LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Monday, March 9, 2026
The Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen.
We acknowledge we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline and Nehethowuk nations. We acknowledge Manitoba is located on the Homeland of the Red River Métis. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. We respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration.
Please be seated.
Hon. Uzoma Asagwara (Minister of Health, Seniors and Long‑Term Care): I move, seconded by the Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness (Ms. Smith), that Bill 27, The Declaration of Principles for Patient Health Care Act and Amendments to the Health System Governance and Accountability Act, be now read for a first time.
Motion presented.
MLA Asagwara: Honourable Speaker, I'm pleased to introduce Bill 27. The new act will establish guiding principles for our government and future governments in making decisions about Manitoba's health system and it will outline what patients can expect when accessing health care.
The additional amendments to The Health System Governance and Accountability Act will enhance the sharing of information about critical incidents within Manitoba's health system for the purpose of improving our health‑care system province-wide.
Thank you, Honourable Speaker.
The Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
Further introduction of bills?
Mr. Tyler Blashko (Lagimodière): I move, seconded by the honourable member for St. Boniface (MLA Loiselle), that Bill 230, The Moose Hide Campaign Day Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended); Loi sur la Journée de la Campagne Moose Hide (modification de la Loi sur les journées, les semaines et les mois commémoratifs), be now read a first time.
Motion presented.
Mr. Blashko: Bill 230 will proclaim the third Thursday of May each year as Moose Hide Campaign day in Manitoba. The Moose Hide Campaign is an Indigenous-led grassroots movement that emphasizes the role that men and boys can play in preventing violence against Indigenous women, children and gender-diverse people.
It encourages people from all walks of life to challenge harmful gender norms and model healthy relationships. The campaign also creates spaces for dialogue and education across Canada. By wearing the moose hide pin, participants make a personal pledge to honour and protect women, children and gender-diverse folks and speak out against violence.
By officially recognizing Moose Hide Campaign day here in Manitoba, this bill aims to bring greater awareness to this consequential movement and encourages all Manitobans to take part in building safer communities together.
The Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
The motion is accordingly passed.
MLA Billie Cross (Seine River): I move, seconded by the member for Elmwood (MLA Maloway), that Bill 231, The Indigenous Heritage Month Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended), be now read a first time.
Motion presented.
MLA Cross: Honourable Speaker, I'm proud to rise today to introduce Bill 231, The Indigenous Heritage Month Act, which amends The Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act to designate September as Indigenous heritage month in Manitoba. This bill recognizes the history, cultures and lasting contributions of Indigenous peoples to our province.
Long before European contact, Indigenous peoples in what is now Manitoba had and still have thriving cultures, vibrant languages, systems of governance and deep connections to the land. We must also acknowledge that colonial policies attempted to erase Indigenous languages, identities and traditions, causing deep harm to Indigenous communities.
Despite this, First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities have shown incredible resilience by preserving and revitalizing their cultures. Designating September as Indigenous heritage month will create a space to celebrate Indigenous heritage, support Indigenous youth in connecting with their identities and help all Manitobans learn about Indigenous history and contributions.
Thank you, Honourable Speaker.
The Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
The motion is accordingly passed.
Committee reports? Tabling of reports?
Hon. Nellie Kennedy (Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism): Today I rise to recognize the 2026 Manitoba Winter Games which took place in Thompson last week. These games usually take place every two years, alternating between summer games and winter games, but this year marked the return of the winter games for the first time since 2018.
These games provided almost 1,000 young athletes with the chance to test their skills and demonstrate their talents, all the while representing their communities with pride and passion. Honourable Speaker, the impact of this event is significant. The City of Thompson welcomed not only athletes, but over 200 coaches, managers and officials, as well as countless family members and friends.
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Over 700 volunteers in Thompson dedicated their time and talents to supporting the success of the games while highlighting their community's immense warmth and hospitality.
My colleague, the member from Thompson, embodied the hospitality of the city when many members of our team made the trip up north to support the games and celebrate the athletes.
I felt so privileged to kick off the opening ceremonies and so proud to be the Minister of Sport, to celebrate with the people that made these games so exciting and electric and, of course, to catch some of the games in action.
Honourable Speaker, when I tell you the calibre of these athletes was incredible, I can't overstate it enough. They represented their communities with pride, and more than anything, they left it all out on the field, or the snow hill.
I extend my sincere thanks to all those that played a role in putting on these games and bringing them to Manitoba's North.
Thank you to my colleagues: the member from Thompson, as well as the Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations (Mr. Simard); the Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness (Ms. Smith); and the Minister of Justice (Mr. Wiebe), who showed up and showed the community that when we say that our government is here for all Manitobans and represents all Manitobans, we mean it.
This event was more than a sports competition; it's a celebration of the power of sport to bring people together. There is more that unites us than divides us.
I ask all members of the House to join me in congratulating all the 2026 Manitoba Winter Games participants on a job well done, and to everyone who made the games a resounding success.
Thank you, Honourable Speaker.
Ms. Jodie Byram (Agassiz): Today I rise to recognize and celebrate the success of the 2026 Manitoba Winter Games, which took place last week in the city of Thompson.
As the province's largest ongoing multi-sport event, Manitobans have waited nearly a decade for the winter games to come back since 2018. And boy, what a comeback it was, with hundreds of young athletes, hundreds of volunteers and hundreds of coaches, managers and officials gathering in the North this year to take part of this remarkable event.
I'd be remiss not to give a special shout-out to Team West, particularly the amazing athletes from Agassiz constituency. That includes Natalie Henton from Glenella, who led the games as the flag-bearer this year.
Carberry's curling stars–Abbey Snowden, Gemma McLeod, Tegan Graham, Sabrina Graham, Taeven McCutchin–brought home some gold and bronze.
From McCreary, we had Reagan Zalluski in gymnastics and Calder Hazlewood in hockey. Alpine skier Sophie Lynne Saquet of Neepawa earned bronze, and from Eden we had Kooper Jury in hockey.
And that's just to name a few young athletes who I am so proud of for showing Manitoba what Westman is made of.
But beyond the competition itself, these Manitoba games were able to showcase northern Manitoba to people from across the province. For that, I'd like to recognize the people of Thompson for warmly welcoming all participants and for your role in strengthening economic development, sport, community and spirit in our province.
Let us continue to inspire young Manitobans to pursue healthy, active lifestyles and to continue to dream big.
Thank you.
Hon. Nellie Kennedy (Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism): Today I rise to recognize an inspiring young member of the Assiniboia community, Ireland Gault, who has been named Manitoba's 2026 Champion Child for the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.
Ireland was born in 2017 to proud parents Courtney and Will Gault. Shortly after her birth, routine newborn hearing screening revealed that Ireland had profound hearing loss in her–both her ears. Like any parents, Courtney and Will worried about what this would mean for their daughter's future.
Thanks to the extraordinary medical team at HSC Children's Hospital, Ireland's journey took a remarkable turn. At just 10 months old, she became the first infant in Manitoba to undergo bilateral cochlear implant surgery. Those implants opened the door to a world of sound.
Today, Ireland is a vibrant eight-year-old who loves gymnastics, singing, birds and spending time with her younger sister, Taylor. She proudly calls her implants her ears, and thanks to the care she received, she has been able to develop speech and language alongside her peers.
Ireland's journey has also helped pave the way for others. Because of the groundbreaking work done alongside her family, doctors at HSC Children's Hospital can now perform cochlear implant surgery for children earlier than ever before, giving them an important head start in hearing and language development.
At–as Manitoba's child champion, Ireland will spend the coming year sharing her story as an ambassador for the more than 140,000 children who rely on HSC children's hospital each year.
Honourable Speaker, Ireland's story reminds us of–all of the strength of children, the dedication of families and the extraordinary work of the health-care professionals who care for Manitoba's youngest patients.
Please join me in congratulating Ireland Gault and her family and in thanking them for sharing their story to help children across our province.
Mr. Trevor King (Lakeside): Today, I rise to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Manitoba's own Chuck Lefley, who passed away on January 26, 2026.
Born in Winnipeg and raised on a family farm near Grosse Isle, Chuck Lefley embodied the values that define so many Manitobans: hard work, humility and a deep sense of community. From the outdoor rinks of rural Manitoba, he developed a love for hockey that would carry him onto the world stage.
Chuck's talent was evident early. He played junior hockey with the Winnipeg Rangers before being drafted sixth overall in the 1970 NHL Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. In Montreal, he became part of one of the most storied teams in hockey history, helping the Canadiens capture the Stanley Cup in 1971 and 1973.
He later went on to play for the St. Louis Blues, where he recorded the best offensive season of his career, scoring 43 goals in the '75-76 NHL season.
But while Chuck achieved success at a highest level of the game, he never forgot where he came from. After his playing career, he returned home to Manitoba, farming with his brother Glen near Grosse Isle and contributing to the community that shaped him. He remained involved in local sports and youth development, sharing his love of the game with the next generation.
His contributions to sport were recognized with induction into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame. Yet, those who knew Chuck say his greatest achievements were not only on the ice, but in the way he lived his life: with integrity, generosity and dedication to family and community.
Today we remember Chuck Lefley not only as a Stanley Cup champion, but as a proud Manitoban who carried the spirit of our province wherever he went.
Behalf of this House, I extend our deepest condolences to his wife Sandy, who joins us here in the gallery today with Chuck's brother Glen, to his daughter Sarah, his grandchildren and all who knew and loved him. May his memory be a blessing, and may his legacy continue to inspire young Manitobans for generations to come.
Thank you, Honourable Speaker.
Hon. Glen Simard (Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations): Honourable Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Global African Diaspora Network & Resource Mobilization Initiative, also known as GADNRMI.
Established at the end of the–2024, the global African diaspora network was created in response to a very real and growing need for a unified, structured and representative platform for Africans living in the diaspora.
Across our province, many African individuals and families contribute greatly to our social, cultural and economic fabric. At the same time, newcomers face challenges related to settlement, access to reliable information, representation, cultural preservation and co-ordination within the broader community.
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The global African diaspora network hopes to bridge these gaps by fostering unity, promoting mutual support and engaging in research-based advocacy.
The organization aims to support meaningful integration into Canadian society while ensuring that African identity, heritage and values are preserved and celebrated across generations. It is committed to advancing social, cultural, educational and economic empowerment; facilitating structured newcomer settlement supports; building strategic partnerships with government and community stakeholders; and mobilizing resources for sustainable development initiatives, both locally and across Africa.
The global African diaspora network's mission is to unite people of African descent through structured engagement, empowerment and global representation. Its vision is to become a leading, credible and impactful umbrella organization for Africans in the diaspora.
Manitoba's strength lies in its diversity. Organizations like the global African diaspora network will help ensure that this diversity is supported, organized and empowered to benefit all–of all.
I welcome Sunday Frangi, Cornell Wasonga, Emmanuel Akenehu [phonetic], Calistus Ekenna and Dr. Oliyabuka Olakumbosun [phonetic] to the Chamber.
Mr. Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach): Today is Commonwealth Day, and in Canada and across the Commonwealth, more than 2 and a half billion people are called to observe their common bonds and contributions to the Commonwealth and the world. One of those bonds is the service that so many have given to the cause of freedom and democracy.
For many years, those who have served both in conflicts and peacekeeping missions in Canada have found support and camaraderie in their local Legion. This year, officially on July 17, the Royal Canadian Legion is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Originally known in 1926 as the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League, today, Royal Canadian Legion has the mandate of honouring the service of veterans, promoting remembrance and supporting veterans and their families. The Legion also supports members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Perhaps the way in which the Legion is most interconnected with the public is through the annual Poppy Campaign and Remembrance Day ceremonies held every November 11. It is clear from the attendance at those ceremonies and the millions of Canadians wearing poppies that Canadians see the value of remembering those who have served our country.
Yet, on its 100th anniversary, the Royal Canadian Legion is facing challenges. Many Legions across Canada have closed their doors in recent years, and there are fewer and fewer remaining veterans. In this, its centennial year, the Legion is not only reminding Canadians of its proud past, but also that it pays an–plays an important part in the future of Canada.
As part of its 100th anniversary, the Legion is offering free membership to Canadians who have never before been a Legion member. I'd encourage all members to support the Royal Canadian Legion.
Today, on Commonwealth Day, it is fitting to also mark the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion and to say a special thank you to all those who have served our country in the past and who still do so today.
Thank you, Honourable Speaker.
Mr. Tyler Blashko (Lagimodière): Honourable Speaker, I rise today to reflect on the many gatherings, celebrations and important cultural events that brought together folks from across Lagimodière and throughout Manitoba this past February. Whether it was Northern Manitoba's Trappers' Festival, Westman's Multicultural Festival or Festival du Voyageur, we know how to make the most of our shortest and often coldest month.
During I Love to Read Month, I was lucky to visit local child-care centres, including Living Prairie Childcare and Rainbow Day Nursery, where I read with wonderful young learners. These visits reminded me how a love of reading begins early and how dedicated early childhood educators and child-care assistants in our communities are helping nurture curiosity and imagination in Manitoba's youngest learners.
In February, we also celebrated Black History Month. I was fortunate to attend the Black Diamonds Cultural Market at St. Vital Centre, organized by Afri lnspire Concepts, as well as the student-organized Black History Month Market at Collège Jeanne-Sauvé. Both events celebrated the culture, creativity and entrepreneurship that Black Manitobans bring to our province.
At the same time, Lent began; many Manitobans welcomed the Lunar New Year, gathering with family and friends to mark a fresh start, while Muslim families across the province began observing the holy month of Ramadan, a period of fasting focused on reflection and generosity to community.
Honourable Speaker, these celebrations remind us that Manitoba's strengths lie in our diversity. Across our province, people from many backgrounds come together to learn from one another and celebrate the cultures that make our communities vibrant and strong.
I ask all members of this House to join me in recognizing the educators, organizers, volunteers and families who helped make this February such a meaningful month across Manitoba.
Introduction of Guests
The Speaker: Prior to oral questions, guests in the gallery. I'd like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the public gallery, where we have with us today Joseph Fourre, who is the guest of the honourable Member for Portage la Prairie (MLA Bereza).
And on behalf of all honourable members, we welcome you here today.
Mr. Obby Khan (Leader of the Official Opposition): As you know, and I've stood up many times in Chamber and talked about how proud I am of my young son. As a young teenager, he's going through life and thinks he's ready to take on the world. But we all know as parents that we have to be there to protect our kids, to love our kids, to guide our kids.
The Speaker: Order.
Mr. Khan: –and Wellness Centre, says that they've created an intake form at the drug consumption site, which asks this question, and I quote: If the participants look like they're 16 years or younger, the–they will not stop them. [interjection]
The Speaker: Order.
