DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS
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First 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. LXXIII No. 2 - 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, October 1, 2019 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 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 Southdale PC GUENTER, Josh Borderland PC GUILLEMARD, Sarah Fort Richmond PC HELWER, Reg Brandon West PC ISLEIFSON, Len Brandon East PC JOHNSON, Derek 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 MOSES, Jamie St. Vital NDP MICHALESKI, Brad Dauphin PC MICKLEFIELD, Andrew Rossmere PC MORLEY-LECOMTE, Janice Seine River PC 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 89 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Tuesday, October 1, 2019 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Hon. Rochelle Squires (Minister of Sustainable Development): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table Madam Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from the annual report for 2018-2019 for Manitoba Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled Sustainable Development. here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, O Hon. Ralph Eichler (Minister of Agriculture): merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table the 2018-2019 that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may annual report for Manitoba Agriculture. seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and Hon. Cathy Cox (Minister of Sport, Culture and accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Heritage): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table the Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen. annual report for Sport, Culture and Heritage for the Please be seated. fiscal year 2018-2019. Hon. Blaine Pedersen (Minister of Growth, ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Enterprise and Trade): Madam Speaker, I am Madam Speaker: Introduction of bills? Committee pleased to table the Manitoba Growth, Enterprise and reports? Trade 2018-19 annual report. TABLING OF REPORTS Hon. Eileen Clarke (Minister of Indigenous and Northern Relations): Good afternoon, Madam Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Minister of Education and Speaker, I am pleased to table the 2018-2019 annual Training): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table report for the Department of Indigenous and Northern Manitoba Education and Training's annual report for Relations. 2018 and 2019. Hon. Jeff Wharton (Minister of Municipal Hon. Cliff Cullen (Minister of Justice and Attorney Relations): I'm pleased to table the 2018-2019 annual General): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table the report for the Department of Municipal Relations. annual report for Manitoba Justice for the fiscal year 2018-19. Hon. Ron Schuler (Minister of Infrastructure): Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to table the Hon. Heather Stefanson (Minister of Families): Department of Manitoba Infrastructure's annual Madam Speaker, I am pleased the Department of report for 2018-2019. Thank you. Families 2018-2019 annual report. Madam Speaker: And I also have some reports to Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, table. Seniors and Active Living): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table the annual report for 2018-2019 for In accordance with section 4 of the Members' Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living. Salaries, Allowances and Retirement Plans Disclosure Regulation, I'm tabling the members' annual report of Hon. Scott Fielding (Minister of Finance): Madam amounts claimed and paid for the fiscal year ending Speaker, it's my pleasure to rise today in Assembly to May 17th, 2019. table the employee pensions and other costs 2018-2019 annual report. I'm also pleased to table–in accordance with section 28(1) of The Auditor General Act, I'm tabling It's my pleasure rise today in Assembly to table the Auditor General special report titled the Manitoba Finance Annual Report 2018-19. Understanding my Audit Opinion on Manitoba's It's my pleasure to rise in Assembly to table the March 31st, 2019, Summary Financial Statements, Manitoba Civil Service Commission Annual Report. dated September, 2019. Finally, it's my pleasure to rise today in Assembly And, finally, I'm also tabling–in accordance with to table the Manitoba Finance Supplementary section 32(1) of The Elections Act and Information for Legislative Review 2019-20, subsection 107(1) of The Elections Financing Act, I'm department information for legislative review. tabling the Elections Manitoba 2018 Annual Report, 90 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA October 1, 2019 including the conduct of the St. Boniface by-election, As part of the celebration of DEAM, we dated July 17th, 2018. invite you to join the Manitoba government at the October 9th employABILITY EXPO, where MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS employers will share the business case for hiring Disability Employment Awareness Month Manitobans with disabilities, including strategic investments in talent, reliability and reputation. Madam Speaker: I would indicate that the required I would like to conclude by acknowledging the 90 minutes notice prior to routine proceedings was many Manitoba employers who have shown provided in accordance with rule 26(2). leadership in hiring individuals with disabilities. Hon. Heather Stefanson (Minister of Families): By removing barriers to employment we all Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise in the House contribute to and benefit from a more inclusive and today to recognize October as Disability Employment accessible Manitoba. Thank you. Awareness Month, also known as DEAM. Ms. Danielle Adams (Thompson): Today marks Disability Employment Awareness Month is an Disability Employment Awareness Month, the month opportunity to celebrate the contributions of proclaimed by the previous NDP government just Manitobans with disabilities to our economy and seven years ago to raise awareness about the to our communities. It is also a chance to pay tribute employment needs, barriers, contributions of people to the rich network of non-profit organizations, with different abilities, needs in the labour market. employment agencies, educators, individuals with disabilities and their families who are committed to All Manitobans have relations with folks who strengthening employment opportunities for persons have varying degrees of accessibility needs. It's with disabilities in Manitoba. important for everyone in our province to take the time to reflect on how challenging it can be for One in four Manitoba adults has a disability. people in our communities to find employment; Despite the advantages–despite the advances in compared to those who do not find themselves technology that facilitate inclusive workplaces, and disabled by social or environmental barriers. although half of the job-ready Canadians with * (13:40) disabilities have post-secondary education, almost one-third remain unemployed. In January last year the government rejected a core application funding for the Manitoba League of That is why on May 1st, 2019, the Manitoba Persons with Disabilities in the 2018-19 fiscal year. government enacted the Accessibility Standard for Groups like the LMPD rely on provincial funding to Employment. With the assistance of free guides, assist those with accessibility needs to find employ- policy templates, checklists and training, this new ment. When they cannot expand their services to meet regulation under The Accessibility for Manitobans the demand it hurts people with accessibility needs. Act will guide Manitoba employers on how to provide reasonable accommodations at minimal cost. It is important that organizations responsible for supporting employment initiatives are well funded All employers, big and small, have a and supported by the government. As the month goes May 1st, 2020 deadline to keep employees with dis- on, I encourage you all to continue to promote respect abilities safe during an emergency by identifying and advocate for inclusion for all people in the work who requires what assistance and asking permission environment. to share this information with individuals who agree to help. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Our government is working in partnership with Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): I request leave agencies that help job seekers and business in its to respond to the ministerial statement. employment-first approach to creating an inclusive Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for society. St. Boniface have leave to respond to the ministerial statement? [Agreed] We will continue to work towards the goal and unleashing the employment potential of persons with Mr. Lamont: It's an honour to stand to recognize disabilities through a new advisory group that we will Disability Employment Awareness Month. Disability establish to collaborate with advocates and employers.