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. 39A WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016, 13:30 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, Hon. Tina — Regina University (SP) Makowsky, Gene — Regina Gardiner Park (SP) Beck, Carla — Regina Lakeview (NDP) Marit, Hon. David — Wood River (SP) Belanger, Buckley — Athabasca (NDP) McCall, Warren — Regina Elphinstone-Centre (NDP) Bonk, Steven — Moosomin (SP) McMorris, Don — Indian Head-Milestone (Ind.) Boyd, Bill — Kindersley (SP) Merriman, Hon. 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, 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, 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, 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, Hon. 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, Hon. 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, 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) — 50; New Democratic Party (NDP) — 10; Independent (Ind.) — 1 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 — Terry Quinn http://www.legassembly.sk.ca/legislative-business/legislative-calendar LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN 1231 November 9, 2016 [The Assembly met at 13:30.] to thank this group for being with us today and welcome them to their Legislative Assembly. [Prayers] While I’m on my feet, I’d also like to introduce two friends also ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS seated in the east gallery. With us today are Matt Lensen and Russell Green. Matt works for the SFL, the Saskatchewan INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Federation of Labour, and he teaches OH & S, occupational health and safety, in high schools. Russell is a recent graduate The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Environment. of U of S [University of Saskatchewan], and I understand he graduated at the top of his class and hopes to, or plans to be Hon. Mr. Moe: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. To you pursuing a law degree in the near future. and through you to all members of this Assembly, I’d like to welcome Ms. Bevra Fee, has come in today from the Shell Lake Mr. Speaker, these two young men are role models. They’re area, lives at Fur Lake just outside of Shell Lake. activists. They’re volunteers, and people that I am proud to know and to call friends, Mr. Speaker. And I want to let them She’s in doing some work. She’s a manager with the northern know today that they and members of the LGBTQ+ [lesbian, lakes economic development committee in the Spiritwood area gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning plus] and in the region up there, Mr. Speaker. She’s done a whole lot community have friends and allies in this Assembly, and we of great work with a number of different communities all will continue to work with you and to fight for human rights. throughout our constituency, the constituency of Meadow Lake, And I thank you for your work sincerely. I invite all members to Mr. Speaker. And I think she’s in town today for some meetings join with me to welcome them to their Legislative Assembly. with regards to the Main Street program. So all members please join me in welcoming Ms. Bevra Fee to her Legislative The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Douglas Assembly. Park. The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Ms. Sarauer: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through Lakeview. you and to all members of this Legislative Assembly, I’d like to introduce two individuals seated in your gallery, Mr. Speaker, Ms. Beck: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request leave for an Leanne Chung and Bo Batbaatar, who are both here today. extended introduction. They’re both students — I almost got that right; sorry, Bo — they are both students from the University of Regina. Leanne is The Speaker: — Is leave granted. studying politics, philosophy, and economics, and Bo is studying accounting. Some Hon. Members: — Agreed. They are both strong community leaders, young New The Speaker: — Carried. I recognize the member from Regina Democrats. I know Bo was very active in my campaign as well Lakeview. as our candidate for Regina University, and Leanne was quite active in our campaign for Regina Coronation Park. So I’d ask Ms. Beck: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise first today to all members to join me in welcoming them to their Assembly. introduce guests seated in the east gallery. With us today are 60 students from the grade 10 social studies class at Sheldon PRESENTING PETITIONS Williams Collegiate here in Regina. With them today are teachers Ms. McKillop and Mr. Paskiman, as well as The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon educational assistant Ms. Lorrielynn Austman-Olynik. Riversdale. Mr. Speaker, I know that in the short time that I’ve been in this Ms. Chartier: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my privilege Assembly, I believe this is the third time that Ms. McKillop has again to present a petition to reverse the cuts to the Lighthouse brought a class here, and I want to just thank her today for program. Mr. Speaker, the petitioners point out that in April doing that. I think it’s very important that we have young 2014 the Minister of Social Services said that the Lighthouse in people informed and engaged about our political process and Saskatoon would “. take pressure off of existing detox about politics in general. facilities, hospitals, and police cells, while keeping people safe, especially in our brutally cold winters.” That same day, Mr. And I know, or I suspect, today that she and Mr. Paskiman and Speaker, the petitioners point out that the Minister of Health many teachers around classrooms in Canada for sure, and North said, “We want to ensure that individuals with mental health America and perhaps around the world, are dealing with some and addictions issues have a safe place to stay,” Mr. Speaker. difficult questions from students. And I know that parents are as well. So I just want to thank you sincerely for the work that you And as well, this government over this same time has do in answering those questions, ensuring that our students have repeatedly indicated that the Lighthouse stabilization unit keeps good information, know how to think critically, and answer individuals out of hospitals, hospital emergency rooms, and jail some of those difficult questions. cells. I think that that has borne itself out in Saskatoon, Mr. Speaker, where they’ve seen record over capacity in Saskatoon So with that I would like to invite all members of this Assembly Health Region hospitals. Obviously the cuts to the Lighthouse 1232 Saskatchewan Hansard November 9, 2016 aren’t the whole problem, but they certainly don’t help the very vital function in our ecosystem. They take the form of issue, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to read the prayer: marshes, bogs, fens, swamps, and open water. Wetlands are home to wildlife, including waterfowl. They clean the water We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request running off of agricultural fields. They protect us from flooding that the Government of Saskatchewan immediately reverse and drought, and they are playgrounds where families can their cuts to funding that allows extremely vulnerable explore and play. people to access the services of the Lighthouse stabilization unit in Saskatoon, and revisit their imposition An Hon. Member: — Duck hunting. of a strict and narrow definition of homelessness in November of 2015 which forced the Lighthouse to cut Ms. Sproule: — And go duck hunting. In the worst cases, such back its hours of essential services in February of 2016, as some areas on the prairies, as much as 90 per cent of our and take immediate steps to ensure that homeless people in wetlands have disappeared. As they continue to disappear, so Saskatchewan have emergency shelter, clothing, and food too do the many benefits they provide.