Mr. Khan: Honourable Speaker, if a youth is trying to access the drug consumption site and looks younger than 16 years old, will this Premier stop them?
Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): No kids should be using drugs. Nobody of any age should be using drugs.
I do, however, since we're talking about people in our lives, want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the member for Selkirk (Mr. Perchotte). He announced that he is not going to be running in the next elections and though we are on different sides of the partisan aisle, I have always found him to be a decent person who was willing to bring forward the perspectives of his community.
I know there was a funding issue with a cultural event that he wanted to see straightened out and, obviously, when an MLA brings forward issues like that, we'll always reach across any sort of partisan divide.
So I appreciated your member's statement last week, and I wanted to wish you all the best in what's next, to the member for Selkirk (Mr. Perchotte).
The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question.
Mr. Khan: Honourable Speaker, Manitobans know there's no such thing as a safe consumption site.
What this government is doing is they're jamming a drug consumption site through at North Point Douglas, where residents do not want it there. Families don't want it, parents don't want it, and youth definitely should not be exposed to it.
In this NDP government's policy, it says, and I quote: If participants look like they're 16 years old or younger, ask if they're connected to Child and Family Services. End quote.
Why would we ask someone if they're connected to Child and Family Services if they're 16 years old or younger? [interjection]
The Speaker: Order.
Mr. Khan: How about, if they're 16 years old or younger, we simply say no; we will not provide you a space to consume drugs.
The Speaker: Order, please. Order, please.
The honourable Minister of Families (MLA Fontaine) needs to come to order.
Mr. Khan: On this side of the House, we don't believe there's any age in which you should consume drugs.
Will the Premier stand up today and say that under his NDP government, he will not allow youth who are 16 years old or younger–or look younger–to enter the site to consume drugs on the site, Honourable Speaker?
Mr. Kinew: Honourable Speaker, I don't believe anybody of any age should be using drugs, ever. But the reality is, people do and we've had hundreds of Manitobans dying each and every year.
The member opposite did nothing when he was sitting around the Cabinet table. That's not an option for us. We're making treatment more available. We're bringing the hammer down on drug traffickers. Our Attorney General (Mr. Wiebe) was with the RCMP just this morning announcing another bust. And we're also working on harm reduction.
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I'll have you know that safe injection sites have a lot of support out there. Here's a direct quote from one supporter: I think we should have safe injection sites. End quote. Those are the words of one Stephen Carter.
Do the members opposite know who Stephen Carter is? He's the man that that guy has asked to run their next provincial election campaign.
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
The Speaker: Order. Order.
The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary question.
Mr. Khan: Honourable Speaker, the Premier can take shots at campaign managers and people that don't even live in the province. What we're going–
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
The Speaker: Order.
Mr. Khan: –to talk about is the youth in this province. This Premier thinks it's okay for a 16-year-old youth to enter the consumption site. That is the stark reality from this side of the House and that side of the House.
This Premier also believes, and I quote, that we will not require them to produce ID or a Manitoba health card. End quote.
Further to that, Honourable Speaker, they say that they adhere to strict confidentiality policy and will not give out any information, even to family members.
So I ask the Premier, Honourable Speaker: If my son, who is under 16 years old, tries to enter the drug consumption site, will the Premier let him in? [interjection]
The Speaker: Order.
Mr. Khan: Will the Premier show him how to do drugs? And will the Premier not tell me as a parent that my son is there? Yes–[interjection]
The Speaker: Order.
Mr. Khan: –or no, Honourable Speaker.
Mr. Kinew: I'll never talk about the member opposite's kids in this Chamber. It's that simple.
However, Stephen Carter said, and I quote: I think we should have safe injection sites. So this is the person that the member opposite has asked to run the next PC election campaign.
So to the members opposite, you can have your PC election campaign manager or you can have your opposition to supervised consumption sites, but you can't have both.
I'll read into the record from an article in which this campaign manager is quoted in the headline, saying: I'm a bad boy. Interesting choice.
He says, if you or I were on the streets, we'd be–expletive, something we can't say in front of the kids–addicts. Because you're on the streets. It's a disaster. Your life's a disaster at that stage. Of course, you're going to be addicted. But house them and then work on the problems. That's the order. I think we should have safe injection sites.
So, again, they've been taking a little bit of an Alberta Liberal turn over the past few days in question period. And I wonder if this isn't all–
The Speaker: Member's time has expired.
The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question.
Use of Site by Youth and Pregnant Women
Mr. Khan: Once again, the Premier wants to stand up and take shots at campaign managers, talk about people in Alberta. What we want to talk about are the youth in this province.
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
The Speaker: Order.
Mr. Khan: What we want to talk about are the youth here that are 16 years old or younger that this Premier thinks it's okay to allow into a drug consumption site.
On this intake form, such drugs as prescription stimulants, cocaine, crack, codeine, fentanyl are all described on this intake form, along with a question that says, is this person at a higher risk–with a checkbox that says, check off all that apply: Are you pregnant, youth, a non-self-injector and a first-time drug user? [interjection]
The Speaker: Order.
Mr. Khan: Honourable Speaker, this Premier believes it's okay to have a drug consumption site with first-time drug users.
I'll ask the Premier again: If a youth that looks under 16 years old–who checks off first-time drug user–enters, will the Premier shoot them up with drugs, yes or no?
Mr. Kinew: Honourable Speaker, the PC campaign manager, and I quote: I think we should have safe injection sites.
But I'll read you another quote from somebody relevant to this debate, and he says, quote: The Premier's right, language does matter. I'll use the term he wishes and experts have used–supervised consumption site. End quote.
Do you know who said that? The member for Fort Whyte. The member who's now, today, trying to talk about this and that. He's, you know, taking a different approach because he thinks it's going to be beneficial politically. But it's just a sign that he's a phony Conservative.
And he's got an Alberta Liberal campaign manager. And I'm not taking shots because his campaign manager supports our position. We want to help people when they're down and out, get them on a path to recovery. The member opposite just wants to take advantage of people that he's talking down to.
We'll never talk down to you. We respect your intelligence. Let's work together to make Manitoba better.
The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question.
Mr. Khan: Let's get something very clear here. No one on this side of the House has ever said they want to give kids drugs. You know who has said that? This Premier. He wants to provide a space for kids that look 16 or younger to consume drugs. Not only that, Honourable Speaker, he wants to have first-time users, and he wants to block parents from finding out if your child goes there.
But why stop at youth, Honourable Speaker, when under this NDP government you can start right in the womb? It says on that document: Are you pregnant–to check off.
And I quote: The stigma and harsh judgment that pregnant women and other pregnant people who use substance experience pose huge barriers to access and care. Access will be granted. End quote.
So we know–[interjection]
The Speaker: Order.
Mr. Khan: –the Premier thinks it's okay to inject youth–[interjection]
The Speaker: Order. Order.
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
The Speaker: Order.
The Minister of Families (MLA Fontaine) needs to come to order.
Mr. Khan: Why does the Premier believe it's okay to not only inject youth with hard drugs, he also believes it's okay to inject pregnant women with hard illicit drugs?
Mr. Kinew: Honourable Speaker, nobody should be using drugs, and nobody should be trying to use addictions as a wedge issue to seek partisan gain, but the member opposite is clearly trying to do that. Everyone can see he's a phony Conservative.
But the thing is that there's a lot of real Conservatives on that side of the House and in the party membership that donates to the PCs. And now, when he goes out to the next fundraiser and asks for a donation from that hard-working person, they're going to be donating to a campaign manager with the Manitoba PCs who says, and I quote, I think we should have safe injection sites. Make sure also in the PC caucus room that you cut this line into the social media video that you post later today.
Your campaign manager says, and I quote, I think we should have safe injection sites. So in the next election, you're going to have two platforms saying there should be supervised consumption. You're just going to have one leader trying to fake the funk. That's the member opposite.
The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary question.
Mr. Khan: Honourable Speaker, there's no games being played on this side of the House; just facts.
While the Minister of Health wants to shout me down for saying that giving people drugs is wrong, while health care is crumbling under this NDP government and failed Health minister, this NDP government want to inject youth, pregnant women, Manitobans with drugs. [interjection]
The Speaker: Order.
The NDP bench needs to come to order.
Mr. Khan: The Minister of Families wants to say this is disgusting. She is right. It is disgusting that the NDP want to give youth drugs.
In the Premier's own document, it says that if you are 16 years or looking younger, you will not be stopped. Your parents will not be informed. You will be allowed entry if it's your first time. And if you're a pregnant woman, you could still access hard illicit drugs.
Why is the Premier more focused on the PC party in Manitoba, our campaign manager, and the direction we're heading–[interjection]
The Speaker: Order.
Mr. Khan: –versus keeping Manitobans safe by saying no to providing them a place to do drugs?
Mr. Kinew: No one should use drugs. The Manitoba PC campaign manager thinks there should be supervised consumption. He says, again in this article saying, I'm a bad boy in the headline, he says, and I quote, if you or I were on the streets, we'd be addicts because you're on the streets. I did, of course, delete an expletive from his line there. And it concludes, I think we should have safe injection sites.
I'll table these documents, copies of this article about the PC campaign manager, not for the leader who's clearly not doing the best today, but perhaps for the backbenchers in the PC party who are not aware what their money, what their time, what their efforts are all going into supporting.
The Manitoba PC supports safe injection sites. We're out here working for you. We're working for your kids. We're trying to tackle addictions. They're just trying to divide. It didn't work in 2023. They're heading for another face plant in 2027.
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MLA Jeff Bereza (Portage la Prairie): The government plans to open a drug consumption site within the next two weeks. These sites require trained specialists and security staff to operate. With staffing shortages already affecting health-care services, my concern is about the timeline. If the government can't recruit enough nurses and doctors to fill vacancies, how does it expect to staff an entirely new site in a matter of weeks?
Will the minister tell this House where those trained professionals will come from and how the government plans to staff this site on such a rushed timeline?
Hon. Bernadette Smith (Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness): I want to thank Aboriginal Health and Wellness for all of their work that they've been doing for the last two and a half years working with us collaboratively alongside, and all of the addiction support doctors that have been working with us as well, and all of the front-line staff that have been working, you know, for the last seven and a half years, while that government sat on their hands not listening.
You know, there was a report that was produced that was asking that failed government on that side to open up a supervised consumption site while Manitobans were losing their lives. You know, to those families that lost their lives, lost their loved ones, while those–that failed government failed to act, we're listening, we're acting, we're going to open up a supervised consumption site so Manitobans–
The Speaker: Member's time has expired.
The honourable member for Portage la Prairie, on a supplementary question.
Overdose and Death Reporting
MLA Bereza: So there was no answer to that question.
Serious concerns have been raised about reporting practices at a drug 'constumption' site. Front-line staff have said there can be pressure not to report deaths out of concern it could create a negative perception about so-called safe injection. Front-line workers should never feel pressure to avoid reporting such incidents.
Will the minister–[interjection]
The Speaker: Order.
MLA Bereza: –tell this House what reporting requirements will be in place for overdose and deaths and how the government will ensure that staff can report incidents openly without fear or pressure or bias?
Thank you.
Ms. Smith: Again, I just want to say that, you know, we're very thankful that we are a working government, we are a listening government, that we've been working collaboratively all along with all of the front-line organizations, unlike members opposite, who couldn't get along with the federal government, who couldn't get along with the provincial or the municipal government or any of the front-line organizations.
And their campaign manager, who thinks that–he says, and I'll quote: I think that we should open up a safe injection site. That's who's going to be running their campaign. I think that they should listen to their campaign manager, get on board and help save Manitoban lives, because that's what this government is going to do. We're going to open up a supervised consumption site, help save Manitoban lives, and we're going to, again, listen to Manitobans, which they should be doing.
The Speaker: The honourable member for Portage la Prairie, on a final supplementary question.
Buffer Zone Around Facility
MLA Bereza: The minister says drug consumption sites are safe and also expects drug dealers to magically obey the 200- to 250-metre no-go bubble because, of course, illicit drug dealers are famous for following the government's rules.
Meanwhile, those imaginary boundaries could shove dealers closer to schools, playgrounds and families. Manitobas don't want to walk chalk lines on a map. They want real solutions, treatment, recovery and safer streets.
So why is this government busy playing with criminals instead of helping people get clean and protecting our communities?
Ms. Smith: You know whose PC campaign director will bring a real solution, is their PC campaign director. And I quote, he says: I think that we should have safe 'conjection' sites. I think that they should listen to their PC campaign director.
Again, we're listening to the experts who tell us that a supervised consumption site should be open. We're also listening to the Winnipeg police who we're working collaboratively with. We are working–[interjection]
The Speaker: Order.
Ms. Smith: –and we're in full agreement with enforcement, unlike members opposite, who couldn't even sit on a panel. He was supposed to sit on the panel; he couldn't even sit on a panel. He came up to the front and he actually read from a scripted paper–
The Speaker: Member's time has expired.
Ms. Jodie Byram (Agassiz): Reports indicate that drug injection site–that the drug 'injecsons'–site allows a practice known as, quote unquote, doctoring, where one patron administers drugs to another person. This raises serious safety concerns about consent, overdose, risk and accountability.
Can the minister explain what safeguards are in place to protect the vulnerable individuals when patrons are administering drugs to one another?
Hon. Bernadette Smith (Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness): Miigwech, Honourable Speaker. [interjection]
The Speaker: Order.
Ms. Smith: There was a report that was written, seven and–seven years ago to the previous government, which they never took seriously. On this side of the House, we're listening to experts.
Manitobans have lost their lives. I've sat with too many families; I've listened to too many stories. We're listening to the experts. We're going to make sure that families get the supports that they need so that they can get to the supports and resources that they so desperately have been asking for.
They failed to bring a supervised consumption site and bring those supports to the families. We're going to get it done.
Ms. Byram: Perhaps the minister can answer this question. If, quote unquote, doctoring is occurring inside the site, what training, supervision or protocols exist to ensure that unqualified individuals are not putting others at risk?
Ms. Smith: I don't think that member understands. Aboriginal health and wellness has–have 30 years' experience of delivering health care in this community. And the member from Portage la Prairie has been at the consultations. I wouldn't say all of the consultations, but maybe most of them, and he had an opportunity to sit on a panel and–[interjection]
The Speaker: Order.
Ms. Smith: –speak at a panel, which he didn't. He came up and read from a script.
But these folks have 30 years of experience of delivering health care, and they will be there. It's a medical-led model, and they will be the ones that will be delivering the services at the site.
The Speaker: The honourable member for Agassiz, on a final supplementary question.
Ms. Byram: Manitobans are still waiting for accountability from this minister.
