FOURTH SESSION - TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan ____________ DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS ____________ (HANSARD) Published under the authority of The Hon. Dan D’Autremont Speaker N.S. VOL. 57 NO. 30A MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015, 13:30 MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN Speaker — Hon. Dan D’Autremont Premier — Hon. Brad Wall Leader of the Opposition — Cam Broten Name of Member Political Affiliation Constituency Belanger, Buckley NDP Athabasca Bjornerud, 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 Campeau, Hon. Jennifer SP Saskatoon Fairview Chartier, Danielle NDP Saskatoon Riversdale Cheveldayoff, Hon. Ken SP Saskatoon Silver Springs Cox, Herb SP The Battlefords D’Autremont, Hon. Dan SP Cannington Docherty, Hon. Mark SP Regina Coronation Park Doherty, Hon. Kevin SP Regina Northeast Doke, Larry SP Cut Knife-Turtleford Draude, 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 Harpauer, Hon. Donna SP Humboldt Harrison, Hon. Jeremy SP Meadow Lake Hart, Glen SP Last Mountain-Touchwood Heppner, Hon. Nancy SP Martensville Hutchinson, Bill SP Regina South Huyghebaert, D.F. (Yogi) SP Wood River Jurgens, Victoria SP Prince Albert Northcote Kirsch, Delbert SP Batoche Krawetz, Hon. Ken SP Canora-Pelly Lawrence, Greg SP Moose Jaw Wakamow Makowsky, Gene SP Regina Dewdney Marchuk, Russ SP Regina Douglas Park McCall, Warren NDP Regina Elphinstone-Centre McMorris, Hon. Don SP Indian Head-Milestone Merriman, Paul SP Saskatoon Sutherland Michelson, Warren SP Moose Jaw North Moe, Hon. Scott SP Rosthern-Shellbrook Morgan, Hon. Don SP Saskatoon Southeast Nilson, John NDP Regina Lakeview Norris, Rob SP Saskatoon Greystone Ottenbreit, Hon. Greg SP Yorkton Parent, Roger SP Saskatoon Meewasin Phillips, Kevin SP Melfort Reiter, Hon. Jim SP Rosetown-Elrose Ross, Laura SP Regina Qu’Appelle Valley Sproule, Cathy NDP Saskatoon Nutana Steinley, Warren SP Regina Walsh Acres Stewart, Hon. Lyle SP Thunder Creek Tell, Hon. Christine SP Regina Wascana Plains Tochor, Corey SP Saskatoon Eastview Toth, Don SP Moosomin Vermette, Doyle NDP Cumberland Wall, Hon. Brad SP Swift Current Weekes, Randy SP Biggar Wilson, Hon. Nadine SP Saskatchewan Rivers Wotherspoon, Trent NDP Regina Rosemont Wyant, Hon. Gordon SP Saskatoon Northwest Young, Colleen SP Lloydminster Vacant Prince Albert Carlton LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN 6475 March 9, 2015 [The Assembly met at 13:30.] to add a couple of comments of welcome to the community leaders that are here today, Mr. Speaker, for Commonwealth [Prayers] Day. I want to thank all the leaders that have joined us here today, Dr. Jackson and all guests. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS But I wanted to specifically thank Mr. Bert Clarke that’s joined INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS us here today. It was a pleasure to take in Black History Month gala with Mr. Clarke just a couple of weeks ago. The Speaker: — It being Commonwealth Day today, we have a number of guests in the Speaker’s gallery that I would like to It’s a pleasure to have Ms. Renu Kapoor with us here today, a introduce: from the Canadian International Council, Dr. leader and a force within our community for so many good Michael Jackson and Alexander Shalashniy; representing projects, and recently the well-deserving recipient of the U of R Barbados, Bert Clarke; representing India, Renu Kapoor and [University of Regina] President’s Award for a lifetime of Rani Bilkhu; representing Jamaica, Mavis Ashbourne-Palmer community service. It’s a pleasure also to welcome Ms. Rani and guest, Pam Taylor; representing Sierra Leone, Muna De Bilkhu, a good friend, a wonderful person, a leader within our Ciman; representing Trinidad and Tobago, Patricia community, and a wonderful family to join us here today. Harvey-Roberts; representing Uganda, Mike Luti; representing Zambia, Chimuka Simasiku and guest, Grace Musenge; And it’s a pleasure to welcome Ms. Muna De Ciman to her representing the United Kingdom, Teresa Walker and guest, Assembly here today. And many will be familiar with Muna. Elaine Morgan. I would ask all members to welcome them to She’s a force as well within our community. Her family are an our Legislative Assembly. exceptional family within our community, whether that be her daughter Phoebe or her son Chan, right now who is likely as The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Justice and well one of the best football and basketball players within our Attorney General. province, Mr. Speaker, and has exciting years ahead on that front, but also an exceptional student. Hon. Mr. Wyant: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to welcome four women to the legislature today So these are a few leaders that make our community better here who are making a tremendous difference in our community in Regina, make our province stronger, and I want to join in through their dedicated work with the Regina Sexual