HANSARD) Published Under the Authority of the Honourable Dan D’Autremont Speaker
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FIRST SESSION - TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan ____________ DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS ____________ (HANSARD) Published under the authority of The Honourable Dan D’Autremont Speaker N.S. VOL. 54 NO. 1B MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2011, 2 p.m. MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN Speaker — Hon. Dan D’Autremont Premier — Hon. Brad Wall Leader of the Opposition — John Nilson Name of Member Political Affiliation Constituency Belanger, Buckley NDP Athabasca Bjornerud, Hon. Bob SP Melville-Saltcoats Boyd, Hon. Bill SP Kindersley Bradshaw, Fred SP Carrot River Valley Brkich, Greg SP Arm River-Watrous Broten, Cam NDP Saskatoon Massey Place Campeau, Jennifer SP Saskatoon Fairview Chartier, Danielle NDP Saskatoon Riversdale Cheveldayoff, Hon. Ken SP Saskatoon Silver Springs Cox, Herb SP The Battlefords D’Autremont, Hon. Dan SP Cannington Docherty, Mark SP Regina Coronation Park Doherty, Kevin SP Regina Northeast Doke, Larry SP Cut Knife-Turtleford Draude, Hon. June SP Kelvington-Wadena Duncan, Hon. Dustin SP Weyburn-Big Muddy Eagles, Doreen SP Estevan Elhard, Hon. Wayne SP Cypress Hills Forbes, David NDP Saskatoon Centre Harpauer, Hon. Donna SP Humboldt Harrison, Hon. Jeremy SP Meadow Lake Hart, Glen SP Last Mountain-Touchwood Heppner, Nancy SP Martensville Hickie, Hon. Darryl SP Prince Albert Carlton Hutchinson, Hon. Bill SP Regina South Huyghebaert, Hon. D.F. (Yogi) SP Wood River Jurgens, Victoria SP Prince Albert Northcote Kirsch, Delbert SP Batoche Krawetz, Hon. Ken SP Canora-Pelly Lawrence, Greg SP Moose Jaw Wakamow McCall, Warren NDP Regina Elphinstone-Centre McMillan, Hon. Tim SP Lloydminster McMorris, Hon. Don SP Indian Head-Milestone Makowsky, Gene SP Regina Dewdney Marchuk, Russ SP Regina Douglas Park Merriman, Paul SP Saskatoon Sutherland Michelson, Warren SP Moose Jaw North Moe, Scott SP Rosthern-Shellbrook Morgan, Hon. Don SP Saskatoon Southeast Nilson, John NDP Regina Lakeview Norris, Hon. Rob SP Saskatoon Greystone Ottenbreit, Greg SP Yorkton Parent, Roger SP Saskatoon Meewasin Phillips, Kevin SP Melfort Reiter, Hon. Jim SP Rosetown-Elrose Ross, Hon. Laura SP Regina Qu’Appelle Valley Sproule, Cathy NDP Saskatoon Nutana Steinley, Warren SP Regina Walsh Acres Stewart, Lyle SP Thunder Creek Tell, Christine SP Regina Wascana Plains Tochor, Corey SP Saskatoon Eastview Toth, Don SP Moosomin Vermette, Doyle NDP Cumberland Wall, Hon. Brad SP Swift Current Weekes, Randy SP Biggar Wilson, Nadine SP Saskatchewan Rivers Wotherspoon, Trent NDP Regina Rosemont Wyant, Gordon SP Saskatoon Northwest LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN 5 December 5, 2011 [The Assembly resumed at 14:00.] VISION The Speaker: — Members of the Legislative Assembly, ladies A few short weeks ago, my government presented the people of and gentlemen, please remain standing for the arrival of the Saskatchewan with a clear, concise and forward-looking vision vice regal party. for our province. [His Honour the Lieutenant Governor entered the Chamber at Voters responded by providing the government with its second 14:01.] mandate. His Honour: — Pray be seated. My government is humbled by the confidence Saskatchewan people have shown them, and vows to approach the coming The Speaker: — May it please Your Honour: four years with an attitude of humility and service. The Legislative Assembly has elected me to the office of My government vows to keep Saskatchewan moving forward, Speaker. to keep its commitments and to work to achieve the vision outlined in the recent election campaign. If, in the performance of my duties, I should at any time fall That vision includes: into error I pray that the fault may be imputed to me and not to the Assembly, whose servant I am. On behalf of the Assembly • a province of over 1.1 million people by 2015; and its members, it is my duty to claim all their traditional rights and privileges, especially that they may have freedom of • a province that is steadily eliminating its General speech in their debates, access to your person at all reasonable Revenue Fund debt; times, and that their proceedings may receive from you the most favourable consideration. • a place where young people get the best education and opportunities; Hon. Mr. Elhard: — Mr. Speaker, I am commanded by His Honour the Lieutenant Governor to declare to you that he freely • a place where seniors are treated with dignity and confides in the duty and attachment of the Assembly to Her respect; and Majesty’s person and government. His Honour is confident that the Assembly’s proceedings will be conducted with wisdom • a place where people with disabilities get the best care and prudence and grants the Assembly’s claim to its traditional and support available in Canada. rights and privileges. To quote briefly from my government’s vision for I am commanded also to assure you that the Assembly shall Saskatchewan: have ready access to His Honour upon all reasonable occasions “Simply put, our vision is that Saskatchewan will be the best and that their proceedings, as well as your