When someone administers drugs to another person inside the site and something goes wrong, who is responsible? The patron, the staff or the government that allowed this practice in the first place?
Hon. Nahanni Fontaine (Minister of Families): No one cares what members opposite are trying to put on the official record here today.
I want to take a moment to acknowledge my colleague, the minister responsible, for the incredibly difficult work that she is undertaking after seven and a half years of members opposite burying their heads in the sand while Manitobans died of overdose.
As the daughter of a mother who died of an overdose, I can tell you that it is the worst nightmare than any family can go through. And for members to get up today to talk about pregnant women that are addicted, children that are addicted, Manitobans that are addicted with such disdain–
The Speaker: Member's time has expired.
Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): I'd just like to ask the Minister of Education a quick question.
When did she know that her government was going to allow youth under the age of 18 into the drug consumption site without ID?
Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): I wanted to say, first of all, nobody should be using drugs, straight, of any age–definitely not young people, but people of any age. Stay away from drugs.
Unfortunately, in Manitoba, for many years, we've been struggling with addictions. Members opposite did nothing. That member was sitting at the Cabinet table and presided over multiple years, multiple terms, in which the 'overdothe'–overdose death rate rose. That government didn't take action.
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We're not going to do that. We're motivated by compassion. We're motivated by evidence. We are going to stand up and make sure that there is enforcement of our drug laws. We saw a big drug bust earlier today. We're going to make sure that there's a path to recovery. We're also using harm reduction.
I'd like to ask the member opposite, when did he sell out his principles?
The Speaker: The honourable member for Lac du Bonnet, on a supplementary question.
Mr. Ewasko: So, obviously, the Premier stands up today because he's lost faith in his front bench, again, Honourable Speaker. So I'm going to ask–[interjection]
The Speaker: Order.
Mr. Ewasko: I'm going to repeat the question for the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning (MLA Schmidt): When was she aware that her government was going to allow youth under the age of 18 to access the drug consumption site without ID, Honourable Speaker? Simple question: When did she know?
Mr. Kinew: You know, the Education Minister is doing such an amazing job building schools and funding education, I figured I'd just make things a little bit easier for her today.
But on this, the day after International Women's Day, I want to give her and everybody on our team their props. And these are all strong advocates for reproductive justice. On the other hand, there are two declared candidates trying to succeed the member for Steinbach (Mr. Goertzen) who are very anti-choice. One, Michael Zwaagstra, said Roe v. Wade should be overturned, and the other, Susan Penner, said that when Roe v. Wade was overturned, that it was a reason to celebrate.
I'd like to know whether the front bench of the PCs supports that anti-abortion rhetoric, or are they going to continue the divisive politics like we've seen here this afternoon?
The Speaker: The honourable member for Lac du Bonnet, on a final supplementary question.
Mr. Ewasko: It will be interesting, Honourable Speaker, to hear what the Education Minister has to say about the Premier standing up and trying to make it easier for her to do her job.
So again, we, on this side of the House, Honourable Speaker, the Progressive Conservative Party, wants to meet people where they're at, not leave them there, like the Minister of Education and her Premier and her government wants to do to youth under the age of 18 and allow them to get to the drug consumption sites without ID. [interjection]
The Speaker: Order.
Mr. Ewasko: When did she know? [interjection]
The Speaker: Order. Order, please.
In the honourable First Minister's last answer, he was reading from a document. Was that a public document you were quoting from, or a private one?
Mr. Kinew: The documents in question were the Steinbach Carillon, January 25, 2021, and Life Culture, June 24, 2022. Public documents. I will be tabling a bunch more documents this afternoon, though, for the members opposite, you can be sure.
The Speaker: Thank you.
Mr. Kinew: So nobody should be using drugs, okay? I think we've established that.
However, the members opposite are currently recruiting campaign candidates, like Michael Zwaagstra and Susan Penner, who oppose abortion. What are those candidates going to say when they find out that Stephen Carter, the new campaign manager, thinks, and I quote, I think we should have safe injection sites?
Again, the PC campaign manager agrees with us on the question of supervised consumption. What's more, he took a shot at people who have been playing in that parental rights sandbox. We know that the leader of the PCs–very, very ugly technique he used in the last campaign, but so did the member for Lac du Bonnet. Do you know what Stephen Carter had to say about this kind of politics? I'll table the document now. He calls it simply disgusting.
Mrs. Carrie Hiebert (Morden-Winkler): Honourable Speaker, more families across Winnipeg and rural Manitoba are raising serious concerns about young people struggling with addiction and the lack of recovery supports available to them. When families reach out, they are met with long wait times and limited services.
What is being done to ensure families can access prevention, early intervention and recovery supports for young people before addiction reaches a crisis point?
Hon. Uzoma Asagwara (Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care): Honourable Speaker, our government takes very seriously the services that are available for our youngest Manitobans. Manitobans of all ages, we know, need access to care and supports. That's why it's so concerning to see the PCs get behind two candidates who are openly against essential health care.
Abortion is health care, Honourable Speaker, full stop. And everyone on that side of the House is championing two candidates who have come forward and they are anti-choice. They are anti the essential health care that saves the lives of Manitobans, protects women and girls in this province.
Honourable Speaker, when will someone on that side of the House stand up for women and girls in this province?
The Speaker: The honourable member for Morden-Winkler, on a supplementary question.
Mrs. Hiebert: Honourable Speaker, rural pharmacists across Manitoba are being placed in impossible positions. They are administering addiction, recovery medications, but patients also need mental health care and counselling that simply isn't available in their communities.
Why is this government leaving pharmacists to fill major gaps in mental health and addiction services in remote and in rural Manitoba?
MLA Asagwara: Honourable Speaker, we understand that as many health-care providers as possible who can deliver primary care is a good thing, and so we've worked really hard with doctors, nurses, pharmacists, nurse practitioners to make sure that Manitobans have more access to primary care and preventative services. That's why we're leading the country in access to primary care. In just two years, Honourable Speaker, we've been able to turn that around.
But, Honourable Speaker, I can't emphasize this enough: essential health care is abortion. Abortion is health care. Full stop. It is a protected Canadian right. Members on that side of the House are advocating for two people right now; two people want to become members of that PC caucus. They are anti-choice. They are anti-women. They are anti-girls. That is shameful. It is not aligned–
The Speaker: Member's time has expired.
The honourable member for Morden-Winkler, on a final supplementary question.
Mrs. Hiebert: Primary care should include addictions support and recovery.
Right now, parents and families are waiting eight months, Honourable Speaker. Manitobans across the province deserve access to addiction treatment and mental health supports that make recovery possible. Too often, pharmacies are becoming the only point of contact for people receiving addictions medications. Pharmacists want to help, but they cannot replace recovery programs or mental health professionals.
When we–when will this government invest in real addiction and mental health supports for Manitobans so that we can help them with–within this drug crisis?
Hon. Nahanni Fontaine (Minister of Families): The hypocrisy that we're seeing here today is just absolutely unreal. So while they claim to care about children and supports for children, and yet what they did when they were in their seven and a half years of failed government was cut social services, cut social housing that has fundamentally impacted on people's mental health and on the homeless population growing exponentially here in Manitoba.
And folks opposite will stand with folks that are pro-life or anti-choice, and yet in the same breath, they won't care about any of the children that we're trying to protect and that we're trying to clean up their mess over the last seven and a half years.
MLA Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Honourable Speaker, the government committed in their previous two budgets that increased spending in health care would mean increased access. However, since August, three hospitals have been greylisted by the Manitoba Nurses Union, citing physical and sexual abuse, regular harassment and several other safety risks.
Can the minister help us understand why, if this government is supposedly prioritizing health care, are nurses still feeling less safe at work while wait times continue to rise and conditions continue to deteriorate?
Hon. Uzoma Asagwara (Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care): Honourable Speaker, I welcome that question from the member from Tyndall Park. I think it's a really important one.
Our government has improved access to primary care. We made very clear that more Manitobans need access to health services, and we're doing exactly that. Those aren't my words; those are the words of the president of Doctors Manitoba, Dr. Desilets. But we know that there's much more work to do.
The previous government spent seven and a half years trying to destroy our public health-care system. They were stopping at nothing to cut, create chaos and disrespect health-care workers. We know that we're feeling the impacts of that today. We know we're going to feel the impacts of that for years to come, but we're going to continue to keep our foot on the gas, recruit and train record numbers of health-care workers and make sure that Manitoba can continue to lead the way in access to primary care.
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The Speaker: The honourable member for Tyndall Park, on a supplementary question.
MLA Lamoureux: Honourable Speaker, every day we see in the media how health-care professionals continue to report being overworked and strained, and how patients are having to wait devastatingly long hours to be seen in emergency rooms. It is tragic that in 2026 alone, at least four Manitobans have died and more than two dozen have suffered serious harm while waiting for care.
Honourable Speaker, we understand that change can take time, but what is the government doing to prevent any more tragedies or greylisted hospitals in the meantime?
MLA Asagwara: Again, I thank the member for that really important question and the authenticity of which she poses that question in the House today.
You know, our government takes very seriously addressing the health-care concerns that were created by seven and a half years of an irresponsible and callous PC government. There are members on that side of the House that were around the Cabinet table of the PC caucus when they were cutting health care, when they were firing nurses.
In fact, their current health-care critic was an adviser to Heather Stefanson when she was firing nurses from across Manitoba. On this side of the House, we're focused on not only repairing that damage, but strengthening health care for the long term.
Nurses deserve to be safe at work; health-care workers deserve to be safe on the job. We've been able to hire net-new health-care workers in spite of the greylisting. We're going to keep our foot on the gas and hire thousands more to make sure our sites–
The Speaker: Member's time has expired.
The honourable member for Tyndall Park, on a final supplementary question.
MLA Lamoureux: Honourable Speaker, for the last two and a half years, Manitobans have been promised that access to health care would not only be restored, but it would be improved.
Yet, this year alone, four Manitobans have lost their lives while waiting for critical care, all while nurses represented by the Manitoba Nurses Union continue to raise serious concerns about workplace safety.
Given these ongoing concerns from both patients and health-care professionals, can the minister give Manitobans a timeline for when these issues will be corrected in our health-care system?
MLA Asagwara: Honourable Speaker, I can reassure Manitobans that health care is going to remain our top priority. We know it's the top priority of Manitobans. We're going to continue to invest in training and recruiting record numbers of health-care workers, adding hundreds of beds back to the health-care system that were cut by the previous PC government and listening to health-care workers, the very people we've been working side by side with to strengthen health care and address the damage that was done.
But, Honourable Speaker, I do think it's important to note that the Leader of the Opposition himself has gone out publicly to say that it will take years to fix the damage that he did to health care. In fact, Honourable Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition himself 'sayed' it can't be done in just one term of government.
So what I would say to Manitobans is this: Never, ever, ever should we ever see a PC government ever in Manitoba again. Keep working with us–
The Speaker: Member's time has expired.
MLA Shannon Corbett (Transcona): Honourable Speaker, this weekend, Manitobans celebrated International Women's Day and the incredible contributions women make in every community across our province. To support our mothers, sisters, daughters and all women who call Manitoba home, our government has taken real action to improve women's health and dignity.
Can the Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care please tell Manitobans a bit more about these important initiatives?
Hon. Uzoma Asagwara (Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care): Honourable Speaker, on International Women's Day, we celebrate progress and recommit to supporting women's health in Manitoba. In just two years, we have created safer access to abortion services, free both birth control and hormone replacement therapy, lowered the breast cancer screening age.
We have more lactation consultants and more midwives. We have more funding for women's health research. We've doubled the fertility tax credit. We're restoring specialized menopause care and now, we are the first province in all of Canada to make menstrual products free in every job site in Manitoba. Oh, Honourable Speaker, and did I mention more access to abortion services?
Much more to do. We're going to keep getting that work done for you.
Mr. Wayne Balcaen (Brandon West): Over my career in law enforcement, I've seen the steady change and sophistication of the criminal elements that sell drugs and profit from the misery of others. The fact that this government thinks those criminals will not descend on drug consumption sites is deplorable, Honourable Speaker. History is doomed to repeat itself. Just look at every other drug consumption site in Canada.
The community has made it clear that they have real safety concerns. As a matter of fact, the minister's own constituents have said so vocally.
So what's the minister's plan to protect citizens and businesses at this site?
Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): More police. Just today–earlier today, our member was standing alongside the RCMP at a massive drug bust. We're going to keep bringing the hammer down on drug traffickers.
Honourable Speaker, I was remiss. Actually, this Life Culture was not a publication; it's a Facebook page. So I want to table the two documents that I was referring to that show these candidates for the PCs oppose abortions.
Again, one says Rode [phonetic] v. Wade should be overturned; the other 'shaid' is–it's incredible news after it was overturned. Again, combine that with the earlier document about Stephen Carter's opposition to parental-rights-style politics, his support for a safe injection site.
All I want to know is, when are they going to bring this up at their upcoming caucus meeting and who will be left among the PC MLAs to attend it?
The Speaker: Order, please.
The time for question period has formally ended. However, because we burnt up a few seconds clarifying whether some documents were public or private, I will allow one more short question.
Mr. Balcaen: Honourable Speaker, we know that there's no plan. The Winnipeg Police Service said exactly that at a community-organized consultation. That isn't because law enforcement isn't going to do everything in their power to protect Manitobans; there's just simply no plan under this NDP government. Chaos will rule the streets because government made the conscious choice to sacrifice safety for speed.
Their advice to local business owner who asked about protecting his business was say: Apply for a camera rebate.
Why is this minister shirking their responsibility to provide public safety for all Manitobans?
Mr. Kinew: More police, more options for recovery, harm reduction–it's part of our comprehensive plan for addictions.
I want to tell the member opposite that a number of his colleagues have claimed rebates for security cameras through the Legislative Assembly. So if it's good enough for PC MLAs, what's wrong with other Manitobans being able to access financial support?
On this side of the House, though, we've got a positive vision for fighting the addictions crisis, improving health care, making your life more affordable. That's why I was so overjoyed to welcome Rick Pauls to the team to run for us in Turtle Mountain, should there be a by-election.
And I know that people across Manitoba are so excited about Rick Pauls, because do you know who else was at his nomination meeting? The man who got the most votes in the last PC leadership contest. He was there, too.
The Speaker: The time for oral questions has expired.
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
The Speaker: Order.
Petitions? The time for oral questions has expired.
Mr. Obby Khan (Leader of the Official Opposition): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
The background to this petition is as follows:
(1) Children with disabilities often require child care beyond the age of 12. Children with disabilities aged 12 to 17 face a gap in publicly available care programs.
(2) The current adolescent-care service model creates undue hardship on caregivers.
