Hon. Mr. Marit: — Mr. Speaker, this afternoon the province of Saskatchewan made an announcement in conjunction and partnership with the community of Coronach and the RM [rural municipality] of Coronach and a company called Videre. Obviously the community has been hard hit as a result of the federal government’s mandate to get out of coal production and power facilities, Mr. Speaker, which would greatly impact the community of Coronach.

With us here today seated in the west gallery, and I’ll ask the gentlemen to give a wave when I introduce them: Craig Eger; he’s the reeve of the RM of Hart Butte. Also is Kyron Manske, who is South Saskatchewan Ready Chair and also a councillor in the RM of Hart Butte. And I also want to introduce Tyler Holmen, who is the business manager for the IBEW [International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers] Local 2067.

One gentleman that couldn’t stay for today’s proceedings is also the mayor of Coronach. Cal Martin, I also wanted to introduce, Mr. Speaker, because this group has done an awful lot in trying to keep their community alive and surviving as a result of the federal government’s decision to eliminate coal-fired power plants. And we are glad as a government to be part of that.

So I want to welcome all these gentlemen to their Legislative Assembly, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina University.

Ms. A. Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you and to all members, I’d like to join with the member opposite in welcoming these gentlemen from Hart Butte and from IBEW in Coronach to this, their legislature.

The challenges facing your community are very real, facing the folks who have built their lives there, continue to make their livelihoods there. I’m pleased today to see that there’s some real progress, hopefully some real answers emerging for workers, for your economy, as well as for a bright future for your community.

I thank you for being here today on behalf of the official opposition and welcome you to this, their legislature.

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Highways.

Hon. Ms. Carr: — Mr. Speaker, I ask leave for an extended introduction.

The Speaker: — Leave has been requested for an extended introduction. Is leave granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried.

Hon. Ms. Carr: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to you and through you and to all members of this Assembly, it’s my pleasure to introduce two gentlemen in the west gallery. We have with us today — if you’ll just give a wave when your name is called — Nathan Campbell and Harvey Granatier.

These two gentlemen are with a company called Videre Energy, and they’re going to be very instrumental in the announcement that we made today on behalf of coal workers in the province of Saskatchewan, in Coronach and in Hart Butte, in their communities. So, Mr. Speaker, if everybody could please welcome these gentlemen to their Assembly.

And, Mr. Speaker, while I’m on my feet I’m happy to introduce two individuals in the Speaker’s gallery today. Mr. Speaker, they are here today to help support communities that are being decimated by federal policies that the Liberal-NDP [New Democratic Party] coalition have brought in, Mr. Speaker.

With us today we have Steve Smith. Steve is a councillor with the RM of Estevan. Steve has been a local entrepreneur in our community for a number of years, so it’s my pleasure to have him here today.

But as well with us today, Mr. Speaker, we also have the reeve of the RM of Estevan. His name is Jason LeBlanc. Jason, welcome. I’m sure all members of this Assembly know exactly who Jason is. He’s a successful farmer from Estevan, who was actually spoken of in this House but not spoken of very well by the former leader of the opposition, Ryan Meili. But to the NDP’s chagrin, Jason is actually a successful farmer, father, husband, businessman, and a strong leader in our community.

So please help me welcome all of these individuals to our House today.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Rosemont.

Mr. Wotherspoon: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to join with the member and welcome Nathan and Harvey to their Assembly here today with the delegation from in around Coronach, along with South Sask Ready as well, Mr. Speaker. And I welcome them on behalf of the official opposition.

And it’s also a pleasure to welcome Steve Smith from the RM of Estevan, and Jason LeBlanc, the reeve of the RM of Estevan, to his Assembly. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Jason over the years, usually at some sort of agricultural gathering. This is somebody who cares deeply about this province and his community and agriculture in Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker. And it’s a pleasure to have him and Steve in his Assembly here today.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Melville-Saltcoats.