words and actions, place in Canada—to live, to work, to start a business, to get will constantly receive from him the most favourable an education, to raise a family and to build a life.” construction. To that end, my government will take steps in this session to [His Honour the Lieutenant Governor was then pleased to open turn this vision into action: the session with the following speech as tabled.] • Action to sustain growth and opportunity in our SPEECH FROM THE THRONE province; Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly, Honoured • Action to make life more affordable for Saskatchewan Guests, People of Saskatchewan: people; It is my pleasure to welcome you to the First Session of the • Action to maintain a competitive tax and royalty regime Twenty-Seventh Legislature. in Saskatchewan; • Action to improve our quality of life; and THANK YOU • Action to ensure government remains responsible, My government has asked that I begin today with the following responsive, trustworthy and accountable to the people of message to the people of Saskatchewan: our province. Thank you. GROWTH Thank you for renewing your trust in my government. According to the most recent Conference Board of Canada It will work every day to be worthy of that trust. report: “Saskatchewan’s economy is being fuelled by the continued development of the potash industry, and steady 6 Saskatchewan Hansard December 5, 2011 expansion in oil and gas extraction. Real gross domestic This is why my government was honoured to sign an historic product (GDP) is expected to rise by a brisk 5.1 per cent agreement in May, establishing a joint task force on improving in 2011, and Saskatchewan will have the fastest growing education and employment outcomes. provincial economy”. Through this task force, my government is committed to Conference Board of Canada, November 25, 2011 leading more First Nations and Métis young people to active participation in the work force. Through a continuing commitment to its Saskatchewan Advantage Growth Plan, my government will foster Since 2007, my government has introduced legislation to create population growth and nation-leading economic performance. a fairer labour environment, balancing the interests of workers and employers. Key to this plan are continued debt reduction, balanced budgets, competitive taxes and the promotion of global trade. My government will continue to ensure that the principles at the foundation of Saskatchewan’s labour environment are fairness, My government also will pursue stable natural resource competitive salaries and benefits, economic growth and royalties designed to encourage further investment. accountability by all stakeholders. Also key to growth is continued investment in highways and While no new labour legislation will be introduced in this transportation infrastructure. session, my government will continue to listen to the views of all stakeholders—unions, employees, employers and the In its first term, my government spent $2.2 billion on improving public—as we work to achieve these objectives. highways; the largest investment of its kind in Saskatchewan history. AFFORDABILITY Over 6,000 kilometres of highways have been improved. During the most recent Saskatchewan election, issues of That commitment will be matched with a further $2.2 billion affordability rightly came forward. investment in the next four years. Many ideas, some conflicting, were discussed and evaluated. Improving digital and electronic infrastructure is essential to the This will be a government that continues to listen, continues to new economy. learn and continues to respond with action. Dropped cellphone calls are still a problem, despite an My government will consider ideas from all sources, including increased investment in SaskTel’s 4G network of $170 million Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. in my government’s first term. As Saskatchewan continues to grow, affordable housing has In the current budget year, an additional $100 million will be become a major issue. allocated to keep up with growth in demand for connectivity. These pressures can be eased through partnerships involving My government will also allocate an additional $75 million governments, municipalities, builders and community-based over the next three years for the next generation of wireless organizations. technologies. My government will introduce legislation to extend notice The Minister responsible has been instructed to make this periods for rent increases from six months to one year. SaskTel’s number one priority. This will apply to property owners who choose not to In the last three years, my government invested $273 million on participate in the newly created tenant assistance initiative innovation. established by the Saskatchewan Rental Housing Industry These investments are the catalyst that will fuel economic Association. growth well into the future. My government continues to make progress through the Farm and ranch families are the backbone of our province. Saskatchewan Advantage Housing Plan. My government is proud to have introduced the three largest The plan is on track to meet our target of 4,600 new, entry-level agricultural budgets in Saskatchewan history.