(3) While developing children may be entering into extracurricular activities, school clubs or spending time with friends independently, children with disabilities have reduced opportunities for such social and recreational opportunities due to lack of spaces.
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(4) The current self-managed adolescent-care models place additional workloads onto already stressed families, requiring parents to seek all alternative options and prove their need for care.
(5) The current adolescent-care system, as part of overall respite and support available to families, is failing families of children with disabilities, as identified in the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth's Bridging the Gaps report.
(6) To date, none–sorry, to date, none of the nine recommendations it contains have been completed beyond 50 per cent.
(7) The recommendations in this report touch on many of the issues facing families, with adolescent care being but a small component of their overall needs.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: to urge–sorry–as follows:
(1) To urge the provincial government to fully implement recommendations in the Bridging the Gaps report.
(2) To urge the provincial government to immediately implement official policies and procedures that are more respectful and collaborative, which also minimize harm faced by families seeking help from children disability services.
I apologize, Honourable Speaker.
(2) To urge the provincial government to immediately implement official policies and procedures that are more respectful and collaborative, which also minimize harm faced by families seeking help from Children's disABILITY Services. No. 3–I read it again–sorry.
(3) To urge the Minister of Families to arrange for a full review of employment supports provided by Children's disABILITY Services for children with disabilities aged 12 to 17, including direct consultation with impacted families and to explore a full spectrum of options to support families, empowering them to choose solutions that best fit their needs.
Honourable Speaker, this petition has been signed by many Manitobans, such as Sara Hawrysh, Garry Kowotowich [phonetic], Rick Ewur [phonetic] and many, many other Manitobans.
Thank you, Honourable Speaker.
Introduction of Guests
The Speaker: Prior to recognizing any further members to speak, I want to acknowledge some guests.
I need to acknowledge that we had, previously in the public gallery, members of the Manitoba Federation of Labour as guests of the Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism (MLA Kennedy). Unfortunately, they left before we got to acknowledge them.
Also, we have seated in the public gallery, from Urban Circle Training Centre, 27 grade 12 students under the direction of Nicholas Chasowy, and this group is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Point Douglas (Ms. Smith), and we welcome you here today.
And for the information of all members, once again in–the Legislative Assembly has started conducting public tours on Monday afternoon whilst the House is sitting. I would like to draw members' attention to the public gallery where we have with us the first of these groups here to watch a few minutes of the proceedings. On behalf of all honourable members, we welcome you to the Manitoba Legislative Assembly today.
* * *
The Speaker: Back to petitions.
MLA Jeff Bereza (Portage la Prairie): I wish to present the following petition.
The background to this petition is as follows:
Kellie Verwey, a beloved young woman from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, was tragically killed in a car crash caused by a repeat violent offender with a long criminal history.
(2) Despite repeated violations of his bail conditions, the offender was free to roam the streets and to ultimately claim Kellie's life. This tragedy was entirely preventable.
(3) While the Criminal Code falls under federal jurisdiction, provinces have been given the responsibility for administration of justice, allowing for meaningful provincial action on bail reform to ensure public safety.
(4) Other provinces have taken proactive steps to strengthen bail enforcement, but Manitoba has not used all the available tools to address this issue effectively.
(5) The provincial government has the ability and responsibility to advocate for and implement measures that protect its citizens by ensuring that repeat violent offenders are not released into our communities without proper safeguards.
(6) Immediate action is required to close gaps in the justice system that allow dangerous criminals to remain free, with–which puts innocent Manitobans at risk.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
(1) To urge the provincial government to take immediate and decisive action on bail reform to address serious deficits in enforcement by utilizing all available provincial mechanisms to strengthen warrant enforcement, increasing bail supervision and opposing real–the release of offenders, thus ensuring that repeat violent offenders are held accountable and that public safety is prioritized over leniency; and
(2) To urge the provincial government to lobby the federal government to immediately repeal provisions of the Criminal Code that allow for the continued victimization of law-abiding Manitobans while granting repeat offenders additional rights.
This is signed by Betty Lewis, Louie Froese [phonetic] and Marian Szmutko and many, many more Manitobans.
Thank you, Honourable Speaker.
Mr. Wayne Balcaen (Brandon West): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
The background to this petition is as follows:
(1) Thanks to the investment made under the previous progress–or PC provincial government as part of the clinical and preventative services plan, construction of the new Portage regional health facility is well under way. The facility and surrounding community would greatly benefit from added diagnostic machinery and equipment, but specifically the addition of an MRI machine.
(2) An MRI machine is a non-invasive medical imaging technique that uses a magnetic field and computer-generated radio waves to create detailed images of organs and tissues in the human body. It is used for disease detection, diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
(3) Portage la Prairie is centrally located in Manitoba and is on the No. 1 Highway in the Southern Health/Santé Sud Health Authority. Currently there is only one MRI machine in the RHA.
(4) An MRI machine located in the Portage regional health facility will reduce transportation costs for patients as well as reduce the burden on stretcher services and ambulance use. It will bring care closer to home and reduce wait times for MRI scans across the province.
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(5) Located around Portage la Prairie are the Dakota Tipi, Dakota Plains, Sandy Bay and Long Plain First Nations reserves. Indigenous peoples in Canada disproportionately face barriers in access to services and medical care. An MRI machine located in the Portage regional health facility will bring care closer to their home communities and provide greater access to diagnostic testing.
(6) Located in close proximity to the new Portage regional health facility is the Southport airport. This aerodrome has a runway length that is more than adequate to support medical air ambulance services. This would provide the opportunity to transport patients by air from more remote communities to access MRI imaging services.
(7) The average wait times for Manitobans to receive MRI scan is currently six to eight months. Having an MRI machine in the Portage regional health facility will help reduce these wait times for patients and provide better care sooner.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to support the investment and placement of an MRI machine in the Portage regional health facility in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.
And, Honourable Speaker, this petition has been signed by many, many fine Manitobans.
Ms. Jodie Byram (Agassiz): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
The background to this petition is as follows:
(1) Thanks to the investment made under the previous PC provincial government as part of the clinical and preventative services plan, construction for the new Neepawa Health Centre is well under way. The facility and surrounding community would greatly benefit from added diagnostic machinery and equipment, but specifically the addition of a CT scanner.
(2) The new hospital is being built east of Neepawa on the north side of the Yellowhead Highway, PTH 16. It will be nearly double the size of the existing hospital and will better serve patients from this broader western Manitoba geographic area.
(3) CT scanners are standard equipment that combine X-ray images from several angles to create detailed three-dimensional models of structures inside the body. They perform critical diagnostic procedures that will support the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of injuries and diseases, and the new equipment will be able to complete these important scans faster and with sharper, clearer images.
(4) The average wait times for Manitobans to receive a CT scan is currently seven weeks and there are over 14,000 patients on the wait-list to receive the diagnostic imaging procedure.
(5) The new CT scanner will reduce these wait times as it would decrease the need for patients to travel long distances, sometimes involving overnight stays to access the care they need.
(6) The new scanner will reduce pressure on emergency response services that would no longer have to transport these patients, opening up appointments in other communities and allowing more people to get the care they need sooner.
(7) A CT scanner in the Neepawa Health Centre will enable further treatment and diagnosis to take place in community, reducing wait times for patients in surrounding areas and reducing the burden of travel to other facilities.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to support the investment and placement of a CT scanner machine in the Neepawa Health Centre in Neepawa, Manitoba.
This petition is signed by Jubeth Laurie, Kim Martin, Cathy McGrath and many, many other fine Manitobans.
Mrs. Kathleen Cook (Roblin): I wish to present the following petition.
The background to this petition is as follows:
Mr. Diljeet Brar, Acting Speaker, in the Chair
Phoenix School, a kindergarten to grade 5 school located in Headingley, has experienced consistent enrolment growth over the last several years. Enrolment is expected to reach 275 students in the next two years.
Because the school is now over capacity, the school division has had to install portable classrooms on site as of fall 2024.
For several consecutive years, the top capital priority of the St. James‑Assiniboia School Division has been the renovation and expansion of Phoenix School.
In 2022, the Phoenix School expansion and renovation project was approved to proceed to the design phase. The project included, among other amenities, a new gymnasium, two new classrooms, a multi-purpose room and room for 74 child‑care spaces.
In June 2024, the school division received notice from the provincial government that the project has been deferred. There is no guarantee if, or when, the project will move forward.
There are currently hundreds of children on a wait‑list for child care in Headingley. The daycare operator in Phoenix School has been told that they will continue to have space within the school for the 2024‑2025 school year only, that further expansion of child‑care space within the school is not possible and that space may be reduced moving forward due to the shortage of classrooms. If new space is not constructed as planned, many families may be left without child care. [interjection]
Honourable deputy Speaker, I shouldn't have to shout when I'm reading petitions to be heard over conversations going on on the NDP bench, I'm sorry.
The Acting Speaker (Diljeet Brar): Order, please.
Can I request silence, please? I can't hear what the member is saying.
Member for Roblin, thank you.
Mrs. Cook: It is critical that the expansion and renovation of Phoenix School proceed as planned in order to support the needs of students, teachers and families in the growing community of Headingley.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to proceed with the planned renovation and expansion of Phoenix School without further delay.
And this petition is signed by Kristie Todd, Margo Price, Shaun O'Flaherty and many, many other Manitobans.
Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.
And the background to this petition is as follows:
(1) Children with disabilities often require child care beyond the age of 12. Children with disabilities aged 12 to 17 face a gap in publicly available care programs.
(2) The current adolescent-care service model creates undue hardship on caregivers.
(3) While developing children may be entering into extracurricular activities, school clubs or spending time with friends independently, children with disabilities have reduced opportunities for such social and recreational opportunities due to the lack of spaces.
(4) The current self-managed adolescent-care models place additional workloads onto already stressed families, requiring parents to seek all alternative options and prove their need for care.
(5) The current adolescent-care system, as part of the overall respite and support available to families, is failing families of children with disabilities, as identified in the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth's Bridging the Gaps report.
(6) To date, none of the nine recommendations it contains have been completed beyond 50 per cent.
* (15:00)
(7) The recommendations in this report touch on many of the issues facing families, with adolescent care being but a small component of their overall needs.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
(1) To urge the provincial government to fully implement recommendations in the Bridging the Gaps report.
(2) To urge the provincial government to immediately implement official policies and procedures that are more respectful and collaborative, which also minimize harm faced by families seeking help from Children's disABILITY Services.
(3) To urge the Minister of Families to arrange for a full review of employment supports provided by Children's disABILITY Services for children with disabilities aged 12 to 17, including direct consultation with impacted families and to explore a full spectrum of options to support families, empowering them to choose solutions that best fit their needs.
Honourable deputy Speaker, this petition is signed by Katherine Yunker, Jennifer Baker, Lou Aloken and many, many more fine Manitobans.
Thank you, Acting Speaker.
Mrs. Carrie Hiebert (Morden-Winkler): I wish to present the following petition.
To the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, the background to this petition is as follows:
(1) The Province of Manitoba has filed paperwork with the federal government imposing the establishment of drug injection site for illegal drugs at 200 Disraeli Fwy. without sufficient public consultation.
(2) The decision to locate the facility at 200 Disraeli made despite the site is located in the immediate vicinity of the daycare centre, a high school and multiple community gathering sites, including churches and cultural institutions.
(3) Residents, business owners and community organizations have raised concerns that the location is incompatible with nearby institutions serving thousands of youths and families, and believe it will erode public safety and confidence in the area.
(4) Existing community consultations specifically ignored concerns about public safety and were criticized by community members for being artificial and scripted.
(5) The provincial government has failed to introduce legislation and regulations to control where drug injection sites can be located.
(6) Other provinces are closing drug injection sites and adopting a recovery model, following the experts of–expertise of groups such as the Canadian recovery–the Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence.
(7) This decision to ignore the experts will leave people suspended in addiction and will not give Manitobans their lives back or their loved ones back.
(8) The provincial government has failed to fund and operate any treatment or additional Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine clinics to break this cycle.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
(1) To urge the provincial government to cancel drug injection sites in the Point Douglas community, including the proposed location at 200 Disraeli Fwy.
(2) To urge the provincial government to legislate that no future site will be proposed without community support.
This petition was signed by Wendy Carriere, Faith Carriere, David–or, sorry–Renald Major and many, many other Manitobans.
Mr. Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, and the reasons for this petition are as follows:
(1) Kellie Verwey, a beloved young woman from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, was tragically killed in a car crash caused by a repeat violent offender with a long criminal history.
(2) Despite repeated violations of his bail conditions, the offender was free to roam the streets and to ultimately claim Kellie's life. This tragedy was entirely preventable.
(3) While the Criminal Code falls under federal jurisdiction, provinces have been given responsibility for the administration of justice, allowing for meaningful provincial action on bail reform to ensure public safety.
(4) Other provinces have taken proactive steps to strengthen bail enforcement, but Manitoba has not used all the available tools to address this issue effectively.
(5) The provincial government has the ability and the responsibility to advocate for and implement measures that protect its citizens by ensuring that repeat violent offenders are not released into our communities without proper safeguards.
(6) Immediate action is required to close gaps in the justice system that allow dangerous criminals remain free, which puts innocent Manitobans at risk.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
(1) To urge the provincial government to take immediate and decisive action on bail reform to address serious deficits in enforcement by utilizing all available provincial mechanisms to strengthen warrant enforcement, increasing bail supervision and opposing release of offenders, thus ensuring that immediate violent offenders–sorry–that repeat violent offenders are held accountable and that public safety is prioritized over leniency; and
(2) To urge the provincial government to lobby the federal government to immediately repeal provisions of the Criminal Code that allow for the continued victimization of law-abiding Manitobans while granting repeat offenders additional rights.
And, honourable Acting Speaker, this petition is signed by Brad Moore, Ainsley Kristenson, Clayton Glaywisick [phonetic] and many other fine Manitobans.
Thank you.
Mr. Josh Guenter (Borderland): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
The background to this petition is as follows:
(1) Thanks to the investment made under the previous PC provincial government as part of the clinical and preventative services plan, construction for the new Portage regional health facility is well under way. The facility and surrounding community would greatly benefit from added diagnostic machinery and equipment, but specifically the addition of an MRI machine.
(2) An MRI machine is a non-invasive medical imaging technique that uses a magnetic field and computer-generated radio waves to create detailed images of organs and tissues in the human body. It is used for disease detection, diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
(3) Portage la Prairie is centrally located in Manitoba and is on the No. 1 Highway in the Southern Health/Santé Sud Health Authority. Currently there is only one MRI machine in the RHA.