Mr. Kaeding: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you, through you to all members of the Legislative Assembly, I’d like to welcome three constituents to their Legislative Assembly. Front row, west gallery, Erwin Becker is a lifelong constituent, community leader. He’ll be turning 90 next spring. Served in municipal politics as a councillor and reeve, has always been involved in provincial politics.

A couple of fun facts. He’s just recently been remarried. Both him and Lillian are very active golfers, can certainly kick my butt. In the last couple of years they’ve travelled from coast to coast — big Blue Jays fans — but this is his first-ever visit to a sitting legislature, Mr. Speaker.

He’s joined by one of his four daughters, Shannon McIntyre, just retired as a band and music teacher from the Churchbridge Public School. She’s a recent organ-donor recipient. Her three sisters are also teachers and also married three teachers. Shannon however is married to a purebred Simmental producer, sitting adjacent to her, who is just also my recently retired CA [constituency assistant], Rick McIntyre, seated there as well.

And I’d like the Assembly to welcome all three constituents to their Legislative Assembly.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Coronation Park.

Mr. Burki: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to you and through you, I would like to welcome 21 students of grade 5 from Imperial Community School in Regina Coronation Park, seated in the east gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving us such a chance that they are here. And they’re accompanied by two teachers, great teachers, Ms. Masters and Ms. Seitz. Thank you very much for bringing all those kids early in the morning and arranging over here. That’s great.

Mr. Speaker, I met with them to welcoming and getting high-fives with them. I will face their hard questions later on after question period. And I will see how things will go, but I think they have really good questions for me.

I would request all members of this Legislative Assembly to give a warm welcome to our future faces into their Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport.

Hon. Ms. L. Ross: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request leave for an extended introduction.

The Speaker: — Leave has been requested for an extended introduction. Is leave granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried.

Hon. Ms. L. Ross: — Thank you very much. I’d like to point out that we have some very special guests today. Seated in your gallery, it’s my absolute pleasure to introduce my friend Sherry Rosenberg. Joining Sherry is her husband, Neil Rosenberg, her sister Mayo Sullivan, her brother Dinu Wong, and sister-in-law Carrie James.

As many of you know, Sherry’s been working in this building for 16 years. Since we formed government in 2007, Sherry’s been instrumental in supporting numerous ministries, staff, summer students, and the public in her role as senior administrator. Now I got to know Sherry when I became Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport and Status of Women, and Sherry’s work ethic is commendable. And I appreciate her support in our office. I’m so lucky to have had Sherry with me as, I say, the Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport. She represented our file well.

Now Sherry and her husband, Neil, they’re avid Rider fans. Through thick and through thin, they’re there. And they’re always very active in the community, going to sports games and local events. They’re even part of a local bowling league.

As some of you know, Sherry is retiring this January and her knowledge, her kindness, and her humour will definitely be missed. And I’ll miss Sherry calling out to me as I head out the door to come to the House: “Rock ’em, sock ’em, Minister.” I’d like to thank Sherry for her dedication. I invite all members to join me in thanking Sherry for her work and congratulating her on her retirement.

And while I’m on my feet, I’d like to also commend Jason for his daughter Gracie. I mean, his support of women in agriculture is commendable. The day that the combine started fire with Gracie in it, my heart stopped. Because you showed it on video. But you know, the strength and the determination of that young woman. We know she’s got an absolutely fabulous opportunity under the leadership of a very strong family to become very instrumental in this province.

So I want to thank Jason for the work he does by showing to the people in Saskatchewan what good farmers are all about and the support they have for their families. So thank you very much, Jason, for all you do.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Cannington.

Mr. D. Harrison: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, I’d like to welcome a constituent of mine, John Ryckman from Gainsborough. He’s also the reeve of the RM of Argyle No. 1. I’d ask all members to welcome John to his legislature.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Douglas Park.

Ms. Sarauer: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I see a few individuals in the east gallery I’d like to introduce, but first I want to join with the member opposite in welcoming John to his Legislative Assembly. I had the honour of getting to meet him in the basement of the Legislative Assembly earlier today. And it’s very funny that we were chatting because one of the individuals we were chatting about from your neck of the woods is actually seated today in the east gallery.

