FIRST SESSION - TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan ____________ DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS ____________ (HANSARD) Published under the authority of The Honourable Dan D’Autremont Speaker N.S. VOL. 54 NO. 25A MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2012, 1:30 p.m. MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN Speaker — Hon. Dan D’Autremont Premier — Hon. Brad Wall Leader of the Opposition — John Nilson Name of Member Political Affiliation Constituency Belanger, Buckley NDP Athabasca Bjornerud, Hon. 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, 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, Mark SP Regina Coronation Park Doherty, Kevin SP Regina Northeast Doke, Larry SP Cut Knife-Turtleford Draude, Hon. June SP Kelvington-Wadena Duncan, Hon. Dustin SP Weyburn-Big Muddy Eagles, Doreen SP Estevan Elhard, Hon. 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, Nancy SP Martensville Hickie, Hon. Darryl SP Prince Albert Carlton Hutchinson, Hon. Bill SP Regina South Huyghebaert, Hon. 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 McMillan, Hon. Tim SP Lloydminster McMorris, Hon. Don SP Indian Head-Milestone Merriman, Paul SP Saskatoon Sutherland Michelson, Warren SP Moose Jaw North Moe, Scott SP Rosthern-Shellbrook Morgan, Hon. Don SP Saskatoon Southeast Nilson, John NDP Regina Lakeview Norris, Hon. Rob SP Saskatoon Greystone Ottenbreit, Greg SP Yorkton Parent, Roger SP Saskatoon Meewasin Phillips, Kevin SP Melfort Reiter, Hon. Jim SP Rosetown-Elrose Ross, Hon. Laura SP Regina Qu’Appelle Valley Sproule, Cathy NDP Saskatoon Nutana Steinley, Warren SP Regina Walsh Acres Stewart, Lyle SP Thunder Creek Tell, 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, Nadine SP Saskatchewan Rivers Wotherspoon, Trent NDP Regina Rosemont Wyant, Gordon SP Saskatoon Northwest LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN 895 April 2, 2012 [The Assembly met at 13:30.] Fuchs, the provincial director; Donna Brewster, Luc Mullinder, Tim Johnson, Norm Jakubowski, Diane Francoeur. Colleagues [Prayers] in the legislature, we want to express our thanks to these students and to the leaders of the Red Cross for reminding us of ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS the importance of anti-bullying initiatives and awareness. Mr. Speaker, we also want to ensure that all members of this INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Assembly warmly welcome these guests to their Legislative Assembly today. The Speaker: — I recognize the Premier. The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Regina Rosemont. Hon. Mr. Wall: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would request leave of the Assembly to make an extended Mr. Wotherspoon: — Mr. Speaker, I can’t say how pleased I introduction. am to join in on the introduction here today and welcome these community leaders, these students, teachers, principals, Ms. The Speaker: — The Premier has asked leave of the Assembly Beattie, that have joined us here today to launch Anti-bullying to make an extended invitation . introduction. Is leave Week here in Saskatchewan, to join in the Pink Revolution that granted? certainly is driven across Canada and across North America. Pink Shirt Day, Day of Pink — all these important days and Some Hon. Members: — Agreed. activities that bring such important recognition to something, quite frankly, Mr. Speaker, that we should be working towards The Speaker: — Agreed. I recognize the Premier. every day of the year. Hon. Mr. Wall: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Now, Mr. Speaker, you’ll notice I see these wonderful pink week of March 30 to April 5th has been officially proclaimed as shirts up through the Assembly. I see a little bit of pink through Pink Revolution Anti-bullying Week in the province of the Assembly and through the Chamber here today. I noticed Saskatchewan. the official opposition doesn’t have very much pink on today, Mr. Speaker. We weren’t notified or aware of the pink shirts Mr. Speaker, Pink Shirt Day is coordinated through the Red coming into the Assembly here today. But what I can say, Mr. Cross, another initiative. It’s also supported by the Ministry of Speaker, is that in our hearts and in our beliefs, we wear pink Education and the Government of Saskatchewan. Pink every single day of the year, and stand for the important cause Revolution Week kicked off in mid-March, and there was a flag of bridging gaps, broader understanding, bringing around some raising ceremony on the 1st of April, over the weekend. learning, and that certainly we’re proud to join with government here today to recognize such an important day, such an It is supported