(4) An MRI machine located in the Portage regional health facility will reduce transportation costs for patients as well as reduce the burden on stretcher service and ambulance use. It will bring care closer to home and reduce wait times for MRI scans across the province.
(5) Located around Portage la Prairie are the Dakota Tipi, Dakota Plains, Sandy Bay and Long Plain First Nations reserves. Indigenous peoples in Canada disproportionately face barriers in access to services and medical care. An MRI machine located in the Portage regional health facility will bring care closer to their home communities and provide greater access to diagnostic testing.
(6) Located in close proximity to the new Portage regional health facility is the Southport airport. This aerodrome has a runway length that is more than adequate to support medical air ambulance services. This would provide the opportunity to transport patients by air from more remote communities to access MRI imaging services; and,
(7) The average wait times for Manitobans to receive an MRI scan is currently six to eight months. Having an MRI machine in the Portage regional health facility will help reduce these wait times for patients and provide better care sooner.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
* (15:10)
To urge the provincial government to support the investment and placement of an MRI machine in the Portage regional health facility in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.
This petition has been signed by Sharryl Loewen, Ted Loewen, Ilene Yanchuk and many, many Manitobans.
Mr. Derek Johnson (Interlake-Gimli): I wish to present the following petition.
To the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. The background to this petition is as follows:
(1) The Province of Manitoba has filed paperwork with the federal government proposing the establishment of a drug injection site for illegal drugs at 200 Disraeli Fwy. without sufficient public consultation.
(2) The decision to locate the facility at 200 Disraeli was made despite that the site is located in the immediate vicinity of a daycare centre, a high school and municipal community gathering sites, including churches and cultural institutions.
(3) Residents, business owners–excuse me–(3) Residents, business owners and community organizations have raised concerns that the location is incompatible with nearby institutions serving thousands of youth and families, and believe it will erode public safety and confidence in the area.
(4) Existing community consultations specifically ignored concerns about public safety and were criticized by community members for being artificial and scripted.
(5) The provincial government has failed to introduce legislation and regulations to control where drug injection sites can be located.
(6) Other provinces are closing drug injection sites and adopting a recovery model, following the expertise of groups such as the Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence.
(7) This decision to ignore the experts will leave people suspended in addiction and will not give Manitobans their lives or their loved ones back.
(8) The provincial government has failed to fund and operate any treatment or additional rapid access to medications–addiction medication clinics to break the cycle.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
(1) To urge the provincial government to cancel drug injection sites in the Point Douglas community, including the proposed location at 200 Disraeli Fwy.
(2) To urge the provincial government to legislate that no future site will be proposed without community support.
This petition is signed by Cristina Lug [phonetic], Maria Costa and Boino Refre [phonetic] and many, many other fine Manitobans.
Mr. Trevor King (Lakeside): I wish to present the following petition, and the background to this petition is as follows:
(1) Travelling from Winnipeg to Gimli and back on Provincial Trunk Highway 8, PTH 8, is extremely treacherous with many near misses involving vehicles attempting to make unsafe passes.
(2) Summer travel and increased domestic tourism has led to more vehicles travelling on PTH 8.
(3) Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure is planning surface reconstruction from Provincial Road 230, PR 230, south to the Perimeter as part of a multi-year capital plan beginning in 2026.
(4) Public input on a Functional Design Study on PTH 8 between Provincial Road 220 and PR 230 revealed that extensive improvements are being planned.
(5) With years of construction in sight, it is imperative that passing lanes be constructed first in order to mitigate the bottleneck that the construction will create by permitting slower vehicles to be passed safely.
(6) An online survey conducted from August 4, 2024, to date has over 1,100 signatures requesting the construction of a series of passing lanes on PTH 8 from St. Andrews to Provincial Road 231.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To request the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure prioritize the construction of a series of passing lanes along Provincial Trunk Highway 8 between Provincial Trunk Highway 67 and Provincial Road 231 as soon as possible, before commencing the surface reconstruction and other potential improvements on PTH 8 from Provincial Road 230 to the Perimeter.
This petition has been signed by Trey King, Trevor Barnes and Doug Bottrell, and many, many Manitobans.
MLA Bob Lagassé (Dawson Trail): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of–to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
The background to this petition is as follows:
(1) Thanks to the investment made under the previous PC government as part of the clinical and preventative services plan, construction for the new Portage regional health facility is well under way. This facility and surrounding community would greatly benefit from added diagnostic machinery and equipment, but specifically the addition of an MRI machine.
(2) An MRI machine is a non-invasive medical imaging technique that uses a magnetic field and computer-generated radio waves to create detailed images of organs and tissues in the human body. It is used for disease detection, diagnosis and treatment and monitoring.
(3) Portage la Prairie is centrally located in Manitoba and is on the No. 1 Highway in the Southern Health/Santé Sud Health Authority. Currently there is only one MRI machine in the RHA.
(4) An MRI machine located in the Portage regional health facility will reduce transportation costs for patients as well as reduce the burden on stretcher services and ambulance use. It will bring care closer to home and reduce wait times for MRI scans across the province.
(5) Located around Portage la Prairie are the Dakota Tipi, Dakota Plains, Sandy Bay and Long Plain First Nations reserves. Indigenous people in Canada disproportionately face barriers in access to services and medical care. An MRI machine located in the Portage regional health facility will bring care closer to their home communities and provide greater access to diagnostic treating–testing.
(6) Located in close proximity to the new Portage regional health facility is the Southport airport. This aero-dome has a runway length that is more than adequate to support medical air ambulance services. This would provide the opportunity to transport patients by air from more remote communities to access MRI imaging services.
(7) The average wait times for Manitobans to receive an MRI scan is currently six to eight months. Having an MRI machine in the Portage regional health facility will help reduce these wait times for patients and provide better care sooner.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to support the investment and placement of an MRI machine in the Portage regional health facility in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.
This petition has been signed by many Manitobans.
* (15:20)
Mr. Konrad Narth (La Vérendrye): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
The background to this petition is as follows:
(1) The provincial government's decision to cancel the Education Property Tax Credit and the property tax offset grant has enabled and encouraged school divisions to introduce massive tax increases.
(2) These massive increases have been felt by all Manitobans and compounded by arbitrary and punitive changes to the education property tax rebate, and those changes have made many Manitobans ineligible to receive the $1,500 rebate.
(3) Secondary property owners are subject to taxation without representation as they are ineligible to vote for trustees who set the rates; yet, second property owners are still required to pay full education taxes in their division.
(4) Additionally, families can only claim the reduced Education Property Tax Credit on their primary residence.
(5) These increases and the revocation of rebates were done with no consultation, punishing Manitobans who maintain family cabins by tying education taxation to assessed property values.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to remove education funding and taxation from property taxes and find a fair and equitable way to fund education in Manitoba.
This petition has been signed by L. Gottfried, M. Gottfried, B. Epp and many, many other Manitobans.
Mr. Greg Nesbitt (Riding Mountain): Honourable Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
These are the reasons for this petition:
(1) Upgrading Provincial Road 482 will accelerate economic development as it will enhance connectivity, facilitate efficient transportation and promote economic growth in the region.
(2) Economic development will be further enhanced as improved road infrastructure attracts businesses, encourages investment and creates job opportunities.
(3) Roads meeting the Roads and Transportation Association of Canada, RTAC, standards improve both safety and efficiency, as they can handle heavier loads, reducing the number of trips required for goods transportation.
(4) Safer roads further benefit both commuters and commercial vehicles, minimizing accidents and damage.
(5) Upgrading to RTAC standards ensures resilience to challenges caused by climate change, such as thawing and flooding, which negatively impact road conditions.
(6) Efficient transportation networks contribute to Manitoba's economic competitiveness, as upgraded roads support interprovincial and international goods movement, benefiting both trade and commerce.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure to take the necessary steps to upgrade Provincial Road 482 to meet RTAC standards.
Honourable deputy Speaker, this petition has been signed by Curt Koss, Bennett Foster, Shelly Kaskiw and many, many, many other fine Manitobans.
Thank you.
Mr. Richard Perchotte (Selkirk): Honourable deputy Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
The background to this petition is as follows:
(1) As part of ongoing strategic infrastructure investments to the provincial highway network, it was announced in August of 2022 that almost $70 million would be spent on upgrades to provincial road PR 227.
(2) Over 72 kilometres of Provincial Road 227 were to be paved along with the repair or replacement of three bridges and multiple drainage works.
(3) Reeves, mayors, councillors and residents of the surrounding municipalities, cities, towns and villages were ecstatic and overwhelmingly supportive of this plan.
(4) The planned Provincial Road 227 was to connect Highway 16 with Highway No. 8, thus creating an alternative route to Highway No. 1.
(5) Provincial Road 227 was to be part of Manitoba's trade and commerce grid initiative, an expanded grid of highways that can accommodate heavy commercial loading that will attract new industrial activity, reduce transportation costs and optimize supply chain efficiency, which will benefit all Manitobans.
(6) The 2023 multi-year infrastructure investment strategy is a five‑year, $4.1‑billion investment in Manitoba's roads, highways, bridges, airports and flood protection. The paving of Provincial Road 227 was part of this strategy.
(7) The Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure has cut the Provincial Road 227 project, notwithstanding that the project appears in the multi-year infrastructure investment strategy and listed on the Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure website as an active project.
(8) Additional keystone projects in the 2023 multi-year infrastructure investment strategy were the Winnipeg One Million Perimeter Freeway Initiative, the Lake St. Martin and Lake Manitoba outlet channels and the twinning of the Trans‑Canada Highway to the Ontario border. The actions of the NDP government now bring into question whether any of these projects will be completed as planned.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
(1) To urge the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure to immediately restore funding to the Provincial Road 227 paving project.
(2) To urge the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure to commit to Manitobans to carry out all of the projects as outlined in the 2023 multi-year infrastructure investment strategy in their totality, to the same scope and in accordance with the already stated timelines.
This petition has been signed by Reed Sutherland, Rick Rivers, Marcel Lemire and many other Manitobans.
* (15:30)
Mr. Doyle Piwniuk (Turtle Mountain): Honourable Speaker, I'd like to present the following 'persition' to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
The background of this petition is as follows:
(1) Thanks to the investment made by–under the previous PC provincial government as part of the clinical and preventative services plan, construction of–
The Acting Speaker (Diljeet Brar): Order, please.
Can the member kindly check his mic? We can barely hear you.
Mr. Piwniuk: Is that better?
The Acting Speaker (Diljeet Brar): Member for Turtle Mountain.
Mr. Piwniuk: Okay, thank you, honourable Speaker.
Thanks to the investment of our–under the previous PC provincial government as part of the clinical and preventive services plan, construction for a new Portage regional health facility is under–well under way. The facility is surrounding community would greatly benefit from the added diagnostic machinery and equipment, but specifically for additional of an MRI machine.
(2) The MRI machine is a non-invasive medical image technique that uses magnetic fields and computer-generated radio waves to create detailed images on organs and tissues in the human body. It is used to–for diagnosis–detection, diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
(3) Portage la Prairie is centrally located in Manitoba and is on the highway to south health authority. Currently there is only one MRI machine in the RHA.
(4) An MRI machine located in the Portage regional health facility will reduce transportation costs for patients as well as reduce the burden on stretcher service and ambulance use. It will bring care closer to home and reduce wait times for MRI scans across the province.
(5) Located on–around Portage la Prairie are the Dakota Tipi, Dakota Plains, Sandy Bay and Long Plain First Nations reserves. Indigenous peoples of–in Canada 'disproportly'–disproportionately face barriers in access to services and medical care. An MRI machine located in Portage regional health facility will bring care closer to their home communities and provide greater access to diagnostic testing.
(6) Located in the close proximity of the new Portage regional health facility is the Southport airport. The aerodrome has a runway length that is more than adequate to support medical air ambulance services. With–this will provide the opportunity to transport patients by air from more remote communities to access MRI imaging machines–services.
(7) The average wait times for Manitoba to receive an MRI scan is currently six to eight months. Having an MRI machine in Portage la Prairie health facility will help reduce these wait times for patients and provide better care closer to home.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government in support of the investment and placement of an MRI machine in the Portage regional health facility in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.
This has been signed by Barbara Cowan, Andrea Zamberg [phonetic] and John Regal [phonetic] and many, many other Manitobans.
Mrs. Colleen Robbins (Spruce Woods): I wish to petition the following to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
The background to this petition is as follows:
(1) Provincial Trunk Highway 34, PTH 34, is a two-lane provincial primary highway that runs from the US border where it meets with ND 20 to PTH 16 at the town of Gladstone.
(2) PTH 34 runs north-south in south-central region of the province. It's the main highway for the towns of Crystal City, Pilot Mound and Holland, serving as a main corridor for the semi-trailers, farm equipment, daily drivers and local school bus routes.
(3) A new bridge is currently being constructed over the Assiniboine River at PTH 34, north of Holland, in the RM of Victoria. The bridge serves as an important north-south link over the Assiniboine River between the Trans-Canada Highway and PTH 2.
(4) The deterioration of PTH 34 has raised major concerns due to its narrow shoulders, numerous deep potholes that pose serious safety risks, considering farmers often need to use the highway to transport heavy equipment.
(5) Construction of a new bridge in accordance–current design codes and the RTAC standard, located on PTH 34 crossing the Assiniboine River, will support trade and commerce and improve public safety in the area, and also accommodate flood events on the Assiniboine River.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to address the conditions of the Provincial Trunk Highway 34, making the necessary upgrades to RTAC standard and to resurface the road once the new bridge has been completed.
These have been signed by June Lettman [phonetic], Owen Taylor, and Mark Slade [phonetic], and many, many more Manitobans.
Mr. Ron Schuler (Springfield-Ritchot): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
The background to this petition is as follows:
(1) Kellie Verwey, a beloved young woman from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, was tragically killed in a car crash caused by a repeat violent offender with a long criminal history.
(2) Despite repeated violations of his bail conditions, the offender was free to roam the streets and to ultimately claim Kellie's life. This tragedy was entirely preventable.
(3) While the Criminal Code falls under federal jurisdiction, provinces have been given the responsibility for the administration of justice, allowing for meaningful provincial action on bail reform to ensure public safety.
(4) Other provinces have taken proactive steps to strengthen bail enforcement, but Manitoba has not used all the available tools to address this issue effectively.
(5) The provincial government has the ability and the responsibility to advocate for and implement measures that protect its citizens by ensuring that repeat violent offenders are not released into our communities without proper safeguards.