Nathaniel Cole is here as strategic advisor to the SFL [Saskatchewan Federation of Labour] alongside his president, our president, SFL president Lori Johb, someone who has been working very closely with the individuals, the workers in southeast Saskatchewan, an issue that she’s very concerned about and has been a huge advocate for workers in this province, in particular those working in the coal sector, at the federal level. So it’s an honour to see both of you here.

I also want to acknowledge seated in the gallery beside Zoé someone who’s from our issues and research shop. Michael Tiloy is here. He was an intern with us in our issues and research shop since September. He is a student at the University of Regina. It’s been an absolute pleasure having him working with us over the last few months, and we’re looking forward to seeing where the rest of his career will take him.

I ask all members to join me in welcoming all of these individuals to their gallery.

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Environment.

Hon. Ms. Tell: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you to all members of this Assembly, seated in the west gallery are 52 grade 5/6 students from W.S. Hawrylak right here in Regina, accompanied by their teachers Jacqueline Roy and Christina Lougheed, and parent chaperone Susan Butler. I look forward to meeting with your group very soon after question period. I ask all members to welcome these great kids and their teachers to the Assembly.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Elphinstone-Centre.

Ms. Conway: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to join in in welcoming someone special in the east gallery. That is Jan Seitz who is the teacher here with the Imperial grade 5s.

My partner, Nick, started his career at Imperial as a colleague of Jan’s. I got to know Jan a bit. She works very hard to teach her students about kindness and inclusivity. She’s a heck of a musician, very Janis Joplinesque, Mr. Speaker. And in my books that’s pretty much the highest compliment one can extend. She is someone who engages in challenging conversations with her students, and Nick tells me they’re totally mesmerized by everything she says.

[13:45]

So I wanted to welcome her to her Legislative Assembly. My partner didn’t have the pleasure of overlapping with Ms. Masters at Imperial, or else I’m sure I’d have intel about how awesome she is as well. So I just wanted to welcome them again to this Legislative Assembly.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Pasqua.

Mr. Fiaz: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to you, through you to all the members of the Assembly, I would like to introduce my CA, sitting in the Speaker’s gallery, Mr. Mounir Rahwan, Mr. Speaker. Smart, multiple-skilled personality, takes a lot of the load off my shoulders, Mr. Speaker.

And prior to joining my office, he was serving as a full-time military officer with the Canadian Armed Forces, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, he is now joining my office and keeping a part-time reservist officer with Regina’s own 10th Field Regiment, 38 Brigade Artillery Tactical Group, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Mounir does an excellent job balancing civilian employment with a military commitment as an army reservist officer, Mr. Speaker. With that, I would like to say thank you very much, Mounir, for serving our country as an army officer.

And with that, I would like to ask all the Assembly to join me to welcome Mounir in his Legislative Assembly.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Walsh Acres.

Mr. Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to join with the Minister of Environment to welcome the class from Jack Mack and especially my good friend Jacqueline Roy. Hawrylak. My apologies. My apologies.

I just want to take a minute to recognize Jacqueline for her amazing leadership in our community as a teacher, also in the francophone community. She is a master swimmer and has done some amazing things in the pool, and of course is our candidate in Regina Northeast. So I’d ask all members to join me in welcoming Ms. Roy to her Assembly.

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Government Relations.

Hon. Mr. McMorris: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you to the rest of the Assembly I want to introduce four people that are seated in your gallery, Mr. Speaker. I want to recognize Ryan Bellamy, who is my chief of staff, and his family Jenna, Jaiden, and of course Oaklyn, who will steal anybody’s heart.

Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to say a couple words about this family. They live in McLean and they really do epitomize what it is to be in the small town. I know Ryan is very busy with Jaiden and hockey, playing hockey with the Indian Head Chiefs and travelling across the province playing hockey. And Jaiden is quite a goal scorer, I am hearing from his dad often. So welcome.

