DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS
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Third Session – Forty-Second Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Myrna Driedger Speaker Vol. LXXV No. 41 - 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 24, 2021 ISSN 0542-5492 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Forty-Second Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ADAMS, Danielle Thompson NDP ALTOMARE, Nello Transcona NDP ASAGWARA, Uzoma Union Station NDP BRAR, Diljeet Burrows NDP BUSHIE, Ian Keewatinook NDP CLARKE, Eileen, Hon. Agassiz PC COX, Cathy, Hon. Kildonan-River East PC CULLEN, Cliff, Hon. Spruce Woods PC DRIEDGER, Myrna, Hon. Roblin PC EICHLER, Ralph, Hon. Lakeside PC EWASKO, Wayne, Hon. Lac du Bonnet PC FIELDING, Scott, Hon. Kirkfield Park PC FONTAINE, Nahanni St. Johns NDP FRIESEN, Cameron, Hon. Morden-Winkler PC GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GOERTZEN, Kelvin, Hon. Steinbach PC GORDON, Audrey, Hon. Southdale PC GUENTER, Josh Borderland PC GUILLEMARD, Sarah, Hon. Fort Richmond PC HELWER, Reg, Hon. Brandon West PC ISLEIFSON, Len Brandon East PC JOHNSON, Derek, Hon. Interlake-Gimli PC JOHNSTON, Scott Assiniboia PC KINEW, Wab Fort Rouge NDP LAGASSÉ, Bob Dawson Trail PC LAGIMODIERE, Alan Selkirk PC LAMONT, Dougald St. Boniface Lib. LAMOUREUX, Cindy Tyndall Park Lib. LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas-Kameesak NDP LINDSEY, Tom Flin Flon NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Malaya Notre Dame NDP MARTIN, Shannon McPhillips PC MICHALESKI, Brad Dauphin PC MICKLEFIELD, Andrew Rossmere PC MORLEY-LECOMTE, Janice Seine River PC MOSES, Jamie St. Vital NDP NAYLOR, Lisa Wolseley NDP NESBITT, Greg Riding Mountain PC PALLISTER, Brian, Hon. Fort Whyte PC PEDERSEN, Blaine, Hon. Midland PC PIWNIUK, Doyle Turtle Mountain PC REYES, Jon Waverley PC SALA, Adrien St. James NDP SANDHU, Mintu The Maples NDP SCHULER, Ron, Hon. Springfield-Ritchot PC SMITH, Andrew Lagimodière PC SMITH, Bernadette Point Douglas NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Vérendrye PC SQUIRES, Rochelle, Hon. Riel PC STEFANSON, Heather, Hon. Tuxedo PC TEITSMA, James Radisson PC WASYLIW, Mark Fort Garry NDP WHARTON, Jeff, Hon. Red River North PC WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WISHART, Ian Portage la Prairie PC WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC 1907 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Wednesday, March 24, 2021 The House met at 1:30 p.m. addition, they can continue to offer diamonds to local schools, both junior and senior, for their events. Madam Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues today to here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to honour all the volunteers and donors who worked tire- the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, O lessly to see the St. James-Assiniboia Optimist Park merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only reach its potential. that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may This facility will encourage more young people to seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and participate in sporting and recreational activities. accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Please be seated. Good afternoon, everybody. Ronald Bresch ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Mr. Nello Altomare (Transcona): Good afternoon, everyone. Madam Speaker: Introduction of bills? Committee reports? Tabling of reports? Ministerial statements? Madam Speaker, I would like to take the time today to acknowledge the contributions of a person MEMBERS' STATEMENTS who's been a mentor in our community here in Optimist Park Expansion Transcona. Mr. Scott Johnston (Assiniboia): Thank you, Coach Ronald Bresch, who passed away suddenly Madam Speaker, and good afternoon. Today, I would in 2015, was Murdoch MacKay Collegiate's football recognize the newly expanded St. James-Assiniboia coach, teacher and, most importantly, a mentor to Optimist Park and ongoing contributions that it makes young people. Coach Bresch taught his students com- to our community of St. James-Assiniboia. mitment, the value of hard work and the meaning of family and camaraderie– In September 2020, I was pleased to be invited to the grand re-opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony Madam Speaker: Order, please. Order. I'm won- for the Optimist Park field, hosted by City Councillor dering if the member can ensure that his video is on. Scott Gillingham. The Manitoba government worked We have not seen him. Could he– with the City of Winnipeg on this project. Mr. Altomare: What happened? Excuse me, Madam The Province of Manitoba was pleased to finan- Speaker. Sometimes my video just goes, but I'm glad cially contribute more than $1.7 million as a parcel of that you can hear me. land to the relocation and expansion project, which Can I continue? May I have leave to continue? became necessary with the construction of CentrePort Canada Way. Madam Speaker: Please continue. [interjection] Oh, wait. I'm told, no. St. James-Assiniboia Optimist board members