DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS
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Fifth Session - Fortieth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Daryl Reid Speaker Vol. LXVIII No. 20 - 1:30 p.m., Monday, February 29, 2016 ISSN 0542-5492 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Fortieth Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALLAN, Nancy St. Vital NDP ALLUM, James, Hon. Fort Garry-Riverview NDP ALTEMEYER, Rob Wolseley NDP ASHTON, Steve, Hon. Thompson NDP BLADY, Sharon, Hon. Kirkfield Park NDP BRAUN, Erna, Hon. Rossmere NDP BRIESE, Stuart Agassiz PC CALDWELL, Drew, Hon. Brandon East NDP CHIEF, Kevin, Hon. Point Douglas NDP CHOMIAK, Dave, Hon. Kildonan NDP CROTHERS, Deanne, Hon. St. James NDP CULLEN, Cliff Spruce Woods PC DEWAR, Greg, Hon. Selkirk NDP DRIEDGER, Myrna Charleswood PC EICHLER, Ralph Lakeside PC EWASKO, Wayne Lac du Bonnet PC FRIESEN, Cameron Morden-Winkler PC GAUDREAU, Dave St. Norbert NDP GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Liberal GOERTZEN, Kelvin Steinbach PC GRAYDON, Cliff Emerson PC HELWER, Reg Brandon West PC HOWARD, Jennifer Fort Rouge NDP IRVIN-ROSS, Kerri, Hon. Fort Richmond NDP JHA, Bidhu Radisson NDP KOSTYSHYN, Ron, Hon. Swan River NDP LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas NDP LEMIEUX, Ron, Hon. Dawson Trail NDP MACKINTOSH, Gord, Hon. St. Johns NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Flor, Hon. Logan NDP MARCELINO, Ted Tyndall Park NDP MARTIN, Shannon Morris PC MELNICK, Christine Riel NDP MITCHELSON, Bonnie River East PC NEVAKSHONOFF, Thomas, Hon. Interlake NDP OSWALD, Theresa Seine River NDP PALLISTER, Brian Fort Whyte PC PEDERSEN, Blaine Midland PC PETTERSEN, Clarence Flin Flon NDP PIWNIUK, Doyle Arthur-Virden PC REID, Daryl, Hon. Transcona NDP ROBINSON, Eric, Hon. Kewatinook NDP RONDEAU, Jim Assiniboia NDP ROWAT, Leanne Riding Mountain PC SARAN, Mohinder, Hon. The Maples NDP SCHULER, Ron St. Paul PC SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St. Boniface NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Verendrye PC STEFANSON, Heather Tuxedo PC STRUTHERS, Stan Dauphin NDP SWAN, Andrew Minto NDP WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WIGHT, Melanie, Hon. Burrows NDP WISHART, Ian Portage la Prairie PC Vacant Gimli – Vacant Southdale – 639 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, February 29, 2016 The House met at 1:30 p.m. This bill is a concrete step we can take to help Mr. Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from children in care get the best possible education and Whom all power and wisdom come, we are improve the circumstances in their lives because, assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as on this side of the House, Mr. Speaker, everyone may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our matters. province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt we may desire only that which is in accordance with the motion? [Agreed] Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the Further introduction of bills? glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of Bill 207–The Participation of Manitoba all our people. Amen. in the New West Partnership Act Good afternoon, everyone. Please be seated. Mrs. Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo): Mr. Speaker, I ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS move, seconded by the member for Morden-Winkler (Mr. Friesen), that Bill 207, The Participation of INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Manitoba in the New West Partnership Act; Loi sur Bill 19–The Public Schools Amendment Act la participation du Manitoba au nouveau partenariat (Continuity of Learning) de l'Ouest, be now read for a first time. Hon. James Allum (Minister of Education and Motion presented. Advanced Learning): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Family Services Mrs. Stefanson: Mr. Speaker, this bill requires the (Ms. Irvin-Ross), that Bill 19, The Public Schools government of Manitoba to contact the governments Amendment Act (Continuity of Learning), be now of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan to read a first time. begin negotiations to join their economic partnership known as the New West Partnership within one year Motion presented. after the bill receives royal assent. Mr. Allum: I am pleased to stand before the House And, Mr. Speaker, we look forward to members today to table Bill 19, The Public Schools opposite supporting the speedy passage of this bill Amendment Act (Continuity of Learning). because we know it's in the best interest of Last month I was pleased to accept, along with Manitobans. the Minister of Family Services, a report from the Manitoba Task Force on Educational Outcomes of Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt Children in Care, co-chaired by Kevin Lamoureux the motion? [Agreed] and Tammy Christensen. This report provides some useful direction on how