And also I want to just recognize Jenna, who is a registered nurse, one of those extremely important people in our health care system, works at the General. But more importantly, not only does she work at the General, but she’s also on the local school parents’ council as well as the McLean rec board and the daycare board. That’s what it takes in rural Saskatchewan and communities, are people like this that keep those communities alive. Not only does Ryan keep me alive, but they keep McLean alive. I want to thank you for all the work that you do.

Would everybody please join me in welcoming Ryan, Jenna, Jaiden, and Oaklyn to their Legislative Assembly.

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Agriculture.

Hon. Mr. Marit: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to join with my colleague from Cannington, just want to introduce, say hi to John Ryckman as well. John and I go back a few years on municipal council together when I was with SARM [Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities] and he was the reeve. So I just want to welcome John.

And if I could, Mr. Speaker, I’d be remiss if I didn’t introduce my comms specialist, Derek Griffin, who is sitting in the west gallery as well, so I wanted to introduce him as well.

So just want to welcome them to their Legislative Assembly, Mr. Speaker.

PRESENTING PETITIONS

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Meewasin.

Mr. Teed: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s an honour to be on my feet today to present our petition calling on the government to ban conversion therapy. The undersigned in the province of Saskatchewan wish to bring to our attention the following: conversion therapy uses discredited and abusive practices which attempt to actively change sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code names sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity as one of the prohibited grounds of discrimination; and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child indicates that children should not be discriminated against based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request that the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to ban the practice of conversion therapy and prohibit transportation of youth and adults outside of Saskatchewan for such purposes.

The undersigned reside in Regina. I do so submit.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Kelvington-Wadena.

Mr. Nerlien: — Mr. Speaker, over the past few years the federal Liberal government, fully supported by the NDP, have worked hard to destroy the economy of Saskatchewan. Today I’m presenting a petition that reads as follows.

We, the undersigned residents of the province of Saskatchewan wish to bring to your attention the following: whereas the Trudeau Liberal-NDP coalition carbon tax is one of the main causes of affordability issues and inflation in the nation of Canada, and that the federal government has signalled that the carbon tax does affect Canadians differently by issuing an exemption on home heating oil for Atlantic Canadian provinces; further that the people of Saskatchewan, 85 per cent of whom rely on natural gas to heat their homes, are unfairly left without support by the Liberal-NDP coalition who continue to drive up the cost of living with the price of carbon.

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request that the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan take the following action: to call upon the Government of Canada to immediately remove the carbon tax from all home heating costs across Canada to reduce inflation and drive down the rising cost of living faced by all Canadians from coast to coast.

The below undersigned are residents of Regina, Lumsden, and Shellbrook. I do so present. Thank you.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Walsh Acres.

Mr. Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to present our petition calling on the government to address the affordability crisis. The undersigned residents would like to bring to our attention the following: that inflation is the highest it’s been in more than three decades; that half of Saskatchewan residents were living paycheque to paycheque before transportation and food costs skyrocketed in 2022; that food bank use in this city is increasing day after day, Mr. Speaker. And this is the number one issue that we hear on the doorstep when we get out into communities across this province.

I’ll read the prayer:

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan call on the Government of Saskatchewan to meaningfully address the affordability crisis in Saskatchewan.

Mr. Speaker, the signatories today reside in Regina. I do so present.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member for Regina Douglas Park.

Ms. Sarauer: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today yet again to present another petition calling for the improvement of labour laws in Saskatchewan. Those who’ve signed this petition wish to bring to our attention the following: that after the October 1st increase, Saskatchewan’s minimum wage remains the lowest in Canada at $14 an hour; the official opposition in addition has twice introduced paid sick leave legislation since the onset of the pandemic, calling for a minimum of 10 paid sick days each year and 14 days during a public health crisis. Mr. Speaker, paid sick leave has been proven to save employers money while making workplaces healthier and safer for all workers.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, 71 per cent of workers in Canada have experienced workplace violence and/or harassment, and much more needs to be done to ensure that workplaces in Saskatchewan are truly harassment free.

I’d like to read the prayer:

We, in the prayer that reads as follows, respectfully request the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan to call on the Government of Saskatchewan to improve conditions for workers by passing legislation to increase the minimum wage, guaranteed paid sick leave, limit nondisclosure agreements which could silence survivors of workplace harassment, and require employers to track and report incidents of violence and harassment in the workplace.