were tirelessly–worked tirelessly on this labour of Is there leave to allow the member to continue just love. They can now begin to pursue events and verbally? [Agreed] generate economic activity to continue to maintain The honourable member for Transcona can– and upgrade their facility. [interjection]–wrong person? Okay. The community of St. James-Assiniboia will now The honourable member for Transcona. be able to enjoy a relocated soccer field, newly constructed playgrounds, new baseball diamonds and Mr. Altomare: Thank you, Madam Speaker. improvements to their canteen. With nine top-tier Everyone loves the story of an underdog, and baseball diamonds, the St. James Assiniboia Minor 10 years ago the late Ronald Bresch led Murdoch Baseball Association can now host city, provincial, MacKay Collegiate's humble football team of western Canadian and Canadian championships. In 32 players to their first ever championship win, which 1908 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 24, 2021 to this day has left an everlasting impact on the young Manitoba Hydro, and the government's refusal people that were part of the team, some of whom and interference in Hydro is impeding my ability realized their ultimate dream and have become to adequately fulfill my responsibility to my con- professional football players. stituents to ensure proper management of their Crown corporation. Now, six years later, after his passing, his friends, family and former students remember Coach Ron The Crown Corporations Governance and fondly to this day. The members of the Murdoch Accountability Act states the following: that when an MacKay championship football team tell me that annual report of a corporation is laid before the Coach Bresch was a person larger than life with a Legislative Assembly, the annual report, subject to tendency to give a hug before a handshake. He was any other act, then stands permanently referred to the never afraid to tell people around him that he loved Standing Committee on Crown Corporations of the them on a daily basis. And it is for this reason that so Legislative Assembly unless the Assembly otherwise many of his former students and players are caring orders. parents, partners and coaches who work daily towards The last time the Standing Committee on Crown making contributions in the communities in which Corporations met regarding the annual reports for they live. Manitoba Hydro was nearly a year ago. We have Coach Bresch may not be here with us today to repeatedly requested meetings to discuss urgent help celebrate him, but his memory and legacy live on, matters with the leadership of Manitoba Hydro–and I not only through the football program that he helped table the letters for the House's consideration–but I've build, but through his former players, coaches and received no response. loved ones. Now, this is a prima facie case of privilege, I would also like to extend my thanks to the Madam Speaker, because, as members, it is our Murdoch MacKay championship team for sharing– privilege to ask questions of those responsible for our me the story of someone who they have held dear and Crown corporations to ensure they are being managed near to their hearts. properly. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Marleau and Montpetit, from the House of Commons Procedure and Practice, clearly define priv- Madam Speaker: The honourable minister of mental ilege as, quote, "the rights and immunities that are health, wellness and addictions– deemed necessary for the House of Commons, as an An Honourable Member: Madam Speaker, I rise on institution, and its Members, as representatives of the a matter of privilege. electorate, to fulfill their functions." End quote. MATTER OF PRIVILEGE Many events have taken place regarding Manitoba Hydro over the last year that make it deeply Madam Speaker: Oh. The honourable member for concerning that this government is refusing to call the St. James, on a matter of privilege. committee or permit the CEO to meet with the official Mr. Adrien Sala (St. James): I rise at the earliest opposition, specifically the bypassing of the Public opportunity, as the breach I'll identify has only Utilities Board and the raising of hydro rates; the properly come to light in media yesterday, and since refusal of this government to present a general rate that time, this is the first time the House has convened. application to the Public Utilities Board; the demand for layoffs and wage cuts from front-line hydro The second test of a matter of privilege, to show workers; the privatization of profitable subsidiaries in what way my privileges as an MLA have been and the government's interference, which has precipi- breached, are based on the following: my abilities to tated a strike. perform my job as an MLA and fundamentally to hold this government to account have been undermined by * (13:40) the government's refusal to allow members of the It is a member's duty to hold the government to opposition to meet with the CEO and board chair of account and ensure these public entities are being Manitoba Hydro or to call regular meetings of the properly managed.