Hansard: May 17, 2016
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FIRST SESSION - TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan ____________ DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS ____________ (HANSARD) Published under the authority of The Hon. Corey Tochor Speaker N.S. VOL. 58 NO. 1B TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2016, 14:00 MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN 1st Session — 28th Legislature Speaker — Hon. Corey Tochor Premier — Hon. Brad Wall Leader of the Opposition — Trent Wotherspoon Beaudry-Mellor, Tina — Regina University (SP) Makowsky, Gene — Regina Gardiner Park (SP) Beck, Carla — Regina Lakeview (NDP) Marit, David — Wood River (SP) Belanger, Buckley — Athabasca (NDP) McCall, Warren — Regina Elphinstone-Centre (NDP) Bonk, Steven — Moosomin (SP) McMorris, Hon. Don — Indian Head-Milestone (SP) Boyd, Hon. Bill — Kindersley (SP) Merriman, Paul — Saskatoon Silverspring-Sutherland (SP) Bradshaw, Fred — Carrot River Valley (SP) Michelson, Warren — Moose Jaw North (SP) Brkich, Greg — Arm River (SP) Moe, Hon. Scott — Rosthern-Shellbrook (SP) Buckingham, David — Saskatoon Westview (SP) Morgan, Hon. Don — Saskatoon Southeast (SP) Campeau, Hon. Jennifer — Saskatoon Fairview (SP) Nerlien, Hugh — Kelvington-Wadena (SP) Carr, Lori — Estevan (SP) Olauson, Eric — Saskatoon University (SP) Chartier, Danielle — Saskatoon Riversdale (NDP) Ottenbreit, Hon. Greg — Yorkton (SP) Cheveldayoff, Hon. Ken — Saskatoon Willowgrove (SP) Parent, Roger — Saskatoon Meewasin (SP) Cox, Hon. Herb — The Battlefords (SP) Phillips, Kevin — Melfort (SP) D’Autremont, Dan — Cannington (SP) Rancourt, Nicole — Prince Albert Northcote (NDP) Dennis, Terry — Canora-Pelly (SP) Reiter, Hon. Jim — Rosetown-Elrose (SP) Docherty, Hon. Mark — Regina Coronation Park (SP) Ross, Laura — Regina Rochdale (SP) Doherty, Hon. Kevin — Regina Northeast (SP) Sarauer, Nicole — Regina Douglas Park (NDP) Doke, Larry — Cut Knife-Turtleford (SP) Sproule, Cathy — Saskatoon Nutana (NDP) Duncan, Hon. Dustin — Weyburn-Big Muddy (SP) Steele, Doug — Cypress Hills (SP) Eyre, Bronwyn — Saskatoon Stonebridge-Dakota (SP) Steinley, Warren — Regina Walsh Acres (SP) Fiaz, Muhammad — Regina Pasqua (SP) Stewart, Hon. Lyle — Lumsden-Morse (SP) Forbes, David — Saskatoon Centre (NDP) Tell, Hon. Christine — Regina Wascana Plains (SP) Hargrave, Joe — Prince Albert Carlton (SP) Tochor, Hon. Corey — Saskatoon Eastview (SP) Harpauer, Hon. Donna — Humboldt-Watrous (SP) Vermette, Doyle — Cumberland (NDP) Harrison, Hon. Jeremy — Meadow Lake (SP) Wall, Hon. Brad — Swift Current (SP) Hart, Glen — Last Mountain-Touchwood (SP) Weekes, Randy — Biggar-Sask Valley (SP) Heppner, Hon. Nancy — Martensville-Warman (SP) Wilson, Hon. Nadine — Saskatchewan Rivers (SP) Kaeding, Warren — Melville-Saltcoats (SP) Wotherspoon, Trent — Regina Rosemont (NDP) Kirsch, Delbert — Batoche (SP) Wyant, Hon. Gordon — Saskatoon Northwest (SP) Lambert, Lisa — Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood (SP) Young, Colleen — Lloydminster (SP) Lawrence, Greg — Moose Jaw Wakamow (SP) Party Standings: Saskatchewan Party (SP) — 51; New Democratic Party (NDP) — 10 Clerks-at-the-Table Clerk — Gregory A. Putz Law Clerk & Parliamentary Counsel — Kenneth S. Ring, Q.C. Hansard on the Internet Principal Clerk — Iris Lang Hansard and other documents of the Clerk Assistant — Kathy Burianyk Legislative Assembly are available within hours after each sitting. Sergeant-at-Arms — Maurice Riou http://www.legassembly.sk.ca/legislative-business/legislative-calendar LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN 3 May 17, 2016 [The Assembly resumed at 14:00.] three key areas: The Speaker: — Members of the Legislative Assembly, ladies - My government will keep our economy strong; and gentlemen, please remain standing for the entrance of the Lieutenant Governor and the Vice-Regal party. - It will keep the province’s finances strong; and [Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor entered the Chamber at - It will keep Saskatchewan’s position in Canada 14:03.] strong by always standing up for Saskatchewan’s interests. Her Honour: — Pray be seated. KEEPING PROMISES SPEECH FROM THE THRONE During this session, my government will move forward on the Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly, honoured campaign commitments it made to keep Saskatchewan strong guests, people of Saskatchewan. and provide a better quality of life for all Saskatchewan people. th Welcome to the opening of the First Session of the 28 Over the past eight years, my government has made record Saskatchewan Legislature. investments in highways and infrastructure, repairing and rebuilding over 10,000 kilometres of Saskatchewan roads. Just a few weeks ago, the people of Saskatchewan chose the women and men who will have the tremendous honour and Still, there is more