by many organizations including the important week, and to work towards that greater understanding Anti-bullying Network, which is comprised of the Boys and all across our society and in our classrooms. Girls Club, the Avenue Community Centre, Youth Launch, restorative action program, the Saskatoon Police Service, And, Mr. Speaker, I should say that in the classrooms all across Affinity Credit Union, and many, if not most, local school Saskatchewan is where I’m most encouraged about the changes divisions. in society, and it’s this very generation before us here today, Mr. Speaker, that I think have made the greatest strides through The Ministry of Education’s supporting anti-bullying efforts by acceptance, understanding, and in fact celebration of diversity. working with education partners to develop a provincial anti-bullying strategy, a strategy that was pioneered under the So we’re pleased to join with government here today and to previous administration. Work continues on that, Mr. Speaker. recognize this important work. I welcome these students from They encourage school divisions to work with community Coldwell, the students, the community leaders, teachers, organizations on anti-bullying initiatives. They provide parents, Principal Beattie, that are here today. Thank you, Mr. financial assistance to programs like the Kids Help Phone to Speaker. ensure youth across Saskatchewan have access to professional counselling services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all the year The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Justice and through, Mr. Speaker. Attorney General. And today, helping us remember exactly what anti-bullying Hon. Mr. Morgan: — Mr. Speaker, I seek leave for an initiatives are all about and helping to commemorate extended introduction. anti-bullying awareness in the province, is a group of students that you can easily see in your gallery from their great pink The Speaker: — The Minister of Justice and Attorney General T-shirts, Mr. Speaker. They are from M.J. Coldwell School. has asked for leave for an extended introduction. Is leave There’s a grade 6/7 class — the teacher is Ms. Dryburgh; a granted? grade 7/8 class with Mrs. Bird as the teacher. We welcome the teacher assistants, Ms. Keewatin and Mrs. Smith. And the Some Hon. Members: — Agreed. principal of the school is Mrs. Sherri Beattie. The Speaker: — Carried. I recognize the Minister of Justice Also in the gallery are representatives of the Red Cross: Cindy and Attorney General. 896 Saskatchewan Hansard April 2, 2012 Hon. Mr. Morgan: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me will certainly not be something we would dare approach today, great pleasure to rise today and introduce through you to the particularly for them, but also for the students that are here in House four guests that are here today. One of them is Gavin the Assembly. Semple who is no stranger to the people in our province, a well-known businessman with business operations across So thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And with the members Western Canada. He is joined by three legal colleagues. They of the opposition, I also want to rise and welcome these guests are the Hon. Michel Bastarache, Peter Gall, and Lauren Wihak to our Assembly today. from the Heenan Blaikie law firm. They are seated in the gallery. The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Cypress Hills. Mr. Speaker, I can advise that the Hon. Michel Bastarache Hon. Mr. Elhard: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and joined the firm’s Ottawa office in 2008 as counsel in the through you to all members of the Legislative Assembly today, litigation group. For more than a decade, Mr. Bastarache served I’d like to introduce to you, in your gallery, an honoured guest as justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, rendering rulings today from the Government of Mauritius. The Hon. Shakeel that spanned a spectrum of issues as well as a large number of Mohamed, the Mauritian Minister of Labour, Industrial cases related to the application of the Canadian Charter of Relations and Employment, has joined the House today. He and Rights and Freedoms. Preceding his appointment to the an entourage of colleagues are in the province of Saskatchewan Supreme Court, Mr. Bastarache served as a judge of the Court investigating the opportunities of mutual benefit that exist of Appeal of New Brunswick. Prior to his judicial between the island state of Mauritius and the province of appointments, he was very involved in the academic, Saskatchewan. And I think from our luncheon conversation, government, business, and legal communities. Mr. Bastarache he’s fairly impressed with what he’s seen already.