(6) Immediate action is required to close gaps in the justice system that allowed dangerous criminals to remain free, which puts innocent Manitobans at risk.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
(1) To urge the provincial government to take immediate and decisive action on bail reform to address serious deficits in enforcement by utilizing all available provincial mechanisms to strengthen warrant enforcement, increasing bail supervision and opposing release of offenders, thus ensuring that repeat violent offenders are held accountable and that public safety is prioritized over leniency; and
(2) To urge the provincial government to lobby the federal government to immediately repeal provisions of the Criminal Code that allow for the continued victimization of law-abiding Manitobans while granting repeat offenders additional rights.
This is signed by Kevin Yuill, Jamie Bernard and many, many other Manitobans.
* (15:40)
The Acting Speaker (Diljeet Brar): Any further petitions?
Seeing no further petitions, grievances?
Hon. Nahanni Fontaine (Government House Leader): Can you please call the start of second reading of Bill 30, The Intimate Partner Violence Death Review Committee Act; followed by the start of second reading of Bill 31, The Highway Traffic Amendment Act; followed by Bill 10, The Employment Standards Code Amendment Act, attachment leave for adoption and 'serrogacy'.
The Acting Speaker (Diljeet Brar): It's been announced that we would consider second reading of Bill 30, The Intimate Partner Violence Death Review Committee Act; followed by Bill 31, The Highway Traffic Amendment Act; followed by Bill 10, The Employment Standards Code Amendment Act.
The Acting Speaker (Diljeet Brar): I will therefore call debate on Bill 30.
Hon. Matt Wiebe (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I move, seconded by the Minister for Families, that Bill 30, The Intimate Partner Violence Death Review Committee Act, be now read a second time and be referred to a committee of this House.
Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor has been advised of this bill, and I table the message.
The Acting Speaker (Diljeet Brar): It has been moved by the Minister of Justice, seconded by the Minister of Families (MLA Fontaine), that Bill 30 be now read a second time and be referred to a committee of this House.
Okay, one more time.
It has been moved by the Minister of Justice, seconded by the Minister of Families, that Bill 30, The Intimate Partner Violence Death Review Committee Act, be now read a second time and be referred to a committee of this House.
Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor has been advised of the bill, and the message has been tabled.
Mr. Wiebe: I am pleased to rise in the House today to introduce for second reading Bill 30, The Intimate Partner Violence Death Review Committee Act.
The Speaker in the Chair
The bill will re-establish the former Domestic Violence Death Review Committee as a multidisciplinary committee that will examine the circumstances of select intimate partner violence deaths and make recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future.
It will establish the review committee's structure, role and purpose; and it will define its key responsibilities. The committee will consist of at least six and no more than 12 members who are appointed by the minister for a term not exceeding three years.
Membership will include the director of Victim Services who will be designated under the Victims' Bill of Rights, or a person who reports directly to the director; a police officer with at least 10 years of experience; a lawyer with the Manitoba Prosecution Service; a faculty member of the–of a Manitoba university with expertise in IPV; a representative of an organization that provides programs or services to victims of IPV; and a medical examiner appointed under The Fatality Inquiries Act.
The Minister of Justice will designate a chair and vice-chair who is to act as if the chair–if the chair is absent or unable to act. The chair is responsible for the general supervision, direction and administration of the committee.
Review of IPV deaths will be decided on by the chair in consultation with the committee members. They can only occur after the conclusion of any related criminal proceedings or any inquiry, investigation or inquest under The Fatality Inquiries Act.
The committee must examine the circumstances of the IPV death, review the history of all the parties involved and consider any information that's relevant to the recommendations made to prevent similar circumstances from happening in the future. Once a review is completed, the committee must prepare and submit a written report to the minister that describes the circumstances of the death, identifies any systemic issues or risk factors that contribute to the death and provide recommendations to help prevent similar deaths and similar circumstances in the future.
The report will be anonymized and a copy will be tabled in the Assembly. Members will maintain confidentiality about all information that comes to their knowledge and may only disclose information or–to perform their duties if they have consent or if disclosure is authorized or required or court ordered.
The review committee must establish administrative roles and policies, appropriate technology and physical and secure storage to keep all information private and keep it safe. This is to prevent anyone from seeing, using or sharing this very valuable and important information.
The Department of Justice will provide technical and administrative support necessary to enable the committee to carry out its duties. Manitoba's proposed legislation aligns closely with Alberta, with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, who already have legislated Domestic Violence Death Review Committees.
And the bill is a step towards preventing deaths caused by gender-based violence and intimate partner violence in Manitoba. It will help reduce GBV- and IPV-related incidents in general by learning what leads to these situations and allowing government and community organizations, as well as the courts, to proactively prevent these situations from ever happening again.
It will promote the protection of women and girls and support key initiatives in Manitoba's Safer Neighbourhoods, Safer Downtowns Public Safety Strategy on ending gender-based violence. And, of course, it aligns closely with the Mino'Ayaawag Ikwewag–All Women Doing Well strategy and Canada's framework to address gender-based violence.
I expect full support from all members in this House, and I look forward to passing this at second reading promptly.
Thank you, Honourable Speaker.
The Speaker: A question period of up to 15 minutes will be held. Questions may be addressed to the minister by any opposition or independent member in the following sequence: first question by the official opposition critic or designate; subsequent questions asked by critics or designates from other recognized opposition parties; subsequent questions asked by each independent member; remaining questions asked by any opposition member. No question or answer shall exceed 45 seconds.
The floor is now open for questions.
Ms. Jodie Byram (Agassiz): I want to thank the member opposite for bringing this bill forward. I know the work of this committee is going to be hard and tasking.
My question to the members opposite: Membership of the committee is outlined in section 5(2), places a fixed time frame for experience only with the appointment of a police officer, in this case, a requirement of at least 10 years' experience.
Can the minister advise why a specific time period for experience is not included with some of the other participants listed?
Hon. Matt Wiebe (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I thank the member opposite for the question. I know she's someone who wants to see this bill advanced forward as quickly as possible as well, so I'm eager to see that work happen here this afternoon.
With regards to the time frames for how much experience individuals have, the member opposite will know that, you know, there's a lot of incredible work that goes on within this sector. There's certainly some work that we want to do with those individuals who have the expertise. We're going to allow the committee to tap into that resource and find those people who have the best experience. We know that it's important to find, obviously, people who have specific roles, but when it comes to expertise, there's a broad range of experience and we want to bring them to the table.
* (15:50)
Mrs. Colleen Robbins (Spruce Woods): Membership of this committee does not specifically require a past victim of domestic violence. Does the minister not feel that including such a requirement would be valuable to identify 'systemanic' long-term issues?
Mr. Wiebe: Yes, I think the member opposite is on the right track here and understands how–some of the dynamics that will factor into how this committee is established. What we want is we want to have that broad range of experience, and that broad range of experience–the broad range of perspective, I should say–that really is what's going to form the expertise necessary to be most effective in this committee.
You know, obviously we have set positions within the committee to ensure that specific expertise is at the table, but we know that within this important work there's a lot of perspectives we want to include at the table, so that's going to be part of the work of establishing this group.
Mrs. Kathleen Cook (Roblin): The membership requirements in the bill do not explicitly include Indigenous women or Indigenous organizations, and yet we know that Indigenous women are disproportionately affected by intimate partner violence. Would the minister consider making that a requirement on the committee?
Mr. Wiebe: Well, I can tell the member opposite that definitely this is, you know, one of the focuses that our government is going to have while establishing this committee. There's no question that we need to have Indigenous partnership and we need to have representation on this committee. Of course, there are a number of affected communities that also need to be represented and we need to have a diverse set of perspectives that will really drive the work of the committee.
Again, this is a committee that I think has been lacking in this province, and so by setting this up and bringing everyone to the table, we know that this work will help to deal with those 'systemac'–systemic issues that are so important to deal with.
Mr. Wayne Balcaen (Brandon West): I appreciate the minister speaking about the need for Indigenous representation and I'd certainly like to thank the member that asked the question, bringing it forward that Indigenous individuals are disproportionately victimized within our province.
So, again, why isn't an Indigenous organization specifically put into this legislation?
Mr. Wiebe: Again, Honourable Speaker, what we're looking for is the expertise within the sector and then the lived experience that will form the work of the committee alongside the resources that are brought forward from the Department of Justice. This is really how we're going to have the biggest impact.
And, again, this is a committee which is building off of work that was done previously in this province. We want to get them back to work and we want to see results, as in we want good recommendations that we can act on as legislators in a non-partisan way.
So I'm hoping that members opposite will pass this to committee as soon as possible so that we can get to work.
Ms. Byram: Does the establishment of a provincial intimate partner violence death review committee tie into the federal government's national action plan on violence against women and gender-based violence?
Mr. Wiebe: Yes, as I mentioned in my opening comments, you know, these strategies are all interwoven and it's important to have, obviously, a perspective from Canada, from other provinces and learn lessons.
We also have an incredible amount of capacity here in this province, and I mentioned Mino'Ayaawag Ikwewag as being the lead document and guiding document for a lot of that work.
This work of the committee will definitely build off of that success and that direction given by the Minister of Families (MLA Fontaine), but there's a lot of work to do and we look forward to having all members on board to get this important legislation passed.
Mrs. Robbins: The committee, as noted in section 7, is to be provided technical and administrative support to carry out its duties. Considering that the issue is a cross-Manitoba issue, do these supports also include support for witnesses to attend and participate, if necessary?
Mr. Wiebe: Yes, a couple pieces here which I think are important to note and one is that, of course, member's right. There's–this, you know, goes across all, you know, jurisdictions, goes across departments and that's why this work is a whole-of-the-government approach. I'm very thankful for the contributions of the member for St. Johns, the Minister of Families, and their work that they've done with regards to helping to establish this committee.
What I will say is is that having our director of Victim Services be a part of this work, I think, really ties those things together in a way that wasn't done in the past. And so, this is really one of the advantages of this piece of legislation that I think we can really see some benefit from.
Mrs. Cook: Will the committee have the ability to look at previous intimate partner violence deaths? Specifically, I'm thinking of the February 11, 2024, deaths involving Amanda Clearwater, her three children, Bethany, Jayven and Isabella, and their 17-year-old niece Myah-Lee Gratton. Or will this apply only to cases that occur after the legislation is proclaimed?
Mr. Wiebe: Yes. I can certainly take that one back and find out about, you know, previous cases, if that's information the member opposite would be–find helpful.
What I will say is is that I'd like to avoid talking about specific cases when it comes to the work of this committee. We know, obviously, there are a number of systems that are available to ensure that there is a proper process and I'd certainly think that we want to broaden out this work and we want to make sure that this is–everyone knows that this is for all Manitobans and this is about systemic issues that then can be brought to this Legislature to make change.
Mr. Balcaen: I certainly appreciate this committee and the work that will be done in this committee. My concern that I must bring forward is that case law in the past and specifically R v. Jordan sets timelines on investigational processes for 18 months or two years in serious offenses. So a homicide would be a two-year offence and by the time it's brought to court, that could be three years or four years and the information needed will not be timely.
What can the minister provide for this group or for Manitobans to make sure timely action or timely results can be–
The Speaker: Member's time has expired.
Mr. Wiebe: Yes, it's important that this–the work of this committee does not interfere with any criminal proceedings that are under way. I think the member opposite understands that limitation, but certainly when we're talking about systemic issues and change throughout the system, the valuable lessons that we'll learn here are–will be invaluable. Certainly, we want to see justice for victims and that's why the criminal process is so important to respect and to adhere to that process carefully.
Ms. Byram: The review committee is charged with conducting reviews on selected IPV deaths.
Can the minister share with us here what are the parameters or the criteria that–for this selection?
Mr. Wiebe: Yes, as we talked about in the bill briefing this morning, Honourable Speaker, you know, this will be the work of the committee, is to, you know, have obviously a good grasp of the cases that are moving their way through the courts and the timelines involved, but once those cases have been identified, that's the work of the committee, is to determine which ones may be indicative of larger issues or larger concerns and it–we'll leave it up to the committee to do that important work.
They bring forward those recommendations and that's, again, then the work for all of us as legislators to either act on it or not if the government of the day decides not to.
Mr. Balcaen: Again, my question is to the Minister of Justice (Mr. Wiebe) or perhaps the Minister of Families (MLA Fontaine), whoever wishes to answer this, is that under the guidelines, a police officer must have 10 years of experience. So 10 years in policing can mean vastly different depending on which organization you are with or which area of expertise it is.
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I'm wondering how the minister is going to ensure that 10 years of service by a police officer accurately reflects 10 years of investigational services in intimate partner violence to bring meaningful work to this committee.
The Speaker: Member's time has expired.
Mr. Wiebe: Yes, we trust law enforcement, and what that means is to appreciate the nuance and, you know, the experience level of an officer that they may be putting forward for this committee. But we know that they care about this issue in the same way everyone here in this Chamber does.
So we're going to work closely with law enforcement to ensure that we have the right people at the table. They want to make a difference. We want to help them to be a part of this committee to make a true difference for IPV here in this province.
Mr. Balcaen: Again, a question for the Minister of Justice.
This committee is needed; it's something that's very important in Manitoba and to make sure that these actions don't happen. But I'm curious about the limitations. Again, putting a time frame on a police officer for 10 years, yet we could have a social worker that's part of the committee that has just recently graduated and has one day of service; we could have a Victim Services person who just got hired after one day or one week of service.
Why aren't we making it consistent across the board to really draw in the expertise of individuals that could provide service to this committee?
Mr. Wiebe: I think the member opposite is maybe starting to understand the kind of people that we're going to be putting on this committee, and those are people with incredible experience that they want to–we want them to bring to the table to make a difference when it comes to intimate partner violence here in this province.
You know, if the member wants to spend his time once the committee is established criticizing the composition of that committee, that's totally his prerogative, and if he wants to go down that road, that's fine. We're going to put some really good people on this committee, and what that's going to result in is good recommendations to us as legislators.
Mr. Balcaen: You know, I'm quite concerned that the minister would say that I'm criticizing when I'm actually trying to help out this committee that I've already stated is needed. It's something that will help out domestic violence in the future. But when the minister has obvious gaps within his legislation that he's bringing forward, it's important to bring those through. And I know the minister doesn't have a lot of experience in policing or in public safety so I'm trying to help him through.
Again, could the minister answer why those areas aren't being considered when they put constraints on police officers or timelines on police officers but not on all of the other areas of expertise that are vastly needed?
Mr. Wiebe: Just to be clear, I wasn't saying that the member opposite was criticizing the committee, but I was suggesting that he might want to do that in the future. But now I'll revise that, Honourable Speaker, because it does sound like he's criticizing the makeup of this committee, and, you know, it's a bizarre position to take.
Honourable Speaker, we're going to put forward a committee. Members opposite can spend their political capital in criticizing that committee or they can work with the findings of this committee to actually make a difference around IPV, something that members opposite–of course, when they were in government, they cut this committee. And here we are re-establishing it and putting in the legislation so future PC governments can't cut it.
