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. 35A TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 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 6915 March 17, 2020 [The Assembly met at 13:30.] for keeping your students at the top of mind. We are with you. [Prayers] And if there’s one thing I know about Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker, it’s that during difficult times we come together. Thank ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS you for being the very helpers that we need in times like these. STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS QUESTION PERIOD The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Lumsden-Morse. The Speaker: — I recognize the Leader of the Opposition. Recognition of Support Within Communities Government’s Preparedness for and Response to COVID-19 Outbreak Mr. Stewart: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Day by day, hour by hour, our world is changing. I know we are all feeling a sense of Mr. Meili: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Saskatchewan people are uncertainty. But during what may seem like dark times, I’m under a great deal of stress at this time. We know that for too reminded of a lesson from Mister Rogers. His mother would tell many families, it’s already hard to make ends meet at the end of him, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people each month, and it’s only getting harder. To help families across helping.” this province, we need to act quickly and decisively. And, Mr. Speaker, we see those helpers today right here in this That’s why today I’m calling, we’re calling on the Premier to province. To the health care professionals, maintenance workers, introduce a financial aid package for the people of Saskatchewan, and 811 operators who are serving their community in these a financial aid package that includes immediate payments to trying times: we see you and we thank you. To the nurses and support low- and middle-income families, money that will help others working at long-term care facilities protecting our most keep them whole and that will circulate in the local economy; vulnerable from what may come: we are grateful for you. supports for Saskatchewan businesses to keep workers employed Whether it’s teachers offering to help parents educate their kids with a focus on small and medium Saskatchewan companies and during the school wind-downs to delivering groceries to the a response to regional and industry-specific needs; the injection doorstep of someone who may be in self-isolation, your good of the necessary dollars into health to have an adequate response deeds and warm hearts are not going unnoticed. to the COVID-19 crisis; support for people who are having to take sick leave or self-isolation, including for those who have no Mr. Speaker, they are the helpers and because of them we know child care options because of the closure of schools or child care that as a community we can make it through. It’s still on us to centres; utility and rent guarantees so that during this difficult practise social distancing, wash our hands, and self-assess if time no one goes without heat or power or communications or needed. But knowing that there are helpers out there in the finds themselves out of their home; a financial aid package that communities can definitely lift our spirits through these uncertain includes tax changes to reduce pressure on Saskatchewan times. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. businesses. The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Regina Lakeview. Will the Premier show leadership today and commit to moving quickly on a financial aid package that supports Saskatchewan Recognition of Teachers and School Staff families? The time to act is now. Ms. Beck: — Mr. Speaker, Saskatchewan is blessed with The Speaker: — I recognize the Premier. amazing people who work in and around our schools every day. We know how much they give of themselves to their students and Hon. Mr. Moe: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and to our whole community. It was the right choice to close our thank you to the member opposite for that, what is a very schools, but we know that it isn’t without cost. It’s hard for important and timely question given where we are in this teachers to say goodbye to their students, hard for students to say province today, and how we are going to support Saskatchewan goodbye and to be away from their friends, and hard on families families, Saskatchewan jobs, and small business and large who are now left scrambling to find care for children who are no business that provide that employment in each of our longer in school. communities across this province. Educators are used to saying goodbye to their students at the end Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the federal government is going to move of the school year — kids who they have taught and learned from, forward, is our understanding. Our Minister of Finance as well developed relationships with, and watched grow and mature as other ministers of Finance across the country have been in before their very eyes. Normally they have a lot longer to prepare contact with the federal Minister of Finance, the federal for that day, Mr. Speaker, but we know these are no longer government, Mr. Speaker, on an economic stimulus package that normal times. should be announced, it sounds like, sometime tomorrow. To all of the teachers, educators, and school staff who have had Mr. Speaker, we are going to be looking very closely at that their school year shut down due to COVID-19, who are saying package and are looking at what opportunities we have as a goodbye to their kids before they expected to, we say thank you. province to dovetail into those supports that the federal Thank you for everything you do day in and day out. Thank you government will provide, so that we can ensure that we are 6916 Saskatchewan Hansard March 17, 2020 maximizing our investment, maximizing the opportunity that we some of them for good. We know that others will follow. Mr. have to support exactly those very Saskatchewan families, those Speaker, other businesses are telling workers to stay home, and Saskatchewan jobs, Mr. Speaker, as well as supporting the they don’t have the means to continue to pay those employees. business that is providing employment in each of our It’s a painful time for many small-business owners and for the communities. employees on which they rely. Small businesses can’t wait. What financial aid measures will this government be bringing in to The Speaker: — I recognize the Leader of the Opposition. support Saskatchewan’s small businesses through this crisis? Mr. Meili: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The financial pressures The Speaker: — I recognize the Premier. on families are massive. There’s no time to wait. We need to get people that support yesterday. Hon. Mr. Moe: — Mr. Speaker, as I said, our Minister of Finance has been in touch with the federal Minister of Finance as And beyond that immediate support, we will need a we are looking to the federal government to move, quite likely post-pandemic economic stimulus plan, including a major tomorrow, with respect to an economic stimulus plan.