Third Session – Forty-Second Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Myrna Driedger Speaker Vol. LXXV No. 12 - 1:30 p.m., Monday, November 2, 2020 ISSN 0542-5492 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Forty-Second Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ADAMS, Danielle Thompson NDP ALTOMARE, Nello Transcona NDP ASAGWARA, Uzoma Union Station NDP BRAR, Diljeet Burrows NDP BUSHIE, Ian Keewatinook NDP CLARKE, Eileen, Hon. Agassiz PC COX, Cathy, Hon. Kildonan-River East PC CULLEN, Cliff, Hon. Spruce Woods PC DRIEDGER, Myrna, Hon. Roblin PC EICHLER, Ralph, Hon. Lakeside PC EWASKO, Wayne Lac du Bonnet PC FIELDING, Scott, Hon. Kirkfield Park PC FONTAINE, Nahanni St. Johns NDP FRIESEN, Cameron, Hon. Morden-Winkler PC GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GOERTZEN, Kelvin, Hon. Steinbach PC GORDON, Audrey Southdale PC GUENTER, Josh Borderland PC GUILLEMARD, Sarah, Hon. Fort Richmond PC HELWER, Reg, Hon. Brandon West PC ISLEIFSON, Len Brandon East PC JOHNSON, Derek Interlake-Gimli PC JOHNSTON, Scott Assiniboia PC KINEW, Wab Fort Rouge NDP LAGASSÉ, Bob Dawson Trail PC LAGIMODIERE, Alan Selkirk PC LAMONT, Dougald St. Boniface Lib. LAMOUREUX, Cindy Tyndall Park Lib. LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas-Kameesak NDP LINDSEY, Tom Flin Flon NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Malaya Notre Dame NDP MARTIN, Shannon McPhillips PC MOSES, Jamie St. Vital NDP MICHALESKI, Brad Dauphin PC MICKLEFIELD, Andrew Rossmere PC MORLEY-LECOMTE, Janice Seine River PC NAYLOR, Lisa Wolseley NDP NESBITT, Greg Riding Mountain PC PALLISTER, Brian, Hon. Fort Whyte PC PEDERSEN, Blaine, Hon. Midland PC PIWNIUK, Doyle Turtle Mountain PC REYES, Jon Waverley PC SALA, Adrien St. James NDP SANDHU, Mintu The Maples NDP SCHULER, Ron, Hon. Springfield-Ritchot PC SMITH, Andrew Lagimodière PC SMITH, Bernadette Point Douglas NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Vérendrye PC SQUIRES, Rochelle, Hon. Riel PC STEFANSON, Heather, Hon. Tuxedo PC TEITSMA, James Radisson PC WASYLIW, Mark Fort Garry NDP WHARTON, Jeff, Hon. Red River North PC WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WISHART, Ian Portage la Prairie PC WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC 433 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, November 2, 2020 The House met at 1:30 p.m. official opposition members and one independent Liberal, with the official opposition limited to one Madam Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from staff member in each of the three sections and the Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled Liberals limited to one staffperson per caucus in the here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to committee rooms. the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only To clarify, the ministers and critics do not have to that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may be physically present in the sections of the Committee seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and of Supply. They have the choice to be physically accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of present or to participate virtually. The Supply Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen. chairpersons will be present in each section. Please be seated. We are living in unprecedented times and the Speaker's Statement Legislative Assembly will continue to be responsive and provide options to ensure the health and safety of Madam Speaker: I have a statement for the House. MLAs and Assembly political and non-political staff In light of the move to the code red level for the working in the Legislative Assembly. city of Winnipeg, I would like to advise the House and all members–or, pardon me, and all Manitobans, of And I would just like to thank all of those who the steps taken by the Legislative Assembly to provide have worked very diligently over the past few days additional measures for health and safety during and particularly also on the weekend to reach these sittings of the Legislature. decisions which have been put in place for the protection of health for all. By agreement of the government and opposition House leaders and the member for River Heights Thank you. (Mr. Gerrard), the seating capacity and number of ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS MLAs permitted to be present in the Chamber for legislative sittings is now reduced to 25 per cent. This INTRODUCTION OF BILLS equates to the Speaker, 10 government MLAs, five Bill 48–The Fiscal Responsibility and official opposition MLAs and one Liberal MLA, with Taxpayer Protection Amendment Act no switching of seats by the Liberal members allowed. Hon. Scott Fielding (Minister of Finance): I move, All other MLAs will be participating in the second by the Minister of Education (Mr. Goertzen), legislative sittings by virtual means. The seating plan that Bill 48, The Fiscal Responsibility and Taxpayer continues to apply on a week-to-week basis so that Protection Amendment Act, be read a first time. caucuses can alternate the MLAs who are physically present