we can be sure to support all Any further introduction of bills? Seeing none, children in our schools, and this bill was developed we'll move on to committee reports. Tabling of to respond to their recommendations. reports? Ministerial statements? One of the key action areas identified by the task MEMBERS' STATEMENTS force was school placement and continuity. Students Riel-evate Foundation are more likely to succeed academically when they are connected to their school. That's why we're Mr. Bidhu Jha (Radisson): Mr. Speaker, winter has working hard to help all children be successful in our been a bit warmer this year in Manitoba, thanks in schools, especially those facing the additional barrier part to the Riel-evate Foundation. Riel-evate is a new of being in care. This bill will allow children in care group that works with Louis Riel School Division to to remain in the school in which they are enrolled help improve the lives of Manitobans. Their first even if their foster placement changes and they event was a massive clothing giveaway that reached longer–no longer reside in that school division. out to families across Winnipeg. 640 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA February 29, 2016 Riel-evate's staff includes Wayne Ruff, Marna During our discussion, they pointed out the Kenny, Tom Park, Duane Brothers and Cindy challenges that they feel the government needs to Turner. They are with us today in the gallery. address: transparency, lack of positivity in politics, Together they issued a challenge to Louis Riel taxes, infrastructure and the education system that School Division's schools and parent committees, has failed so many Manitoba students by not and the response was amazing. preparing them properly for life post high school, whether it be in post-secondary studies or the The Riel-evate Foundation collected more than workforce. 1,500 items of clothing because of the generosity of Manitobans. Volunteers piled the clothing high at the They further expressed the need for regular school division's office, and families showed up from review of government policies and legislation. They all over Winnipeg to sort out throughout the variety felt that applying the practice of setting realistic of clothes, toques, scarves and boots. goals and conducting thorough background research would produce the best results for citizens. This Riel-evate's generosity knows no bounds. One practice would better protect the taxpayer from night during the giveaway, a father came to get a ineffective spending and achieve measurable out- coat for his daughter. He merely asked if he could comes, not the continuation of flawed practices. have two, and his eyes lit up when he was offered to make as many as he wants. He answered that he * (13:40) always gets coats for his kids, but it was the first Mr. Speaker, these young people are concerned time that he was–he would remember when he could about the future of Manitoba just as much as the get one for warmth for himself. generations of Manitobans before them are. They This is just one example of how Riel-evate want to compete–complete their education here, be is reaching out to draw Manitoban families and gainfully employed here and raise their families here. students together. The Riel-evate Foundation is They want to see a government that works for them, excited about the incredible response to their first not vice versa. They think we need to listen to their initiative, and they are eagerly looking toward their voices and work toward providing them with the next general project. answers they so rightfully deserve. Thank you to all members of the Riel-evate, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to close by thanking the countless volunteers and anyone who donated their students for the opportunity to engage in such a clothing. Our team is proud of the work, and you are lively and informative discussion. I wish them all the doing a great job to Manitoba–to build Manitoba best for success in their studies and commit to work better. Thank you very much. toward getting the results they have asked for. If we work together, a change for the better is coming. Political Science Student Group École South Pointe School Mrs. Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to talk about Mr. Dave Gaudreau (St. Norbert): A record my recent visit with a group of students from the number of families have moved into Manitoba over University of Winnipeg. the past few years, especially in Waverley West. These students are enrolled in an introductory The schools in the area have been feeling the course in the political sciences program. Their strain of accommodating so many students, and our current topic of study is political participation. I NDP government has worked with them to build a was invited to provide a presentation on behalf of new K-to-8 school. We heard these concerns in 2013 our PC caucus and then open the floor to them for and announced the new école St.