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. 31A TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 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 6501 March 10, 2015 [The Assembly met at 13:30.] these students to their Legislative Assembly. [Prayers] The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Saskatoon Centre. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Mr. Forbes: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, I would like to give a special introduction to one of the INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS guests in the gallery today, Cheyenne Lawton. You know, last week we had an alumni of Caswell School, and yet we have The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister for Rural and Remote another alumni of Caswell School, a former student of mine in Health. grade 7, 8. Last week we were talking about Mrs. Klopoushak, and she would remember Mrs. Klopoushak. So I want to ask all Hon. Mr. Ottenbreit: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and members to give her, Cheyenne and all the students a warm through you to all members of the Assembly, I’d like to welcome to their legislature. introduce some fine guests in your gallery this afternoon. They are Saskatchewan medical students here on their lobby day. The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Estevan. They met with a variety of ministers, our government policy committee as well as, I believe, with members of the Ms. Eagles: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too opposition. would like to join in welcoming all the medical students here today, but a special introduction to Larissa Padayachee. We had some great conversation, listened to a lot of their ideas Larissa’s dad, Dr. Veno Padayachee, and her mom, Dr. Diane which were really great to hear. I applaud their career choice Naidu, doctored in Estevan for many, many years. And I would and their commitment. I was really encouraged by their interest just like to welcome her again to her legislature. in seniors and seniors’ care, which again is a priority of our government, and I found a lot of their ideas and preferences and PRESENTING PETITIONS where they’d like to see us go is in fact where this government has been heading down the last number of years. I’d also like to The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Saskatoon Centre. remind them that once they graduate, Saskatchewan offers a whole bunch of opportunity here for medical grads from our Mr. Forbes: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today I province. I welcome them here today. rise to present a petition in support of education. We know that education is one of the most vital services this government With us is Jessica Harris, Larissa Padayachee, Cheyanne Vetter, provides to its citizens and that this government has failed to Jillian Kerry, Jaylynn Arcand, Jessica Bruce, Paul Robinson, deliver a long-term plan and vision and the necessary resources Cheyenne Lawton, Brittany Albrecht, Lindsey Anderson, Ryan to prioritize the delivery of educational excellence; and that this Cormier, and a special shout-out — the Premier asked me to do government has failed to deliver a real plan to close the this — to Dylan Ginter. I’m not sure, there’s an inside joke Aboriginal education gap, support English as an additional going on there, but a special welcome to Dylan from the language, and support community schools and their Premier. So I’d ask all members to welcome these members, communities and students. these medical students to their Legislative Assembly. Mr. Speaker, we know that we must build the best education The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Saskatoon system for today and for Saskatchewan’s future. I’d like to read Riversdale. the prayer: Ms. Chartier: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to join with Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your the minister in welcoming the Student Medical Society of honourable Legislative Assembly call on this government Saskatchewan students who are here today. As always, it’s to immediately prioritize education by laying out a always a pleasure to hear from young and inspiring people, their long-term vision and plan with the necessary resources to ideas about how our health care system could be improved here provide the best quality education for Saskatchewan that in Saskatchewan. reflects Saskatchewan’s demographic and population changes, that is based on proven educational best It was heartening to hear that the issues of their, I believe, 400 practices, that is developed through consultation with the or so members, they highlighted that seniors’ care was the top education sector, that builds on strong educational issue that came up with these students studying to become infrastructure to serve students and communities long into doctors, Mr. Speaker. We know that it is an issue that is of the future. utmost importance to people across Saskatchewan. And we enjoyed hearing some of their ideas and look forward to the And as in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray. future work that they will continue to do in serving their communities, Mr. Speaker, and in serving the people of Mr. Speaker, the people signing this petition come from Saskatchewan and ensuring the governments of the day are Humboldt, Saskatoon, and Moose Jaw. I do so present. Thank aware of the issues that are important to them and to other you. people. The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Regina Rosemont. So with that, I would ask my colleagues to join in welcoming 6502 Saskatchewan Hansard March 10, 2015 Mr. Wotherspoon: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to chronic understaffing in seniors’ care facilities that results in present petitions on behalf of concerned residents as it relates to unanswered calls for help, seniors being left unattended on the unsafe conditions created by that government on Dewdney toilets, and infrequent bathing for residents as well. I’d like to Avenue when they failed to adequately plan a safe flow of read the prayer. traffic and they inundated Dewdney Avenue, an important residential artery, with heavy-haul truck traffic that’s dangerous We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully and damaging property, Mr. Speaker. And the prayer reads as request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan take follows: the following action: to cause the provincial government to immediately undertake meaningful steps to improve the Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that the quality of seniors’ care, including creating more spaces honourable Legislative Assembly call on the provincial and more choices for seniors; ensuring higher standards of government to immediately take action as it relates to the care in public facilities, private facilities, and home care; unacceptable danger, disturbance, and infrastructure ensuring appropriate staffing levels in seniors’ care damage caused by the heavy-haul truck traffic on facilities; restoring regulations that provide minimum Dewdney Avenue west of the city centre, to ensure the standards of care; and providing more support to help safety and well-being of communities, families, residents, seniors remain independent in their own homes for as long and users; and that those actions and plans should include as they desire. rerouting the heavy-haul truck traffic, receive provincial funding, and be developed through consultation with the Mr. Speaker, this petition is signed by folks from Saskatoon, city of Regina, communities, and residents. Regina, Cupar, Strasbourg among other places. I so submit. And as in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray. The Speaker: — I recognize the Opposition House Leader.