in the Chamber. Motion presented. In addition, the virtual component has been added Mr. Fielding: I'm pleased to bill–to move Bill 48, to all three sections for the Committee of Supply for The Fiscal Responsibility and Taxpayer Protection those MLAs who do not wish to be physically present Amendment Act. to participate, and the previously agreed upon restriction of no more than six MLAs at a time in any Based on the language about our intent to–intent one section continues to apply. outlined in our recent Throne Speech, the bill will modify Manitoba's balanced budget plan to reflect the This has been facilitated in a timely manner, unprecedented fiscal challenges currently facing thanks to the excellent work of the virtual planning Manitobans as a result of the pandemic. team and the head of Hansard recording and staff from media services. Thank you, Madam Speaker. The restriction of six in each section includes the Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to Chair, the minister, one government member, two adopt the motion? Agreed? [Agreed] 434 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 2, 2020 Bill 49–The Freedom of Information and Bill 56–The Smoking and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act Vapour Products Control Amendment Act Hon. Scott Fielding (Minister of Finance): I Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, move, second by the Minister of Health, that Bill 49, Seniors and Active Living): Madam Speaker, I rise– The Freedom of Information and Protection of sorry, I move, seconded by the Minister of Crown Privacy Amendment Act, now be read a first time. Services (Mr. Wharton), that Bill 56, The Smoking and Vapour Products Control Amendment Act, be Motion presented. now read a first time. Motion presented. Mr. Fielding: I'm pleased to move Bill 49, The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Mr. Friesen: Madam Speaker, Bill 56 will amend Amendment Act. The Smoking and Vapour Products Control Act, which is a law of general application designed to The–this legislation will modify or modernize address health issues and applies everywhere in the the–Manitoba's freedom of information and pro- province. tection of privacy regimen. As members will know, The amendments will seek to ensure that rules there's a requirement for a periodic review of the intended to protect Manitobans from second-hand act and public consultations 'identifided' several smoke will apply uniformly throughout the province recommendations to amend provisions of FIPPA. while, at the same time, of course, maintaining protections for the traditional or ceremonial use of Amendments will be more reflective of modern- tobacco. day information processes and mediums, and improve The honourable–oh. Is it the effectiveness of the administration of the act. Madam Speaker: pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? Agreed? [Agreed] Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? Agreed? [Agreed] Bill 47–The Early Learning and Child Care Act Bill 54–The Personal Health Information Hon. Heather Stefanson (Minister of Families): Amendment Act Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Education (Mr. Goertzen), that Bill 47, The Early Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, Learning and Child Care Act; Loi sur l'apprentissage Seniors and Active Living): I move, seconded by et la garde des jeunes enfants, be now read a first time. the Minister of Justice (Mr. Cullen), that Bill 54, Motion presented. The Personal Health Information Amendment Act, be now read a first time. * (13:40) Motion presented. Mrs. Stefanson: Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to rise in the House today for first reading of Bill 47, Mr. Friesen: Madam Speaker, Bill 54 will amend The Early Learning and Child Care Act. The Personal Health Information Amendment Act. COVID-19 has shown the need for greater These amendments follow the five-year mandated support and improvements to Manitoba's child-care review of The Personal Health Information Act, or sector, particularly to benefit front-line workers and PHIA, which ensures that PHIA continues to meet the parents working non-standard hours. This bill will needs of Manitobans and the trustees for personal include provisions that reflect our government's health information under PHIA. Throne Speech commitment to create a modern child- care system and funding model that will enable the The proposed amendments are intended to child-care sector to grow in line with demand from achieve this goal. They are based on the feedback Manitoba families. received in the review as well as on the review of privacy legislation in other provinces. Madam Speaker, our government has stood up for parents since the beginning of this unprecedented Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to public health emergency, and I'm proud to say that adopt the motion? Agreed? [Agreed] Bill 47 will allow our child-care system to better meet November 2, 2020 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 435 the needs of parents and children throughout our local level.