Third Session – Forty-First Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Myrna Driedger Speaker Vol. LXXI No. 25 - 1:30 p.m., Thursday, March 22, 2018 ISSN 0542-5492 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Forty-First Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALLUM, James Fort Garry-Riverview NDP ALTEMEYER, Rob Wolseley NDP BINDLE, Kelly Thompson PC CLARKE, Eileen, Hon. Agassiz PC COX, Cathy, Hon. River East PC CULLEN, Cliff, Hon. Spruce Woods PC CURRY, Nic Kildonan PC DRIEDGER, Myrna, Hon. Charleswood PC EICHLER, Ralph, Hon. Lakeside PC EWASKO, Wayne Lac du Bonnet PC FIELDING, Scott, Hon. Kirkfield Park PC FLETCHER, Steven, Hon. Assiniboia Ind. FONTAINE, Nahanni St. Johns NDP FRIESEN, Cameron, Hon. Morden-Winkler PC GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GOERTZEN, Kelvin, Hon. Steinbach PC GRAYDON, Clifford Emerson PC GUILLEMARD, Sarah Fort Richmond PC HELWER, Reg Brandon West PC ISLEIFSON, Len Brandon East PC JOHNSON, Derek Interlake PC JOHNSTON, Scott St. James PC KINEW, Wab Fort Rouge NDP KLASSEN, Judy Kewatinook Lib. LAGASSÉ, Bob Dawson Trail PC LAGIMODIERE, Alan Selkirk PC LAMOUREUX, Cindy Burrows Lib. LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas NDP LINDSEY, Tom Flin Flon NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Flor Logan NDP MARCELINO, Ted Tyndall Park NDP MARTIN, Shannon Morris PC MAYER, Colleen St. Vital PC MICHALESKI, Brad Dauphin PC MICKLEFIELD, Andrew Rossmere PC MORLEY-LECOMTE, Janice Seine River PC NESBITT, Greg Riding Mountain PC PALLISTER, Brian, Hon. Fort Whyte PC PEDERSEN, Blaine, Hon. Midland PC PIWNIUK, Doyle Arthur-Virden PC REYES, Jon St. Norbert PC SARAN, Mohinder The Maples Ind. SCHULER, Ron, Hon. St. Paul PC SMITH, Andrew Southdale PC SMITH, Bernadette Point Douglas NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Verendrye PC SQUIRES, Rochelle, Hon. Riel PC STEFANSON, Heather, Hon. Tuxedo PC SWAN, Andrew Minto NDP TEITSMA, James Radisson PC WHARTON, Jeff, Hon. Gimli PC WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WISHART, Ian, Hon. Portage la Prairie PC WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC YAKIMOSKI, Blair Transcona PC Vacant St. Boniface 829 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, March 22, 2018 The House met at 1:30 p.m. pleased to table the Manitoba Growth, Enterprise and Trade, Supplementary Information for Legislative Madam Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, Review, 2018-2019 Departmental Expenditure from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are Estimates. assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that Madam Speaker: The honourable Minister for we may desire only that which is in accordance with Sustainable Development, and I would indicate Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom and know that the required 90 minutes notice prior to routine it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the proceedings was provided in accordance with our glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of rule, 26(2). all our people. Amen. Would the honourable minister please proceed Please be seated. Good afternoon, everybody. with her statement. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Canada Water Week INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Hon. Rochelle Squires (Minister of Sustainable Bill 300–The University of Manitoba Development): Madam Speaker, this is Canada Students' Union Amendment Act Water Week, and today marks World Water Day. Mrs. Sarah Guillemard (Fort Richmond): Madam Water is a vital resource and something we are Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for particularly blessed with here in Manitoba. Radisson (Mr. Teitsma), that Bill 300, The When we see other countries suffering dev- University of Manitoba Students' Union Amendment astating droughts, it serves as a reminder that water Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'Association des is our most precious resource. However, with the étudiants de l'Université du Manitoba, be now read a blessing of an abundance of this resource also comes first time. challenges. We receive water from four other Motion presented. provinces and four states south of the border. In fact, 70 per cent of our water and 50 per cent of our Mrs. Guillemard: Essentially, we are bringing forth nutrients come from outside our jurisdiction. this amendment to the act as requested by the student union at University of Manitoba and it is to update That is why our government supports an inte- the language as well as to provide opportunity for grated and holistic approach to water management, referenda for the student body to have more say in one that balances the use of engineered infrastructure how the organization runs. with nature-based solutions that enhance natural ecosystems' ability to solve challenges such as Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to flooding, drought and degrading water quality, all adopt the motion? Agreed? [Agreed] while