SECOND SESSION - TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan ____________ DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS ____________ (HANSARD) Published under the authority of The Hon. Mark Docherty Speaker N.S. VOL. 59 NO. 38A MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2018, 13:30 MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN 2nd Session — 28th Legislature Speaker — Hon. Mark Docherty Premier — Hon. Scott Moe Leader of the Opposition — Ryan Meili Beaudry-Mellor, Hon. Tina — Regina University (SP) Lawrence, Greg — Moose Jaw Wakamow (SP) Beck, Carla — Regina Lakeview (NDP) Makowsky, Hon. Gene — Regina Gardiner Park (SP) Belanger, Buckley — Athabasca (NDP) Marit, Hon. David — Wood River (SP) Bonk, Steven — Moosomin (SP) McCall, Warren — Regina Elphinstone-Centre (NDP) Bradshaw, Fred — Carrot River Valley (SP) McMorris, Don — Indian Head-Milestone (SP) Brkich, Hon. Greg — Arm River (SP) Meili, Ryan — Saskatoon Meewasin (NDP) Buckingham, David — Saskatoon Westview (SP) Merriman, Hon. Paul — Saskatoon Silverspring-Sutherland (SP) Carr, Lori — Estevan (SP) Michelson, Warren — Moose Jaw North (SP) Chartier, Danielle — Saskatoon Riversdale (NDP) Moe, Hon. Scott — Rosthern-Shellbrook (SP) Cheveldayoff, Hon. Ken — Saskatoon Willowgrove (SP) Morgan, Hon. Don — Saskatoon Southeast (SP) Cox, Herb — The Battlefords (SP) Mowat, Vicki — Saskatoon Fairview (NDP) D’Autremont, Dan — Cannington (SP) Nerlien, Hugh — Kelvington-Wadena (SP) Dennis, Terry — Canora-Pelly (SP) Olauson, Eric — Saskatoon University (SP) Docherty, Hon. Mark — Regina Coronation Park (SP) Ottenbreit, Hon. Greg — Yorkton (SP) Doke, Larry — Cut Knife-Turtleford (SP) Rancourt, Nicole — Prince Albert Northcote (NDP) Duncan, Hon. Dustin — Weyburn-Big Muddy (SP) Reiter, Hon. Jim — Rosetown-Elrose (SP) Eyre, Hon. Bronwyn — Saskatoon Stonebridge-Dakota (SP) Ross, Laura — Regina Rochdale (SP) Fiaz, Muhammad — Regina Pasqua (SP) Sarauer, Nicole — Regina Douglas Park (NDP) Forbes, David — Saskatoon Centre (NDP) Sproule, Cathy — Saskatoon Nutana (NDP) Francis, Ken — Kindersley (SP) Steele, Doug — Cypress Hills (SP) Goudy, Todd — Melfort (SP) Steinley, Warren — Regina Walsh Acres (SP) Hargrave, Hon. Joe — Prince Albert Carlton (SP) Stewart, Hon. Lyle — Lumsden-Morse (SP) Harpauer, Hon. Donna — Humboldt-Watrous (SP) Tell, Hon. Christine — Regina Wascana Plains (SP) Harrison, Hon. Jeremy — Meadow Lake (SP) Tochor, Corey — Saskatoon Eastview (SP) Hart, Glen — Last Mountain-Touchwood (SP) Vermette, Doyle — Cumberland (NDP) Heppner, Nancy — Martensville-Warman (SP) Weekes, Randy — Biggar-Sask Valley (SP) Hindley, Everett — Swift Current (SP) Wilson, Hon. Nadine — Saskatchewan Rivers (SP) Kaeding, Hon. Warren — Melville-Saltcoats (SP) Wotherspoon, Trent — Regina Rosemont (NDP) Kirsch, Delbert — Batoche (SP) Wyant, Hon. Gordon — Saskatoon Northwest (SP) Lambert, Lisa — Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood (SP) Young, Colleen — Lloydminster (SP) Vacant — Regina Northeast Party Standings: Saskatchewan Party (SP) — 48; New Democratic Party (NDP) — 12; Vacant — 1 Clerks-at-the-Table Clerk — Gregory A. Putz Law Clerk & Parliamentary Counsel — Kenneth S. Ring, Q.C. Hansard on the Internet Principal Clerk — Iris Lang Hansard and other documents of the Clerk Assistant — Kathy Burianyk Legislative Assembly are available within hours after each sitting. Sergeant-at-Arms — Terry Quinn http://www.legassembly.sk.ca/legislative-business/legislative-calendar LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN 3709 April 9, 2018 [The Assembly met at 13:30.] bus to school? I did. How many of us have children or grandchildren who rode the bus to school today? Many of us. In [Prayers] hockey, the bus, it’s just sort of a locker room on wheels. It’s your second home. It’s a place where you bond with your The Speaker: — Before routine proceedings, I ask that all teammates, your classmates. It’s a place where you have fun. members please rise to observe a moment of silence in honour It’s a place where so many memories are made. of those involved in the Humboldt Broncos bus tragedy. Today it is terrible to contemplate that moment when the [The Assembly observed a moment of silence.] comfortable, happy environment of the Humboldt Broncos bus, team bus, was shattered. And I think Mike Babcock said it best The Speaker: — Thank you. Why is the Premier on his feet? when he said, “it rips the heart right out of your chest.” Hon. Mr. Moe: — Mr. Speaker, I would ask leave to make a Mr. Speaker, the word unimaginable has been used frequently statement. to describe this incident, although barely appropriate, because it’s difficult to comprehend what our families are going through The Speaker: — The Premier has asked for leave. Is leave right now — the families of the players, coaches, officials who granted? perished, the families of those who