Assault welcoming them here today. Thank you. Centre. Seated in your gallery are Debbie House, the centre administrator — maybe just give us a little wave; thank you — The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Arm counsellor Cindy Bote and board members Crystal Giesbrecht River-Watrous. and Jasmine Collier. Mr. Brkich: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through As we will hear momentarily from my colleague in Regina you, I’d like to introduce a former member of this House, Mr. Qu’Appelle Valley, the centre is now celebrating its 40th year Sherwin Petersen, and his wife, Pauline. I want to welcome providing services to victims of interpersonal violence and them. They now reside in Manitou where they’ve been enjoying abuse. The centre provides a range of invaluable services, life there. I’d ask all members to welcome Mr. Petersen and his including counselling and a 24-hour sexual assault line, and wife to his legislature. also undertakes education and awareness initiatives, including the Be More Than a Bystander campaign which I would PRESENTING PETITIONS encourage all members and guests to review. The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Saskatoon Centre. Our government is a proud partner of the centre, providing annual funding of over $275,000, and looks forward to their Mr. Forbes: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to continued success as they begin their next 40 years, Mr. rise today to present a petition calling for greater protection for Speaker. I would ask all members to join me in welcoming our Saskatchewan citizens from developers who default on special guests in recognition of the centre’s 40th anniversary. fixed-price contracts. The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Regina Lakeview. And we know that in September of 2014 this government walked away from a new 48-unit affordable housing project in Mr. Nilson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to Regina, allowing a private developer to instead take control of join with the Minister of Justice in congratulating the centre on and rent the units at full market price. This government allowed 40 years of good service in the city of Regina. I know that there the private developer to back out of a fixed-price contract are many citizens of the city, but also of the province, who are without any penalties, setting a dangerous precedent for this very thankful for the help that they’ve received from you, and type of default. And further, when asked to explain the we look forward to many more years of service here in the government’s decision, the Minister of Social Services said, and community. Thank you. I quote, “You’re assuming there’s these desperate homeless people,” showing how disconnected this government is from the The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Regina Rosemont. realities within our communities. Mr. Wotherspoon: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted Mr. Speaker, I’d like to read the prayer now: 6476 Saskatchewan Hansard March 9, 2015 We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request way to support this incredible cause. that the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan take the following action: cause the government to recognize that Mr. Speaker, I’d also like to say a very special thank you to Bob there are indeed desperate homeless people in our province McGrath for doing a wonderful job of hosting again this year. and to immediately reverse its policy of now allowing Bob has been hosting the telethon every year except one since private developers with whom the government has close 1977. Unfortunately he announced this was his last year. His relationships to default on fixed-price contracts for dedication to helping the people of the province has been affordable housing projects. outstanding and he will be greatly missed. Mr. Speaker, I do so present. Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, I ask all members join me in thanking Bob McGrath and the many talented performers, and the people of The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Regina Rosemont. Saskatchewan for their donations. I’d also like to congratulate the Kinsmen Foundation for a very successful Telemiracle Mr. Wotherspoon: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my telethon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. pleasure to rise to present petitions on behalf of concerned residents here in Regina, Mr. Speaker, as it relates to the unsafe The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Saskatoon Centre. conditions created by that government on Dewdney Avenue, Mr. Speaker, relating directly to that government’s failure to Mr. Forbes: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I too plan appropriately and a failure to ensure safe flow of traffic, would like to recognize Telemiracle 39 and that it took place in resulting in Dewdney Avenue, a residential artery, being Saskatoon over this past weekend.