building resiliency to climate change. Any further bills? No. Committee reports? Using green infrastructure conserves natural ecosystem values and functions that provide an TABLING OF REPORTS array of benefits to people and wildlife. That is why Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Minister of Health, our proposed Climate and Green Plan and our Seniors and Active Living): Good afternoon, sustainable watersheds bill are based on it. It is Madam Speaker. I'm pleased to table the Department also why we made an historic investment into a of Health, Seniors and Active Living, Supplementary conservation trust. Information for Legislative Review, for the 2018 and Together with the Climate and Green Plan, our '19 year. sustainable watersheds bill and our conservation Hon. Blaine Pedersen (Minister of Growth, trust, we will help build a foundation for environ- Enterprise and Trade): Madam Speaker, I'm mentally and economically sound decision making 830 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 22, 2018 around water management in Manitoba. This will And, of course, we also have the remarkable sequester more carbon. It will protect us against controversy and crisis at Manitoba Hydro, one of our flooding, and it will reduce nutrients, and–as well as crown jewels and an element that is–an entity that is protect valuable habitat for fish and wildlife. completely reliant upon water in Manitoba. Finally, I would like to recognize Earth Hour, For all of these reasons, Madam Speaker, this which will take place on the evening of Saturday, government has a long way to go. Our environment, March 24th, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. the water in our environment, in our homes, in our industries and the resources that we have Earth Hour is a worldwide movement which 'harvestedly'–harvested from the water for many inspires people to take action to protect our planet decades are all being made worse and not better by by turning their lights off as a signal in support of this government, and that just simply has to change. energy conservation. Our Legislature and govern- ment buildings will also be turning their lights off Let's use World Water Day as a call to action for during this hour. all of us to do better. Madam Speaker, I invite all members to join Thank you. me in celebrating these events to demonstrate our Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam support for cleaner water, emissions reductions and Speaker, I ask leave to speak to the minister's energy efficiency. These elements will help make statement. Manitoba the greenest and most climate resilient province in Canada. Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to speak to the minister's statement? [Agreed] Thank you, Madam Speaker. * (13:40) Mr. Rob Altemeyer (Wolseley): I want to thank the minister for her recognition of World Water Day and Mr. Gerrard: Madam Speaker, it is important that extend a happy World Water Day to all Manitobans. we collectively acknowledge the importance of Canada Water Week, World Water Day and Earth On this side of the House, on behalf of our Hour and send a signal to all Manitobans about the caucus, I do, however, feel that I must respectfully concern we have for our water, for Mother Earth, for but firmly remind the government of many threats to our great lake, Lake Winnipeg, and its future and for our water here in Manitoba which this government access to clean running water for all. needs to be paying more proper attention to. Just a few examples. But spoken concerns and real action are different. In this context, I mention a lake forgotten The Red River Valley Water Supply Project is for almost 70 years by successive NDP and PC being actively pursued by North Dakota just to the governments. It is Lake Winnipegosis. immediate south of us. It could bring over two dozen foreign invasive species into our waterways, and this In 2015, Seafood Watch called Manitoba's government has said absolutely nothing about it. fisheries the worst managed in the world and identified Lake Winnipegosis as the worst of the Multiple laws and regulations protecting our worst managed lakes. The current government has waterways from excess nutrients ending up in our given lip-speak to eco-certification, but we have seen lakes, rivers and streams have been weakened or no progress. done away with all together. The city of Winnipeg remains the single largest source of excess nutrients The provincial government has access to some heading into Lake Winnipeg. This government has of the world's best freshwater scientists at the given the city 27 years to address the combined International Institute for Sustainable Development sewer problem and provided no support to fix up the and the Experimental Lakes Area. The provincial North End Sewage Treatment Plant. government has access if it will partner to extensive traditional knowledge and experience. The And let's not forget, Madam Speaker, the knowledge, tools and resources for action are here.