cling to life at this very moment, the families of those who suffered serious injuries and Some Hon. Members: — Agreed. will need years to recover and in some cases will not recover fully. The Speaker: — Leave has been granted. I recognize the Premier. But, Mr. Speaker, imagine we must. Empathy is more than an expression of kind words. Empathy implores us to put ourselves CONDOLENCE MOTION in the place of those that have been so affected by this tragedy so that we can better understand their pain and their despair. Humboldt Broncos Bus Tragedy We’re called upon to imagine what it would be like if it was our son, our grandson, our brother, our nephew, if it was one of Hon. Mr. Moe: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to them that was suddenly gone. We might acknowledge that this the members of this Assembly for granting leave here today. I’d is a latent fear for many of us as we go about our daily lives, but like to make a statement and, at the conclusion of that this is how we all relate to this unimaginable incident. statement, I would like to move a motion, Mr. Speaker. And I would like to thank the Leader of the Opposition that will be Mr. Speaker, when you become a parent, there is tremendous seconding that motion in light of the most unimaginable joy. I’ve experienced that joy twice. When you hold your baby incident that our Humboldt Broncos, our city of Humboldt, and in your hands, so small and so helpless, the happiness, it’s our province and our nation has been faced with this weekend. almost indescribable. You know then, if you didn’t know it before, that life is oh so fragile. You worry as your baby grows Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. So into a young adult. The concern that you have as a parent, it say the scriptures, Mr. Speaker. Today in Saskatchewan, starts to diminish, but it doesn’t go away completely. It never Alberta, across the country, there are many families in does. Because that young adult will always be your child. mourning. There are many families in need of comfort, and it’s They’ll always be your baby. But at some point you need to let the extended family of the Humboldt Broncos that require our go. At some point you have to trust them. You have to trust love and require our support the most. them because they’re your children, that they will make enough good choices along the way to survive and to succeed in their Mr. Speaker, so many people — too many people — bear a life. You have to trust in the people and the institutions that heavy burden in Humboldt after Friday’s terrible accident. But influence your children. it is a burden that is shared by the entire province and it’s a burden that is shared by our entire nation. Today we stand with The parents of young men playing on the Humboldt Broncos the Humboldt Broncos. We stand with all of the families trusted the team. They trusted the Humboldt Broncos for good affected by this tragedy, and we offer our prayers and our reason. The Humboldt Broncos are a first-class organization. deepest condolence on the immense loss that they have This team operates in a strong, caring community, and no time suffered. has that been more evident than recently. They play in a league, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, with a long, storied Mr. Speaker, the events of the last few days have left us reeling history, a league that is professionally managed and — in our province, in our nation, and around the world. This professionally ran. accident was shocking and it resonates so deeply with so many. It’s so easy for us to relate to these young men that were on that Mr. Speaker, those families believed their sons would be safe. bus because many of us have been there. If you participate in But, Mr. Speaker, in this life, there are things that are beyond sports in this province, long bus rides come with the territory. our control. In this life, there is a cruel randomness that defies It’s been said that riding the bus is a Prairie rite of passage in good intentions; at times, it defies meticulous planning. A our province. It’s part of growing up. It’s part of what we do. terrible accident occurred and we are left to imagine what it could be like to lose a child, to lose a husband, a father, or And it’s not just in sports. How many in this Assembly rode the someone that is so close to us. 3710 Saskatchewan Hansard April 9, 2018 Mr. Speaker, in Saskatchewan, we can imagine. In Humboldt has the backing of this province, Mr. Speaker. The Saskatchewan we do feel the pain and despair — our response has been incredible from individuals across neighbours’ — and we feel the need to be compelled to act. Saskatchewan. From La Ronge to Lafleche, support is pouring That’s the way it is in a small town, and Saskatchewan is a in — financial support, material support, spiritual support, Mr. small town at heart.