Hansard: May 06, 2010
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THIRD SESSION - TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan ____________ DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS ____________ (HANSARD) Published under the authority of The Honourable Don Toth Speaker N.S. VOL. 52 NO. 57A THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2010, 10 a.m. MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN Speaker — Hon. Don Toth Premier — Hon. Brad Wall Leader of the Opposition — Dwain Lingenfelter Name of Member Political Affiliation Constituency Allchurch, Denis SP Rosthern-Shellbrook Atkinson, Pat NDP Saskatoon Nutana 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 Chartier, Danielle NDP Saskatoon Riversdale Cheveldayoff, Hon. Ken SP Saskatoon Silver Springs Chisholm, Michael SP Cut Knife-Turtleford D’Autremont, Dan SP Cannington Draude, Hon. June SP Kelvington-Wadena Duncan, Hon. Dustin SP Weyburn-Big Muddy Eagles, Doreen SP Estevan Elhard, Wayne SP Cypress Hills Forbes, David NDP Saskatoon Centre Furber, Darcy NDP Prince Albert Northcote Gantefoer, Hon. Rod SP Melfort Harpauer, Hon. Donna SP Humboldt Harper, Ron NDP Regina Northeast Harrison, Hon. Jeremy SP Meadow Lake Hart, Glen SP Last Mountain-Touchwood Heppner, Hon. Nancy SP Martensville Hickie, Darryl SP Prince Albert Carlton Higgins, Deb NDP Moose Jaw Wakamow Hutchinson, Hon. Bill SP Regina South Huyghebaert, Hon. D.F. (Yogi) SP Wood River Iwanchuk, Andy NDP Saskatoon Fairview Junor, Judy NDP Saskatoon Eastview Kirsch, Delbert SP Batoche Krawetz, Hon. Ken SP Canora-Pelly LeClerc, Serge Ind. Saskatoon Northwest Lingenfelter, Dwain NDP Regina Douglas Park McCall, Warren NDP Regina Elphinstone-Centre McMillan, Tim SP Lloydminster McMorris, Hon. Don SP Indian Head-Milestone Michelson, Warren SP Moose Jaw North Morgan, Hon. Don SP Saskatoon Southeast Morin, Sandra NDP Regina Walsh Acres Nilson, John NDP Regina Lakeview Norris, Hon. Rob SP Saskatoon Greystone Ottenbreit, Greg SP Yorkton Quennell, Frank NDP Saskatoon Meewasin Reiter, Hon. Jim SP Rosetown-Elrose Ross, Laura SP Regina Qu’Appelle Valley Schriemer, Joceline SP Saskatoon Sutherland Stewart, Lyle SP Thunder Creek Taylor, Len NDP The Battlefords Tell, Hon. Christine SP Regina Wascana Plains Toth, Hon. Don SP Moosomin Trew, Kim NDP Regina Coronation Park Vermette, Doyle NDP Cumberland Wall, Hon. Brad SP Swift Current Weekes, Randy SP Biggar Wilson, Nadine SP Saskatchewan Rivers Wotherspoon, Trent NDP Regina Rosemont Yates, Kevin NDP Regina Dewdney LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN 5401 May 6, 2010 [The Assembly met at 10:00.] Narrows. Presently, Mr. Speaker, that highway is a gravel road, but the upgrading of that road would be an excellent investment [Prayers] in the safety and well-being of the people of Pelican Narrows. The prayer reads as follows: ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS honourable Legislative Assembly may be pleased to cause the government to pave 7 kilometres of Highway 135 The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Canora-Pelly, or through the community of Pelican Narrows as committed Kelvington-Wadena, pardon me. to on August 24th, 2007. Hon. Ms. Draude: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to And in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray. you and through you, I’d like to introduce to my colleagues 26 grade 4 students in the west gallery from the great town of Mr. Speaker, this petition is signed by the good folks from Wadena. These students are accompanied today by Bertha Pelican Narrows, Saskatchewan. I so submit. Harvey and Lindsey Harvey, the teachers. And the chaperones are Candace Smoke, Bobbie Flandares, and Crystal Miller. I’m The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Moose Jaw absolutely delighted they made it today. I was a little worried Wakamow. that maybe the weather would keep them home. But I’m looking forward to a chance to meet with them later on, and I’m Ms. Higgins: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise to pleased you’re here, and I want to welcome you to your present a petition in support of marriage commissioners Legislative Building. upholding the law. Mr. Speaker, there are many citizens concerned about this issue across the province. And I would The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon read the prayer, Mr. Speaker: Massey Place. Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your Mr. Broten: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a true pleasure to honourable Legislative Assembly may be pleased to cause be able to introduce a family member to you and, through you, the government to direct marriage commissioners to to all members of this Assembly. Seated in your gallery, Mr. uphold the law and the equality rights of all Saskatchewan Speaker, is Curtis Wiebe. Curtis, if you could stand. Curtis is couples and to withdraw the reference to the my brother-in-law, married to Rachael, my wife’s sister, Ruth. Saskatchewan Court of Appeal that would allow marriage commissioners to opt out of their legal obligation to And Curtis is from Swift Current, lives in Swift Current, provide all couples with civil marriage services. originally from Rosetown. He practises law with Kanuka Thuringer in Swift Current. And Curtis always looks good, but And as in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray. if he looks a little tired it’s because they just welcomed their second son into the family, Karsten. So it’s been a busy few Mr. Speaker, I present on behalf of concerned citizens in Moose weeks for the Wiebe household. I should also mention that Jaw. Curtis recently began a term as president of the Swift Current Chamber of Commerce. So I’d ask all members to join me in The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon welcoming Curtis Wiebe to the gallery. Thank you. Eastview. The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Ms. Junor: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today on behalf Riversdale. of citizens of Saskatchewan who are concerned that many seniors live on fixed incomes and are victims of physical, Ms. Chartier: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m emotional, and financial abuse. And they understand that pleased to introduce, in the west gallery, Heather Malek who is seniors or believe that seniors have a right to social and a film and television editor here in Regina, who is working very economic security and a right to live free from poverty and that diligently to find out more details about the privatization of seniors have a right to protection from abuse, neglect, and Saskatchewan Communications Network and is disappointed exploitation. The new prayer reads: with this government’s policy decision. I’d like everyone to welcome her to her Legislative Assembly. We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request that the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan to PRESENTING PETITIONS enact a Saskatchewan seniors’ Bill of Rights, which would provide Saskatchewan seniors with social and The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina economic security and protection from abuse, neglect, and Northeast. exploitation. Mr. Harper: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise The petition is signed by the citizens from Glentworth, Fir today on behalf of citizens of Saskatchewan who are concerned Mountain, and Lafleche. I so present. over the safety of our highways. This petition pertains to Highway 135 which runs through the community of Pelican The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon 5402 Saskatchewan Hansard May 6, 2010 Centre. Mr. Speaker, the petition today is signed by folks from Duck Lake and Rosthern. I so present. Mr. Forbes: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise today and present a petition in support of affordable rents and The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Walsh housing for Saskatoon. We know this is a serious issue for Acres. seniors who have seen huge rent increases, some 30, 40 per cent, and yet the number of rental accommodation is continuing Ms. Morin: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise to to shrink. I’d like to read the prayer: present yet another petition with respect to water issues in rural Saskatchewan. We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request that the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan A government ministry has directed that the customers of take the following action: to call upon the Government of Furdale may no longer treat non-potable water using methods Saskatchewan to develop an affordable housing program approved by Sask Health. The Furdale residents, dealing in that will result in a greater number of quality and good faith with SaskWater for over 30 years, have paid large affordable rental units to be made available to more amounts for their domestic systems and in-home treatment people in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan and that the equipment. The alternative water supply being referred to by the government also implement a process of rent review or government ministry is a private operator offering treated, rent control to better protect tenants in a non-competitive non-pressurized water at great cost with no guarantee of quality, housing environment. quantity or availability of water. And the prayer reads as follows: Mr. Speaker, the people signing this petition come from Saskatoon. I do so present, thank you very much. Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your honourable Legislative Assembly may be pleased to cause The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon the government to withdraw its order to cut off Massey Place. non-potable water to the residents of the hamlet of Furdale, causing great hardship with no suitable Mr. Broten: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stand today to alternatives; to exempt the hamlet of Furdale from further present a petition in support of the expansion of the graduate water service cut-offs by granting a grandfather clause retention program and a call for fairness for university students under The Environmental Management and Protection here in Saskatchewan.