Fourth 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. LXXII No. 2 - 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 21, 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 Man. 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 Ind. 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 LAMONT, Dougald St. Boniface Lib. 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, Hon. 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 Portage la Prairie PC WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC YAKIMOSKI, Blair Transcona PC 11 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Wednesday, November 21, 2018 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Hon. Steven Fletcher (Assiniboia): Yes, Madam Speaker, the–this is the first opportunity I've had to Madam Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, say anything since the Throne Speech, obviously. from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are The issue is the–it's a bit of a tempest in a teapot, assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as but–is the tense that was used in the Throne Speech. may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our It is customary that a Throne Speech be done in province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that the third person: your government, for example. we may desire only that which is in accordance with Yesterday it was done in the first tense, like: me, I, Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom and know my. it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of And it–this brings up two issues, Madam all our people. Amen. Speaker. First, it's not consistent with tradition. But second, if we criticize the Throne Speech with that Please be seated. Good afternoon, everybody. tense, are we then criticizing Her Majesty using that pronoun? ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS And there's a reason why the third tense is used. Madam Speaker: Introduction of bills? Committee There are rules in the–that govern this place. I just reports? want to make sure that none of us are going to be TABLING OF REPORTS caught up in a–any kind of, perhaps, any kind of difficulty as the debate and replies to the Throne Hon. Cliff Cullen (Minister of Justice and Speech are 'undercurred'. Attorney General): Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to table the following reports. So, I, seconded by my colleague in Maples, move that a committee–or that the Speaker report Pursuant to The Statutes and Regulations Act, a back on the feasibility or to confirm that their–that copy of each regulation registered under that act the Throne Speech was in a proper text–or in the after the last regulation tabled in this House and proper tense–proper pronoun was used, and that more than 14 days before the commencement of the no member of the Assembly will be considered session–the Annual Report of the Provincial Court of speaking against Her Majesty when replying to the Manitoba for this fiscal year, 2016-17; Annual speech of the throne. Thank you. Report for the Manitoba Office of the Commissioner Madam Speaker: I would ask the member that it–as Law Enforcement Review Agency for the fiscal year it is a rule of the House, as well, that the motion of 2017; Annual Report for the Independent needs to be sent up in writing. [interjection] Investigation Unit of Manitoba for the fiscal year of 2017; and the annual report for the independent Okay, the member has indicated that he would investigation union of Manitoba for the fiscal year provide that. of 2017. Before recognizing any other members to speak, * * * I would remind the House that remarks at this time by honourable members are limited to strictly Madam Speaker: Ministerial statements. relevant comments about whether the alleged matter of privilege has been raised at the earliest The honourable Minister for Sustainable opportunity and whether a prima facie case has been Development, and I would indicate that the required– established. [interjection] Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Government House MATTER OF PRIVILEGE Leader): I won't dispute the fact that the matter may have been raised at the earliest opportunity by the Madam Speaker: The honourable member for member. I don't believe it raises–rises to a prima Assiniboia, on a matter of privilege? facie case, Madam Speaker. 12 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2018 I take this as a good sign that the only criticism in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender that this member, and I assume all opposition, could people lost to violence since Rita Hester's death and come up with is that the tense of the Throne Speech began an important tradition that has become the wasn't to their liking. That is an excellent sign that annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. the Throne Speech was well received by all members of the House. * (13:40) Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (Official Opposition House I wish to share a few words of Gwendolyn Ann Leader): I, too, will not take issue or try to defend Smith regarding the importance and need for whether or not this is the member's first opportunity this date: The Transgender Day of Remembrance to bring this forward. seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no However, I do have to just put on the record, stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the Madam Speaker, that on this side of the House we right to simply exist is first and foremost. With found lots wrong with the Throne Speech, with or so many seeking to erase transgender people– without that very possessive pronouns that were used sometimes in the most brutal ways possible–it is in the Throne Speech. vitally important that those we lose are remembered Miigwech. and that we continue to fight for justice. I know many of us are familiar with Gwendolyn's words, but Madam Speaker: On this matter of privilege, I they certainly bear repeating. would indicate that the member does not have a matter of privilege. I also want to recognize those strong Manitobans who have made the hard decision to live their truth. Grammatical issues are not the basis for a matter We stand by you and with you today and every day. of privilege, and issues to do with debate and practices and procedures in the House are more As the Manitoba government, we are pleased to relevantly considered points of order, and they are have employee networks such as WAVE, which not matters of privilege. stands for We are All Valuable and Equal, to help foster understanding and inclusion of sexual So, respectfully, the member does not have a orientation and gender identity diversity in our matter of privilege. workplace. The network is open to all interested MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Manitoba government employees, including those who identify–self-identify along the LGBTQ* Madam Speaker: Moving forward, then, with continuum, as well as allies. ministerial statements. I am also proud to announce that online training The honourable Minister for Sustainable is also being developed for employees of the Development–and I would indicate that the required Manitoba government on the topic, called supporting 90 minutes notice prior to routine proceedings was transgender and gender-diverse Manitobans: a provided in accordance with rule 26(2). conversation. This new online course will be Would the honourable minister please proceed accompanied by a group discussion guide to assist with her statement. work groups in debriefing the course content and exploring ways they can apply the learning in their Transgender Day of Remembrance specific work contents. Hon. Rochelle Squires (Minister responsible for These are a few initiatives we are doing to the Status of Women): I am proud to rise today to ensure for a respectful workplace. And I'd like to acknowledge and commemorate that November 20th thank my colleagues and all Manitobans committed is Transgender Day of Remembrance. This day of to building a more respectful and diverse society. remembrance is an annual observance that honours the memory of those whose lives have been lost in Thank you, Madam Speaker.