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. 19 - 1:30 p.m., Monday, November 23, 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 MICHALESKI, Brad Dauphin PC MICKLEFIELD, Andrew Rossmere PC MORLEY-LECOMTE, Janice Seine River PC MOSES, Jamie St. Vital NDP 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 913 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, November 23, 2020 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Mr. Moses: Madam Speaker, we know that many people in Manitoba live through the negative Madam Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from impacts of racism in their everyday lives. We as Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled leaders need to set ourselves on the path to ridding our here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to communities of racism in all its forms. the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only This bill would require regular anti-racism that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may training for provincial employees. This is an overdue seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and step toward ending systemic racism in Manitoba, and accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of I look forward to all members supporting this bill. Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen. Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to Please be seated. Good afternoon, everybody. adopt the motion? Agreed? [Agreed] ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Bill 217–The Legislative Assembly Amendment and Legislative Assembly Management INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Commission Amendment Act Bill 67–The Public Health Amendment Act Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member Seniors and Active Living): Madam Speaker, I for Tyndall Park (Ms. Lamoureux), that Bill 217, The move, seconded by the Minister of Finance Legislative Assembly Amendment and Legislative (Mr. Fielding), that Bill 67, The Public Health Assembly Management Commission Amendment Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur la santé Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'Assemblée législative publique, be now read a first time. et la Loi sur la Commission de régie de l'Assemblée législative, be now read a first time. Motion presented. Mr. Friesen: Madam Speaker, in the spring our Motion presented. government was pleased to be able to move quickly to Mr. Gerrard: Bill 217 will change the definition of limit workers in personal-care homes to one site in recognized opposition party to include political order to keep people safe. parties that are represented in the Assembly by two or We are introducing these amendments, which more members, provided that the party's candidates seek a legislative mechanism by which those same– received at least 10 per cent of the votes cast in the last the changes could be made in future in the event of a general election. pandemic at the call of the public health chief. Thank you. Merci. Miigwech. Madam Speaker: Is it the 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 212–The Mandatory Training for Provincial Employees Committee reports? Tabling of reports? (Systemic Racism and Human Rights) Act Ministerial statements? Mr. Jamie Moses (St. Vital): I move, seconded MEMBERS' STATEMENTS by the member for Burrows (Mr. Brar), that Bill 212, Robert Roehle The Mandatory Training for Provincial Employees (Systemic Racism and Human Rights) Act; Loi sur la Ms. Janice Morley-Lecomte (Seine River): I want formation obligatoire des employés provinciaux to introduce everyone to an educator, an advocate, a (racisme systémique et droits de la personne), be now community builder and a leader. Knowledge gained read a first time. from work experience, travel and connection to community has benefitted many who have sought his Motion presented. advice and expertise. 914 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 23, 2020 Robert "Bob" Roehle was raised on a dairy farm schools to take the necessary steps to protect children in rural Manitoba. After graduating high school, he and themselves. Like health-care workers' tests who attended University of Manitoba, where he completed are now fast-tracked, often with results in five hours, a master's in agriculture science. Bob's work with the so should teachers and all support staff test results be Canadian Wheat Board provided opportunities to available within the same time frame. work in different countries, one being Japan, where * (13:40) he initiated and implemented a feed grains market development program. Travel would lead to ideas Appropriate personal protective equipment for all inspired by the different markets located in places he staff: if teachers are required to wear medical-grade and his family lived. PPE for crossing cohorts or assisting students when they become symptomatic, then PPE needs to Bob and his wife Judy would frequent the local be provided by this Pallister government. Teachers ByWard Market in Ottawa, where he noted the and support staff are essential workers and must, interactions between the vendors and shoppers. Bob therefore, have appropriate equipment provided. Not stated he wanted to build on this theme and was doing so is irresponsible and puts educators, children instrumental in establishing le Marché Saint-Norbert and their families at risk. Farmers' Market Co-op. Teachers and support staff should not be exempt The Saint-Norbert Farmers' Market is but one of from the–self-isolating when a household member is the many areas Bob has lent his expertise to. Bob has symptomatic or waiting for COVID-19 test results. been a pillar in the community and has volunteered on Exempting teachers and support staff from public community boards, advocated for interest groups and health orders should not be used to manage the held many volunteer director roles. staffing crisis in our schools. We need to get creative Group'Action St. Norbert, Saint-Norbert Farmers' to manage our staffing crisis, and exempting teachers Market and the St. Norbert Foundation's community from public health is not creative. garden, the Duff Roblin park committee, Winnipeg Madam Speaker, these are reasonable requests, Chamber of Commerce agri-business committee, Red and this government needs to show some leadership River Exhibition Association foundation, Red River and respond in keeping our children safe, our Floodway Authority and Pembina Active Living educators and our communities as safe as possible in (55+) are but a few to identify. the remaining days and weeks of this crisis. Let's stand Robert has received the Queen Elizabeth II up and support our kids and all who work in public Diamond Jubilee Medal, Mayor's BIZ Award, education and put in place these requests. distinguished service award from the Canadian Thank you, miigwech, merci, Madam Speaker. Association of Fairs and Exhibitions and been inducted into the Manitoba agriculture hall of fame. Jeannot Robert I ask that we virtually acknowledge Robert's Hon. Ron Schuler (Minister of Infrastructure): I dedication to making communities stronger. wish to recognize and pay tribute to a great Manitoban, Mr. Jeannot Robert. Thank you. Jeannot Robert has dedicated years of his time COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Schools to volunteering and community service in both the Mr. Nello Altomare (Transcona): Today, I rise on towns of Ste. Agathe and the rural municipality of behalf on all those who work in our schools, for all of Ritchot. In addition to being a successful business those who have given everything that have kept our owner, school trustee and municipal councillor for schools and our kids going to school. From Ste. Agathe, Jeannot also served years promoting both custodians, to school secretaries, EAs, teachers and the economic and residential development as a partner clinical staff, we owe them a great deal of gratitude. in a local residential subdivision. Now, we need to match that commitment and Jeannot Robert is a visionary who has dedicated match their commitment by keeping our schools safe his life to improving the community of Ste.