Members opposite have been clear about their stance on this. We're clear on our stance: We're standing with victims. We're–
The Speaker: Time has expired.
And the time for the question period has also expired.
The Speaker: The floor is now open for debate.
Ms. Jodie Byram (Agassiz): I want to thank the minister this morning for the briefing that we had on Bill 30 this morning. It was an opportunity to share information and ask a couple questions.
And I–it is an honour to stand here today, speak to Bill 30, The Intimate Partner Violence Death Review Committee Act. It is important legislation that moving forward can provide a background and give insight on recommendations so that we could prevent deaths in similar circumstances in the future here in Manitoba.
Only Alberta and New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have similar domestic IPV death review committees. And I think it's important that in today's day and age, with an increase in domestic and intimate partner violence, that we do all that we can to prevent further harms and damages to people in our province and across Canada.
I do want to take a moment and talk about the stats related to intimate partner violence. Like I mentioned, those numbers continue to increase and Manitoba has one of the highest rates of domestic and intimate partner violence–excuse me–in Canada.
In 2023, the rate of police reported intimate partner violence in Manitoba was about 628 victims per 100,000 people. Manitoba had the second highest rate among provinces behind only Saskatchewan. The family violence rate in Manitoba reached 585 victims per 100,000 in 2022, which also–increasing in time.
We all know that women and girls are disproportionately affected and those Indigenous women and girls, in rural Manitoba, the IPV rate among women and girls is more than four times the rate for men and boys.
We know that rural communities experience especially high levels of violence and domestic-related homicide. Rates can be 10 times higher than that of the urban areas. Indigenous women face significantly higher risk with 61 per cent reporting experienced IPV in their lifetime, compared to 44 per cent of non-Indigenous women. Both–most victims know their perpetrator. In rural areas, 89 per cent of the victims know the accused and 20 per cent of all homicides in Canada are related to IPV.
And, along with this, there are many barriers for victims of domestic and intimate partner violence. We often face–they often face multiple obstacles when trying to lease–leave abusive situations and seek help and assistance. Quite often, they fear for their own safety, they have fear of retaliation from their abuser, their concerns escalate when they think violence can become worsened, they fear for safety of their children and their family members.
And then there's the financial dependence. Many victims rely on the abuser for housing, income and child care. This may leave risk of poverty or homelessness, particularly when affordable housing is limited here in the province.
And in–often in rural areas, there's limitations to the access of services. There's fewer shelters in rural and northern communities, there's less counselling services in rural and northern communities and less legal supports for individuals in those areas. Long travel distance can be a barrier to getting the kind of support that one needs, lack of transportation.
Cell phone coverage is another barrier that can impact the ability to seek help and refuge. And system navigations–and I've heard this from many–the victims often struggle to navigate through a complex system of policing, courts, child protection, housing, sometimes even income assistance that can be very challenging for any individual who's navigating through a very emotional, traumatizing situation in their life and can be overcome–or, overcome with, like I said, emotions and not having a sense of where to go, where to turn for some of those resources.
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Another issue that I've heard is delays. I know some victims feel that, what's the point? Maybe in some cases there's–it'll take so long, it'll be forever, leaving some feeling there's just no point.
As I mentioned already, the–Indigenous women face these additional challenges, so there's the culture and social barriers, there's a level of mistrust and in some cases there's a lack of culturally appropriate resources or help available.
Some victims are scared to come forward. Some victims are scared to talk about their home life, their situation, maybe what they've lived through, maybe the trauma that they are living through. Victims fear judgment from family, maybe even their community. That can prevent them–stigma and shame–from coming forward and talking about what their lived experience is.
Children–or families: individuals can have a fear of losing custody of their children, or taken into a system that is not ideal for their child and knowing that it could prevent an individual from leaving a situation.
As newcomers are coming to Canada, we are learning that immigration and legal status issues prevent a lot of individuals from coming forward, maybe fleeing a situation of IPV or domestic violence for fear of–excuse me–for fear of being sent back to their home country. They face deport–or, fear of deportation. And newcomers when they come to a new country often feel isolated and alone, and if IPV and domestic violence is something that they are living with, it adds another challenge to their life here in Canada.
Domestic abuse knows no borders, no boundaries; there's no age limit, there's no gender to it, there's no colour to it. It doesn't discriminate. And we often don't know what goes on behind closed doors or what life is like for individuals living in an environment. Some live in silence for many years. Others escape to safety and find the resources that they need. And others live a lifetime with it.
I'm one that likes to go out and exercise and do a little running when I can, a little walking when I can, and I came across a woman one day and–lived in the community, long period of time. And I stopped to talk to her, check in, say, hey, how are you doing, I haven't seen you for a long time–only to learn her story right there on the street. This woman: been married for years, had a good job, but lived in an environment that was not healthy. It was an abusive environment, and she finally couldn't take it anymore and left.
And when she left, she was harassed, whether it was at work, whether it was at her new home that she sought–that she found, that she thought would be a safe place. But it turned out it wasn't a safe place. And she had to leave the community in order to protect herself and explained to me that's why I hadn't seen her for so long. But after some time, she was able to move back, and she did get the resources that she needed and was able to resolve that situation so that she wasn't being harassed and she was going to be able to live in the community again safely.
On another occasion, running down–actually, it was a dirt road–but I came across a woman. Again, this was a senior lady, and she was in tears. So I stopped and asked if she was okay. And then we stood there in the middle of the road for quite a period of time and she shared her story. And while we're standing there, she's anxious and she's nervous, for fear that her partner might be looking for her. And then if he found that she was outside and that she was talking to someone, there would be repercussions in doing that. And, again, that individual was able to get out of that situation, but what she shared with me breaks my heart.
Those are just a couple of the stories that I know. Fortunately, that's just a couple individuals that found safety, peace and resolution. And, unfortunately, not all situations have that kind of outcome.
We know only a couple of years ago, Manitoba had horrific acts of violence. In Carman, in February of 2024, the community had a crisis with the murder of a family of five. Amanda Clearwater and her children, Bethany, Jayven and Isabella and Amanda's 17-year-old niece, Myah-Lee Gratton. This was a horrific act of domestic violence that took precious lives away.
In the community of McCreary in 2024, we saw a man murder his partner's–his partner's family and her brother, and then taking his own life.
These acts didn't need to happen if there was perhaps safety and safeguards put in place. And those are just two stories of horrific situations of domestic violence and intimate partner violence.
And, like I said, we don't always know what goes on behind closed doors. There's a lot of silent victims. Honourable Speaker, Bill 30 is an important mechanism for learning and, hopefully, providing insights and tools to making change for all Manitobans.
I want to take a moment and just say a thank you and recognize the hard work of a few organizations that do provide resources and supports for victims: YMCA and YWCA, Klinic, MAWS, Candace House. I know there's many more and those are just a few of the organizations that do some incredible work.
I want to take a moment and highlight some of the work that our PC government did when we were in government. We expanded victim support mechanisms within the justice system, which affected IPV survivors. We enhanced victim rights, made amendments to the Victims' Bill of Rights, providing greater flexibility for supporting families of deceased victims, access to free legal counsel for victims. During our time, we maintained provincial funding streams for agencies in addressing family violence, government programs, funded more than 30 organizations for survivors of family gender-based violence.
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We introduced related protective legislation in 2022 targeting exploitation and trafficking, amendments to The Child Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking Act, provided funding to the youth healing lodge in Thompson, provided support to the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation for the Buffalo Riders, which delivers early intervention for Indigenous youth, provided a variety of mental health and addiction initiatives through the Canada Manitoba home community care, enhanced access to land-based teaching for Indigenous youth who are at high risk of sexual exploitation, provided funding to improve tenant and community safety and housing properties, provided funding Together We Grow program to The Pas for women in crisis.
We modernized the Family Violence Prevention Program, and the program provides support for over 30 agencies, including shelters, women resource centre and second stage programs, initiated the criminal justice modernization strategy, the family law modernization strategy and the Policing and Public Safety Strategy.
Our government provided enhanced funding to the Mount Carmel Clinic Mothering Project to double their supportive capacity to connect vulnerable mothers with programs and services, initiated interdepartmental work to revitalize Tracia's Trust strategy and to develop and align departmental initiatives, provided new funding through the new–the Family Violence Prevention Program.
We established the Gender-Based Violence Committee of Cabinet to ensure collaboration across government to address gender-based violence, developed a Manitoba post-secondary sexual violence policy guide to assist post-secondary institutions in creating safe campuses through policies, engagements with students and training initiatives.
Those are just a few things that the PC government did when we were in government.
I do want to highlight what we have brought forward last spring was–my colleague from Selkirk brought forward Bill 212, The Highway Traffic Amendment Act, and this would allow the courts to impose an automatic driver's licence suspension of people who were convicted of criminal harassment if a vehicle used–if a vehicle was used committing a crime and it authorized police to seize and impound a vehicle if officers discovered that it was–that the person using the vehicle was committing criminal harassment.
This bill was introduced, like I said, last spring but the NDP didn't pass it and that was legislation that could help protect victims. It could be something that prevented further harms and damages, but this NDP government squashed it.
The previous PC government introduced Clare's Law in 2022 and it was set for proclamation in the date for 2023. The NDP government sat on this bill for years. They didn't bring it forward. The Minister of Families (MLA Fontaine) put it aside and let it sit there and didn't bring it forward and proclaim it until two years later.
Again, this was important legislation that could have been well under way, but the NDP chose to sit on it and, again, that could have been something that was in place to protect Manitobans from further trauma.
This government has not made intimate partner violence a priority. With an election looming, they're just putting the illusion out there that this matters and this is the same government whose leader, the Premier (Mr. Kinew) of Manitoba, has a history of domestic intimate partner violence, serious allegations and a history.
And I think that's important to note here: that they bring this forward and claim that this is a priority for them when we have a Minister of Families holding on to legislation that could have been proclaimed two years ago and a Premier that has serious allegations of domestic violence and intimate partner violence.
An Honourable Member: Relevance.
Ms. Byram: The relevance to that is the fact that we are standing here in this Chamber speaking about intimate partner violence and the harms that are done to those individuals, and the Premier of Manitoba as a history in that. That is the relevance.
This legislation is good. I believe in this legislation, I believe there's a place for it and I believe this committee has a lot of work ahead of them. And it's not going to be easy work. Maybe there's further considerations that we could sit down and negotiate and talk about. Again, I believe this is legislation that will have an impact on saving lives, and I look forward to having this go to committee.
Thank you, Honourable Speaker.
The Speaker: No further members wishing to debate?
Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): Thank you, Honourable Speaker, for putting those couple words on the record.
And it, once again, Honourable Speaker, speaks loudly. The silence is deafening coming from the benches of the government side where, as our member–the member for Agassiz (Ms. Byram)–stood up and so eloquently talked about Bill 30, The Intimate Partner Violence Death Review Committee Act, and shared some stories on the record. And as she stood there, we had the member for St. Boniface (MLA Loiselle) yelling across as far as relevance.
And I know that the member for St. Boniface and other members on the NDP, the government side, don't want to continuously hear the fact about the Premier's past record in regards to domestic violence. And that, Honourable Speaker, I think is deplorable, and that's why I commended the Honourable Speaker for putting a few words on the record in regards to asking if there was any more speakers.
Because once again, we see, Honourable Speaker, that the government side, they–a lot of the backbenchers, they've got lots to say from their seats, but don't actually want to stand up; or, as we saw earlier today in question period, the Premier or even the Justice Minister is taking the power away from a lot of their members to be able to get up and actually speak to any topic here in the Manitoba Legislature.
And so, Honourable Speaker, when we're moving forward and we're talking about Bill 30, brought forward by the Justice Minister himself, I also noticed a bit of a different tone today when it came to question period. Obviously, the time change had done him well. It's 'substued'–subdued him a little bit. And again, it seems that the members across the way who now sit in their chair and want to yell across the Chamber, a few minutes ago didn't even want to get up and speak at all.
So, Honourable Speaker, I appreciate the time you're giving me to speak to Bill 30. Again, I believe also during the time that my colleague, the member for Agassiz, was talking about the bill, debating the bill–and that's part of our democracy not only here in Canada, but also, you know, on a day when we have Commonwealth Day as well.
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We're working with many different of the nations throughout the world, diverse nations, on about commonalities, about how do we work together, how do we make life better for all the Commonwealth countries that participate. And it was actually Canada, Honourable Speaker, that brought forward and started celebrating the Commonwealth Day.
And so when a member from the government side starts talking about relevance and that–I mean, this is all relevance, Honourable Speaker, when we talk about Bill 30, protecting partners throughout this great province of ours, but not only in Manitoba but also around the country, and striking the committee I think is very important. It's going to be interesting to see, when we pass Bill 30 onto committee, to hear what the public has to say at that time, or maybe even this afternoon.
Honourable Speaker, maybe we will hear from the government side on domestic violence, and, unfortunately, the intimate partner violence deaths, and we'll see what the committee has to say and what they uncover and the different cases that they will be taking a look at.
It is very important, I think, to fully understand what intimate partner violence is. And as the member from Agassiz alluded to, and I know that the government side doesn't want to hear it, but intimate partner violence, or IPV, refers to the abuse that occurs between people in a close relationship. This could include romantic partners or even family members.
We've heard today two more pieces of legislation being brought forward by the government side, and again, it will be interesting, and that's why we mark, you know, today, March 9, 2026.
And I'm going to put it also on the record that I think moving forward on other pieces of legislation, whether it's Bill 30 or anything else that's coming forward, I think we'll see more and more of the government side starting to maybe wake up and put their own words on the record, because that's what they're elected for, and the democratic process is to actually get up, represent your constituents. And in their case, because they're in government, they're supposed to be representing all Manitobans as well, and we've seen on a day-to-day basis, Honourable Speaker, that this continues to be–this government continues to get a failing grade.
And so when we hear additional pieces of legislation be brought forward as we have earlier today, getting start of session this afternoon, it's interesting on how many of the members on that side, on the government side, are bringing forward legislation to try to cover up or try to distract from the realities of what their Premier (Mr. Kinew) had done many years ago.
And it's interesting because, Honourable Speaker, when I had the privilege and the honour of being the interim leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, it was oftentimes the Premier would question or throw shade, derogatory comments over towards me, and I would simply ask him, you know, when I was in my early 20s, I was working with students with social and emotional behaviour, special needs. And so I had asked him, what were you doing in your early 20s?
And we heard loud and clear today, the member for Agassiz brought this up, and this is no secret, but yet the people, the government members, don't want to face reality, and that that is their reality, that they are backing a leader who has gone through those trial and tribulations.