work to be done and more highways to be responsibility of serving in this Assembly. fixed. My government wants to begin the first session of this new Starting this year and over the next three years, my government Legislative Assembly by saying thank you. will fix more highways through a $70 million surge in highway repair and maintenance. Thank you to all of the candidates who stood for election on th April 4 . This is part of a new Highways 2020 Plan to invest $2.7 billion in highways and transportation capital over the next four years. Our vibrant democracy is well-served by an active debate and contest of ideas between strong candidates from all parties. In addition to making our highways safer for everyone, this important investment in highways will create economic activity Thank you to the thousands of volunteers who worked on and jobs in the short-term and will strengthen our ability to campaigns throughout the province – giving of their time and move Saskatchewan goods to market in the long-term. effort to make Saskatchewan a better place. My government will also continue to move forward on many Thank you to all the Elections Saskatchewan officials who other important infrastructure projects underway throughout the administered a fair and impartial election process. province – schools, hospitals, long-term care facilities, the Regina Bypass – using both traditional funding models and But most of all, thank you to the people of Saskatchewan who public-private partnerships or P3s to ensure Saskatchewan took the time to consider all the options and make their choice. residents receive the best possible value for their tax dollars. The 61 Members of this new Legislative Assembly are grateful These important infrastructure investments by ministries and for and humbled by the trust you have placed in them and will Crowns will total $3.6 billion this year – a record investment work hard every day to be deserving of that trust. that will help meet the needs of a growing province, facilitate our growth plan and create jobs and opportunity that will keep My government also wants to thank the people of Saskatchewan strong. Saskatchewan for their heartfelt responses to the horrific events in La Loche and in Fort McMurray. KEEPING OUR ECONOMY STRONG Saskatchewan will continue to stand with those communities as Saskatchewan has now enjoyed a decade of growth. they recover and heal from these tragedies. From January 1, 2006 to January 1, 2016, Saskatchewan grew KEEPING SASKATCHEWAN STRONG by 150,000 people or 15 per cent – the strongest sustained th period of growth since the earliest days of our province. On April 4 , my government was re-elected based on a campaign that made few specific promises, but instead made This is a dramatic turnaround from the previous decade of one simple yet significant commitment – to keep Saskatchewan decline. strong. From January 1, 1996 to January 1, 2006, Saskatchewan’s During this session, my government will keep its promises and population dropped by nearly 24,000 people, as thousands left it will honour its commitment to keep Saskatchewan strong in our province to pursue opportunities elsewhere. 4 Saskatchewan Hansard May 17, 2016 My government is committed to ensuring Saskatchewan never attract new investment. returns to those days of decline and that this new era of growth continues. In just the last few weeks, a number of companies have announced major new investments and expansions in To that end, my government will consult with industry on the Saskatchewan: establishment of a new growth tax incentive. - Edgewood Forest Products at Carrot River held its grand It will be the first innovation tax rate of its kind established in opening of a $25 million saw mill expansion expected to North America. employ 50 people; This new “patent box” tax incentive is designed to create jobs - Crescent Point Energy announced it will spend about and investment through an advantageous tax rate for the $800 million of its projected $950 million capital budget commercialization of patents and intellectual property right for 2016 in Saskatchewan; here in our province. - Husky Energy will invest more than $1 billion related to My government is also committed to helping small, home-based heavy oil thermal projects creating approximately 90 food businesses grow in Saskatchewan. fulltime jobs and 500 construction jobs; To that end, it will allow home-based food producers to sell Weil Group is building a $10 million helium facility high-quality, low-risk foods, prepared in the home, directly to - near Mankota that will supply refined, industrial-grade consumers and retailers. helium to markets throughout North America; These new initiatives build on many steps my government has already taken to encourage economic growth and - RII North America has a $50 million enhanced oil diversification, including: recovery