Second 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. LXXIV No. 31 - 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 27, 2020 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, Hon. Fort Richmond PC HELWER, Reg, Hon. 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 1075 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Wednesday, May 27, 2020 The House met at 1:30 p.m. MLA Asagwara: Bill 212, personal-care homes– Madam Speaker, today I am proud to introduce Madam Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from Bill 212, The Health Services Insurance Amendment Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled Act (Personal Care Home Guidelines). This bill puts here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to into law requirements to have at least 3.6 hours of care the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, O per resident per day and requires the government to merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only set standards on direct care hours. that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and Seniors and residents of long-term-care homes accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of need our support. I hope we can collectively pass this Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen. bill, Madam Speaker. Please be seated. Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] Good afternoon, everybody. And I would just indicate at this time, my Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Government House apologies to the member for improperly making a Leader): Good afternoon, Madam Speaker. reference. On the issue of members' statements, I'm seeking Committee reports? Tabling of reports? leave of the House to allow one of the government MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS members' statements to be provided to the Madam Speaker: The honourable minister of– independent Liberal member for today only. [interjection]–oh. Madam Speaker: Is there leave to allow one of the And I would indicate that the required 90 minutes government members' statements to be provided to a notice for routine proceedings was provided in Liberal member for today only? [Agreed] accordance with our rule 26(2). ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Would the honourable minister please proceed INTRODUCTION OF BILLS with his statement. Bill 212–The Health Services Insurance Paramedic Services Week Amendment Act Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, (Personal Care Home Guidelines) Seniors and Active Living): I rise to inform the MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): I House that we have proclaimed May 24th to 30th as move, seconded by the member for Notre Dame Paramedic Services Week in Manitoba. (Ms. Marcelino), that Bill 212, the health services– Paramedics put their own health at risk to provide oh–The Health Services Insurance Amendment Act life-saving medical care to patients at home, in (Personal Care Home Guidelines), be now read a first community and during transport to health-care time. facilities, ensuring that people get emergency treatment when and where they need it. Madam Speaker: I would ask the member if she could reintroduce her bill and to indicate the seconder Paramedics are our first line of the health-care has to be a member that's in their seat. system in emergency situations, but paramedics are also involved in the health of Manitobans through a MLA Asagwara: Thank you, Madam Speaker. variety of innovative and dynamic community I move, seconded by the member for Point programs. They are a critical part of our health-care Douglas (Mrs. Smith), that Bill 212, The Health system, providing patient care from the moment a call Services Insurance Amendment Act (Personal Care for help is first made. Home Guidelines), be now read a first time. Madam Speaker, Manitoba has provided an Motion presented. additional $12.1 million in EMS funding to allow for 1076 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 27, 2020 the creation of about 150 new full-time-equivalent Paramedics are constantly coming up against paramedic positions. We cut ambulance fees in half shortages. In Manitoba we need an increased focus on for Manitobans and we have continued to invest in community paramedicine to increase community paramedics. Last year, we invested $10 million to supports and to help keep people healthy at home and purchase 65 replacement ambulances to modernize out of hospital. the province's fleet, ensure paramedic safety, and improve patient care. Now, each of the first days of–the first five days, rather, of this week of acknowledgement has a public And we promised in 2016 to allow the profession education focus, Madam Speaker, that's designed to of paramedicine to become self-regulated and we are educate citizens on paramedics during a pandemic on the way. Public consultations on the practice of health emergency. And today happens to be the paramedicine regulation are now on and those education day called Protect the Protectors and Help consultations will continue until June 29th. the Helpers. A full breakdown of the education days can be found at paramedicchiefs.ca. The valued contributions that our paramedics make every day is appreciated, especially during this I'd like to give a special shout-out to a couple of COVID-19 pandemic, when they are often the first paramedics I know personally. Their names are Saru point of contact for Manitobans in need. Paramedics and Renu. They not only practise paramedicine with are always there for us, and that's why we are proud to exemplary integrity and care for community, but they be there for them by investing in hiring more of them, also contribute positively to marginalized and targeted providing them with newer and better-equipped communities off–in their personal time, Madam ambulances and delivering on our promise of Speaker. They are but two examples of the many self-regulation for paramedicine. paramedics whose expertise and values in Manitoba help keep us all safer and healthier. I want to thank Manitoba's paramedics for Thank you to all paramedics. We wish you and being true health-care heroes, risking their own your families and communities safety and good health to help people when they need it the most. health. Your dedication, commitment and hard work are greatly appreciated by our government and by all Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Madam Manitobans. Speaker, I ask for leave to speak in response to the minister's statement. MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): Madam Speaker, the theme for Paramedic Services Week Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to 2020 is Pandemic: Paramedics on the Front Line and respond to the ministerial statement? [Agreed] it demonstrates the important role that paramedics Ms. Lamoureux: I stand today to briefly discuss play on the front lines of the health-care system during Paramedic Services Week. this pandemic. Every day, paramedics contribute heroic actions We always value our paramedics, but during this to respond to health emergencies which contribute to pandemic we've been reminded just how critical their the saving of countless lives here in Manitoba. expertise is in a time of unprecedented stress, risk and challenges. With paramedics on the front lines of this The theme of this year's week is Pandemic: COVID-19 pandemic, the work that they do day in Paramedics on the Front Line. This theme recognizes and day out has an added element of risk. that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the already high risk that first responders are taking to For every call for help, no matter the situation, help keep Manitobans safe and healthy. paramedics are having to take extra precautions to keep themselves and patients safe, though not all Madam Speaker, while there are a lot of steps paramedics in the province have been adequately being taken to ensure the safety of both patients and protected. During the peak of this pandemic, rural responding paramedics, we must continue to ensure paramedics in the province were sounding the first responders have the proper supports they need to alarm that they were being equipped with inferior do their job safely.