And, again, you know, Bill 30 talks about the intimate partner violence death review committee. It's a topic, Honourable Speaker, that I think can manifest itself in so many different forms, including physical, emotional and psychological and financial abuse. And in some cases, it obviously, because we're talking about this topic today, it can lead to tragic outcomes, such as death.
And I'm hoping that with this committee, once this bill makes its way to committee, after, I'm assuming, more members of the government side are going to get up and put a few words on the record, maybe we'll start to get some solutions or prevention on how do you stop this. How do you stop the various different situations that are happening not only in Manitoba, but in Canada?
And it just takes me to an interesting stat that in–Manitoba had the second highest rate of family and intimate partner violence in 2024, according to StatsCan. The national data agency counted 607 cases of police‑reported intimate partner violence and 568 cases of family violence per 100,000 people.
So, again, the Justice Minister stands up, the Attorney General (Mr. Wiebe), and, again, I appreciate the different tone that he brought into question period on this bill today. Again, we're going to have to fast-forward his clock multiple times because the tone was definitely considerably better. I think it started to change a little bit when he started getting questioned about–questions about this bill that maybe he didn't have a full grasp on what was happening. But that's okay. We're going to see as this bill moves forward and get additional information coming out.
I know that my friend and colleague, the member for Agassiz (Ms. Byram), mentioned some of the initiatives that our previous government had accomplished in the seven and a half years. And I want to put another fact on the record, Honourable Speaker, which, again, part of this democracy we hear things here in the Manitoba Legislature, and various people from all party stripes bring forward little tidbits, and there seems to be a whole heck of a lot of finger pointing instead of actually doing some action on–from the government benches. But I have to remind them that the NDP had been in power for 17 years and to try to clean up that mess in the short seven and a half years that we had was a monstrous task.
And so when we talk about Bill 30, The Intimate Partner Violence Death Review Committee Act, we talk about the–many of the good things, the initiatives, that we were able to do in the short seven and a half years. But, again, we're looking at the NDP government now being in just over two and a half years, and there's many people, many Manitobans, that voted them in. And keep in mind, Honourable Speaker–I've said this on multiple occasions–they did not win the election. We ended up losing it, and we'll see in the short amount of time–[interjection]
I know that the member for St. Boniface (MLA Loiselle), I guess he's getting ready to get up to put some words on the record because he's busy shouting across the Chamber. He just can't help himself, Honourable Speaker. It's unfortunate, but there are services in our Blue Cross agreements to help with that. So I'm hoping that the member for St. Johns (MLA Fontaine)–or St. Boniface will reach out.
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So a couple of the PC governments past initiatives I would like to highlight. Of course, Clare's Law, The Disclosure to Protect Against Intimate Partner Violence Act, one of the most significant IPV initiatives introduced by our government with Clare's Law in 2022. The government introduced bill 43, The Disclosure to Protect Against Intimate Partner Violence Act, commonly known as Clare's Law, and this legislation aimed to provide risk assessment, safety planning and connections to services for those concerned about partner violence. Although passed in 2022 under the PCs, full implementation happened later in 2026, so it took them two and a half years to sort of dig this up and realize that they actually should get moving on something.
And keep in mind this Premier, the member for Fort Rouge (Mr. Kinew)–oh, yes, how do I forget that–I mean, many of our–many of the businesses within his own constituency have been closed down due to violence, never mind many of the intimate partner violence, domestic violence that has been going on.
But this is the Premier that came in saying that he was going to fix a whole lot of different things, including health care and that, and now we see the Justice Minister: the only one on the government side to stand up and put a few words on the record to his own bill. And, again, I'm assuming due to the amount of chatter coming from the government benches that there's a few of them that are going to actually stand up and speak.
I did also want to talk about the Victim Services and justice system supports that the previous PC government had put into place, and that basically expanded some victim support mechanisms within the justice system, which affected the IPV survivors.
And I know that a couple members from the government side were critiquing some language earlier on today but, again, where are their voices now, Honourable Speaker? The Premier has absolutely whipped them into shape and made sure that none of them on that side of the House actually gets up and speaks to anything unless they're told.
So some of the examples include enhancements to the victims' rights; amendments to The Victims' Bill of Rights Act, 2022, included measures such as greater flexibility for supporting families of deceased victims, access to free legal counsel for victims in sexual assault cases. There was also the gender-based violence programs and community funding.
During the PC period, Manitoba maintained provincial funding streams for agencies addressing family violence. Government programs funded more than 30 organizations supporting survivors of family and gender-based violence, including shelters and counselling services. These programs supported crisis lines, transition housing and counselling services for victims and survivors.
There was amendments to The Child Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking Act, which required hotels and ride-share services to report suspected trafficking immediately to police. We saw time and time again, Honourable Speaker, hotels being used by the Department of Families under the former NDP government, which–between the Department of Families and the Department of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs–the present member, the current member, MLA for Families, the member for St. Johns, was an adviser. And I think it was a few years ago already that we were actually checking to see if there was any kind of briefing notes with her signature on it, and we didn't see anything.
So, again, what did the PC government do with safety and public awareness initiatives? [interjection] The previous PC government also recognized–I know that the Minister for Justice (Mr. Wiebe) is now–I don't know what he's doing. He's wanting to say something, he's starting to speak up a little bit, so the time change must be working its way out.
The previous PC government also recognized the multi-faceted approaches required to address IPV, and we supported awareness campaigns and partnerships, which included regular participation in the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which raises awareness of violence against women and promotes survivor support services.
We also contributed to the Southern Chiefs' Organization's initiative. This project is going to build a space for economic and social reconciliation in the historic Hudson Bay company building located downtown Winnipeg, which was gifted to the Southern Chiefs' Organization for this project.
A total of nearly 300 new affordable homes for members of local First Nations, including families and post-secondary students, are going to be created. And a portion of the units will be culturally safe, assisted-living units for the First Nations Elders–high-quality licensed child-care facilities and also be located on site; $35 million was allocated to that project.
Pretty impressive, Honourable Speaker, but did you hear anything like that come out of the Justice Minister's mouth? No. But I'm sure that there's a few members on the government side that want to get up today or maybe the next time that this bill is brought forward to put some words on the record.
The former PC government also sent $350,000 to provide support to the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation for the Buffalo Riders program, which delivers early interventions for Indigenous youth at risk for substance use and addictions.
And I know, Honourable Speaker, that we're speaking today on Bill 30, The Intimate Partner Violence Death Review Committee Act. But, again, on the topic that I just talked about, risk of–you know, interventions for Indigenous youth at risk for substance use and addictions.
What did this government do, Honourable Speaker? They've gone ahead and at their drug consumption site, they're going to allow youth under the age of 18 to go to that site without any proper ID. It's deplorable. So it's like, one hand is–doesn't know what the other hand is doing over there with this government.
We take a look at the pilot project that supports engagement with Elders and Knowledge Keepers in schools. This program promotes the inclusion of First Nations, Métis and Inuit histories, traditional values, contemporary lifestyles and traditional knowledge in the provincial curricula. Department of Education under the former PC government, Honourable Speaker.
And I could go on and on and on about the–[interjection] Okay, I will. I've been asked from somebody on the government side to maybe, you know, keep going a little bit. So we also invested in additional supports for mental health and wellness programs and services to support students, teachers and staff in Manitoba schools during the pandemic and provide summer programming through the Families and Schools Together initiative for vulnerable families. Where did that funding come from? The Department of Education, Honourable Speaker.
Again, continuing to modernize the Family Violence Prevention Program, a program that supports support to over 30 agencies on an annual basis. Very, very, very important initiatives, Honourable Speaker.
But I know that there's other people that would like to put a few words on the record. I'll look forward to this bill going and proceeding to committee. I do think that Bill 30 represents a very important step forward in addressing intimate partner violence and we must approach it thoughtfully and critically.
The effectiveness of this committee will depend on its resources, representation and ability to foster collaboration. Like to thank you, Honourable Speaker, for allowing me the time to get up and practise our democratic right as members of the Legislative Assembly and put a few words on the record this afternoon.
Thank you, Honourable Speaker.
Mrs. Carrie Hiebert (Morden-Winkler): I'm very honoured and I appreciate the opportunity to rise today to put some words–very important words on the record for Bill 30, The Intimate Partner Violence Death Review Committee Act.
* (16:50)
Honourable Speaker, intimate partner violence remains one of the most serious challenges facing women and families and communities in Manitoba. It's a situation–it's a–it's something we need to take very seriously. I believe we need to do more than we do, and this is a step forward and I think this is a great step forward because we need to know what's happening. We need to know how we can stop this from happening to women and families in our community. We need to ensure that the safety of Manitobans and supporting those affected by violence in their homes and relationships must remain a priority for men–for all members of this House.
It's all of our job, whether–whichever side you sit on, whether you're male or female or whatever it is that you–we all need to represent exactly. This is an important subject and we need to make sure that we do all we can to alleviate intimate partner violence.
The purpose of this legislation is especially close to my heart. Addressing intimate partner violence and supporting women affected by these tragedies that happen, particularly in rural communities, is a deeply important matter for me. In my constituency, I have worked closely with our local women's shelter, volunteering there for many–over the years many times, and I've seen first-hand the critical role these organizations play in our communities and in the lives of women and their families.
I have also been a strong advocate for establishing transitional housing in our communities because we know that for many rural women leaving a violent situation, safe and stable housing is one of the greatest barriers that they face and they're trying to rebuild their lives but they have no place to live. We have a very big shortage of affordable housing in rural areas. Ensuring that women in rural Manitoba have access to the same supports and opportunities for safety and stability as those in larger 'sinters'–centres is something that will continuously be something I will advocate for.
Bill 30 establishes a form of intimate partner violence death review committee, will–to review deaths resulting from intimate partner violence in Manitoba and to provide recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths in the future. One death is one death too many. We need to make sure we step in and make changes immediately when we know there's a–something that we can do to make sure this doesn't–it doesn't happen again to any other women or families in our communities.
Through careful case reviews, the committee can make recommendations aimed at preventing these deaths, these tragedies in the future and that's something very important. The value of a committee like this lies in its ability to look at complex cases from multiple perspectives. And I'm hoping that we have a very large array of different perspectives on that committee; we make sure that we have people on that committee that are–that really have the heart and care and that can put themselves in positions themselves that–so they understand how this can really–how–what their decisions can really impact the future of women that possibly could be in situations that are dangerous.
This act requires, like, representation from across all different areas, whether that's health care, whether that's policing, other women who have gone through these tragic situations or have been a victim of intimate partner violence. These are definitely places where we need to start asking questions and seeing what can we do to help, what can we do to make it better.
We can always, always improve everything, and we should continually strive to make sure that we are always working towards alleviating this. I think it's a crisis in our country. I don't think any child should ever have to live with the situation where they can see that their parent is being–their mother or–is being victimized and abused. And often, we don't even know that these things are happening, but it's happening. It happens to all–women in every aspect of life, any age. We need to be open and honest and look and believe and trust what they're saying is–to be true.
And by examining such as justice, health care, law enforcement, social services, we need to make sure we're on top of it. The situation that happened in Carman, it was such a tragedy, just down the highway from my home. And I can't believe that this stuff is happening right down the road from where we are. And there's got to be more we can do to help these parents, these moms, these kids. It's an injustice for us to just sit and complain, and we need to just act, all of us, on the same page.
This isn't about who's who, this is about protecting the most vulnerable in our communities and supporting those that are serving them. It's a valuable thing to be part of. It's something that we all should be taking up a mantle for. We need to examine how systems such as justice, how they can be–better serve these families and these mothers and these women who are victims. We need to be able to make sure we don't miss the warning signs and I think we need to start collaborating together with different parts of services–different services; for example, mental health, health care.
We need to start talking to those that are involved in the justice system because there could have been some definite red flags that would have saved the family in Carman if they could have just talked to each other. The family didn't–you know, the social worker didn't know what was going on because they couldn't share information about what was happening in the home with other services that were also helping the family in the home. We need to do better, we need to protect those children and that needs to be our No. 1 objective.
And I think just talking with each other, the services, whether there's a mental health issue or there's a drug addiction issue, these are all things we need to be working together and sharing this information for the better of the family and for their protection. And I believe that they would still be here if there would have been information shared about the safety of that family and what was happening in that home.
Intimate partner violence continues to be the–a significant concern in Manitoba. According to Statistics Canada, Manitoba is consistently reporting some of the highest rates of police‑reported intimate partner violence in the country and that's just the ones that are reported by the police. So many women and victims don't go forward, so they're all missed in this information.
Recent data shows a rate is–of roughly 600 victims per 100,000 population of people, well above the national average. Earlier reporting also showed a rate of approximately 633 victims per 100,000 people in 2022, demonstrating the ongoing scale of the issue in our province.
This is something we cannot look away from. We need to act now. It's time. Each one of us has an obligation to do and make a change in our communities and in the cities.
These numbers represent thousands of Manitobans each year who experience violence in their homes and in relationships. They highlight the continued need for strong prevention measures, co-ordinated responses for us to collaborate and work together with all the different services involved in families and we need accessible support services for those who may be at risk. We need to make sure we're open to all those that have a situation that they need help with.
It's an honour for me to speak because this is something that has been close to my heart, and I will continue to work hard to bring attention to intimate partner violence in Manitoba and how we can do better, Honourable Speaker. I know we can.
Thank you.
The Speaker: If there are no more speakers, is the House ready for the question?
Some Honourable Members: Question.
The Speaker: The question before the House is second reading of Bill 30, The Intimate Partner Violence Death Review Committee Act.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
The motion is accordingly carried.
The hour being 5 o'clock, this House is now adjourned and stands adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow.
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Monday, March 9, 2026
CONTENTS
Bill 230–The Moose Hide Campaign Day Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended)
Bill 231–The Indigenous Heritage Month Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended)
2026 Manitoba Winter Games in Thompson
Global African Diaspora Network
Royal Canadian Legion 100th Anniversary
Manitoba-Wide February Celebrations
Safe Consumption Site–Overdose or Death
Mental Health and Addiction Treatment
Safe Consumption Site Location
Programs for Adolescents with Disabilities
Opposition to Releasing Repeat Offenders
MRI Machine for Portage Regional Health Facility
Programs for Adolescents with Disabilities
Location of Safe Injection Sites
Opposition to Releasing Repeat Offenders
MRI Machine for Portage Regional Health Facility
Location of Safe Injection Sites
MRI Machine for Portage Regional Health Facility
MRI Machine for Portage Regional Health Facility
Opposition to Releasing Repeat Offenders
Bill 30–The Intimate Partner Violence Death Review Committee Act