Act, I am But for schools to be able to respond and adapt to the challenges submitting three copies of my 2019-2020 annual report to that fall will bring, this government should have put in place be tabled in the Legislative Assembly on June 29th, 2020, clear, funded guidelines and a plan for more than just the pursuant to the letter of June 2nd, 2020. best-case scenario. Instead, in true Sask Party fashion, we’ve got vague announcements, no real consultation, and not an extra ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS dime for education. STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS For the new education budget to be a complete copy and paste of the pre-pandemic budget, one that failed to cover the cost of basic The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Saskatoon growth and inflation, is irresponsible. The NDP [New University. Democratic Party] has heard concerns from countless teachers and families, and this government needs to get back to work and Care Centre Goes Above and Beyond for Elders provide a real plan for a September return to school. Teachers were already overstretched with classrooms overflowing without Mr. Olauson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to the added challenges that COVID-19 will present. recognize an exceptional care centre in Saskatoon University, Sherbrooke Community Centre. Each week the members of the Teachers, school-based staff, families, and members on this side community would virtually gather for their favourite weekly of the House give the Sask Party’s plan for education a failing events like the church service, Friday concerts with Wes, or The grade. Don Show. The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Saskatchewan They were able to stay connected through iPads and laptops Rivers. which were generously donated by businesses in Saskatoon. This means the residents choose ways to bring joy into their lives and Alone Together Greeting Cards the staff are there to support them in any way they can. Each neighbourhood is unique and is fit for their personal style. They Ms. Wilson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The phrase “alone also kept active and fit through the establishment of home gyms together” is one that we’ve heard over the course of the and green spaces that the staff created to ensure they were getting COVID-19 pandemic. As people work to stay physically enough fresh air while being able to socially distance. distanced, we still can maintain a sense of community. One woman from Harris, Saskatchewan has taken that phrase to a Mr. Speaker, the community’s artist in residence, Alana Moore, whole new level. also came up with a creative way to stay connected during what could have been a lonely time. She encouraged elders to Mr. Speaker, before COVID-19, Kathleen would serve the contribute to their very own magazine, chronicling their community by providing coffee to the retirees at the New pandemic experiences. Horizons Centre. Once physical distancing measures came into place, Kathleen knew she had to find another way to support her Mr. Speaker, Sherbrooke isn’t just a resident-centred community. Mr. Speaker, Kathleen drew upon her experience of community, but a resident-directed community. There’s also a designing greeting cards to create a personalized card for every veterans’ village, where the women and men who have served household in Harris. She spent over 400 hours designing 120 our country are able to live and socialize with the dignity they personalized cards with a handwritten note that reads: deserve. Dear Friend, I now ask all members to join me in thanking the Sherbrooke Community Centre staff for going above and beyond for their What difficult, uncertain times we are in. It's hard for all of elders. us. Really hard. Thank you to everyone for keeping Harris free of COVID-19. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No one knows for how long, but if we hang in there we will The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Regina Lakeview. get through this. 7028 Saskatchewan Hansard June 29, 2020 ALONE TOGETHER! We have partnered with the federal government on the temporary wage supplement as well as a number of other initiatives around Stay safe, rent supports, Mr. Speaker. I’ve been working weekly with the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister and all of the Kathleen. other premiers across this nation to ensure that these initiatives are as effective as they can be, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Kathleen’s dedication to making her community a better place is the epitome of the Saskatchewan spirit, and I ask And we’ve put an additional $2 billion into infrastructure here in all members to join me in thanking Kathleen Ritchie for making the province to foster the recovery that we know is possible, Mr. Saskatchewan a better place to live. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker, and . [inaudible] . every intent for us. And we have faith in the economy and the people of this province that we will QUESTION PERIOD recover and grow, not only back to where we were pre COVID, Mr. Speaker, but continue to grow beyond that. The Speaker: — I recognize the Leader of the Opposition. The Speaker: — I recognize the Leader of the Opposition. Provincial Budget Mr. Meili: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This spring the Premier Mr. Meili: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s good to be here today wanted to hide from the Assembly. Now he’s hiding behind a although I know the Premier didn’t want to. He didn’t want to be slush fund for this year. Next year? Year after? He’s just plain in the legislature this month. He didn’t want to present a budget. hiding. No projections, no indication what this Premier plans to He wanted to coast until the election with no scrutiny and no cut, what he plans to sell to try to get back to balance, Mr.