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. 79B - 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 23, 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 3643 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Tuesday, July 23, 2013 The House met at 1:30 p.m. well as untold harm to the ecosystem and wildlife in the region. Mr. Speaker: Good afternoon, everyone. Please be seated. The park's closure is having a negative impact in many areas, including disruptions to local tourism, Before we proceed with routine proceedings, I hunting and fishing operations, diminished economic would like to formally advise the House that there and employment opportunities and the potential loss has been a change in the seating plan. A request has of the local store and decrease in property values. been received for the members for La Verendrye and Lac du Bonnet to each move over one seat Local residents and visitors alike want St. respectively to their left. So, as of 1:30 today, the Ambroise provincial park to be reopened as soon as seating allocations have been changed in accordance possible. with this request, and I just wanted to advise the We petition the Legislative Assembly of House of that before we start our routine Manitoba as follows: proceedings. To request the appropriate ministers of the ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS provincial government consider repairing St. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Ambroise provincial park and its access points to their preflood conditions so the park can be reopened Bill 213–The Settlement of International for the 2013 season or earlier if possible. Investment Disputes Act This petition is signed by K. Lee, D. Blanchette, Mr. Reg Helwer (Brandon West): I move, R. Sampson and many, many more fine Manitobans. seconded by the MLA for Tuxedo, that Bill 213, The Settlement of International Investment Disputes Act; Mr. Speaker: In accordance with our rule 132(6), Loi sur le règlement des différends internationaux when petitions are read they are deemed to have been relatifs aux investissements, be now read a first time. received by the House. Motion presented. Reopen Beausejour's Employment Manitoba Office Mr. Helwer: This bill is a complex bill but it is fairly simple in the way that we need to move along Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): I wish to here. It is something that Canada needs to ratify. In present the following petition to the Legislative order for that to happen, Manitoba needs to bring this Assembly. legislation in. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And these are the reasons for this petition: Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt (1) The RM of Brokenhead and the town of the motion? [Agreed] Beausejour are growing centres with a combined Any further introduction of bills? Seeing none– population of over 8,000. PETITIONS (2) Employment Manitoba offices provide crucial career counselling, job search and training St. Ambroise Beach Provincial Park opportunities for local residents looking to advance Mr. Ian Wishart (Portage la Prairie): Mr. Speaker, their education. I wish to present the following petition to the (3) The recent closure of Employment Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Manitoba's Beausejour office will have negative The reason for the petition is as follows: consequences for the area's population who want to upgrade their skills and employment opportunities. The St. Ambroise provincial park was hard hit by the 2011 flood, resulting in the park's ongoing We petition the Legislative Assembly of closure, the loss of local access to Lake Manitoba, as Manitoba as follows: 3644 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA July 23, 2013 To urge the provincial government to reopen The provincial government promised not to raise Beausejour's Employment Manitoba office. taxes in the last election. This petition is signed by A. Clark, L. Huth, Through Bill 20, the provincial government C. Wadeliss and many, many more fine Manitobans, wants to increase the retail sales tax, known as the Mr. Speaker. PST, by one point without the legally required referendum. Applied Behaviour Analysis Services An increase to the PST is excessive taxation that Mr. Blaine Pedersen (Midland): I wish to present will harm Manitoba families. the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. Bill 20 strips Manitobans of their democratic The background to this petition is as follows: right to determine when major tax increases are The provincial government broke a commitment necessary. to support families of children with a diagnosis of We petition the Legislative Assembly of autism spectrum disorder, including timely diagnosis Manitoba as follows: and access to necessary treatment such as applied behavioural analysis, also known as ABA services. To urge the provincial government to not raise the PST without holding a provincial referendum. The provincial government did not follow its own policy statement on autism services which notes And this is signed by N. Fayle, K. Trout, the importance of early intervention for children with B. Buchanan and many others, Mr. Speaker. autism. Applied Behaviour Analysis Services The preschool waiting list for ABA services Mr. Cliff Cullen (Spruce Woods): I wish to present has reached its highest level ever with at least the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. 56 children waiting for services. That number is expected to exceed 70 children by September 2013 The background to this petition is as follows: despite commitments to reduce the waiting list and provide timely access to services. The provincial government broke a commitment to support families of children with a diagnosis of The provincial government policy of eliminating autism spectrum disorder, including timely diagnosis ABA services in school by grade 5 has caused many and access to necessary treatment such as applied children in Manitoba to age out of the window for behavioural analysis, also known as ABA services. this very effective ABA treatment because of a lack of access. Many more children are expected to age The provincial government did not follow its out because of a lack of available treatment spaces. own policy statement on autism services which notes Waiting lists and denials of treatment are the importance of early intervention for children with unacceptable. No child should be denied access to or autism. age out of eligibility for ABA services. The preschool waiting list for ABA services We petition the Legislative Assembly of has reached its highest level ever with at least Manitoba as follows: 56 children waiting for services. That number is expected to exceed 70 children by September 2013 To request that the Minister of Family Services despite commitments to reduce the waiting list and and Labour consider making funding available to provide timely access to services. address the current waiting list for ABA services. And this petition is signed by A. Pringle, The provincial government policy of eliminating L. Klassen, K. Brown and many more fine ABA services in schools by grade 5 has caused many Manitobans. children in Manitoba to age out of the window for this very effective ABA treatment because of a lack Provincial Sales Tax Increase–Referendum of access. Many more children are expected to age Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): I wish to out because of a lack of available treatment spaces. present the following petition to the Legislative Waiting lists and denials of treatment are Assembly. unacceptable. No child should 'benied' access to or And these are the reasons for this petition: age out of eligibility for ABA services. July 23, 2013 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3645 We petition the Legislative Assembly of This petition is signed by M. Geladov, Manitoba as follows: I. Geladov, A. Plis and many, many more Manitobans. To request that the Minister of Family Services and Labour consider making funding available to Provincial Sales Tax Increase–Referendum address the current waiting list for ABA services. Mr. Ralph Eichler (Lakeside): Good afternoon. I This petition is signed by N.