Mr. Speaker, all of these are in our private member’s bill, Bill 613. We do hope the government looks at this bill seriously and passes it in its full form.

The individuals who signed this petition today come from Grenfell, Glenavon, and Melville. I do so present.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Nutana.

Ms. Ritchie: — Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition calling on the Legislative Assembly to fund adequate funding for education. The undersigned residents of the province wish to bring to your attention that education funding included in the ’23‑24 provincial budget is wholly inadequate and will lead to cuts in the classroom again. The SSBA [Saskatchewan School Boards Association], who represent all 27 divisions in a non-partisan way, have criticized this budget, stating it further erodes education in our province. They note that the increase in school division budget provides just 0.7 per cent for the ’23‑24 school year.

Saskatchewan teachers say that they are baffled by this government’s disregard for students. STF [Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation] president Samantha Becotte says “Government either doesn’t understand the issues or doesn’t think they are important.” It is important to note that this year’s failures come after nearly a decade of funding that fails to keep pace with inflation and enrolment, and for years school divisions have described a system that’s already cut to the bone.

I’ll read the prayer:

We call on the government to provide adequate, sustainable, and predictable operating funds for our 27 public school and separate school divisions to ensure that schools, teachers, and other caring professionals are able to meet the needs of every student in Saskatchewan.

This petition is signed by the residents of Saskatoon. I do so present.

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Douglas Park.

Eastview Community Association Offers Excellent Programs for Residents

Ms. Sarauer: — Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today and highlight the Eastview Community Association, a gem within Regina Douglas Park. The Eastview Community Association aims to serve the community members by organizing high-quality programs and services that are barrier-free so everyone, no matter their physical, financial, or other limitations, can have access to high-quality, low-cost programs and services. Programs and services put on by Eastview include but are certainly not limited to the afterschool program, the kids’ cooking class, the babysitting courses, seniors’ dancing, free movie nights, and free rink skating.

Furthermore Eastview Community Association is putting together a program this winter called Snow Angels. The Snow Angels are volunteers that shovel snow for vulnerable and senior residents in our community.

Mr. Speaker, Eastview Community Association also puts on some very stellar events. In 2024 we can look forward to their Eastview Winter Carnival on March 2nd. In the new year there will also be a few new programs introduced, such as the mother and daughter self-defence class, a stay-and-play program, and try Xcite night, where youth can come and try their youth basketball program out before registering.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in thanking Eastview Community Association’s board of directors, staff, and many volunteers for their efforts in putting together some amazing programs and events in the Eastview community. Thank you.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Prince Albert Northcote.

New Police Chief to Serve Prince Albert

Ms. A. Ross: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past month marks a significant moment for public safety in Prince Albert as our government announces vital investments in the community’s well-being, including the appointment of a new police chief. Our government has allocated almost $4 million through the municipal police grants program, bolstering Prince Albert’s law enforcement capabilities.

This funding is a cornerstone for supporting 26 critical police service positions in 2023‑24, ensuring the safety and security of our citizens. This includes initiatives like the police and crisis team, the crime reduction team, the Saskatchewan trafficking response team, and the internet child exploitation program.

In addition, last week marked a new era for Prince Albert Police Service, and I was honoured to have attended the official swearing-in of the new Prince Albert police chief. Chief Nogier has a long and distinguished career with the Saskatoon Police Service, where he served for the past 30 years, most recently as the superintendent of criminal investigations.

I know Chief Nogier will bring a strong professional approach to his position that will be a great benefit to the police force and help build a strong and lasting relationship with the citizens of Prince Albert. Congratulations, Chief Nogier, and thank you to you and your family for choosing to make Prince Albert your home. Thank you.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Eastview.

Parents Express Concerns about Education

Mr. Love: — Mr. Speaker, I rise to expose the Sask Party government’s inattention towards the real concerns that parents have for our classrooms. Parents certainly want what’s best for their kids and they are speaking up, but this government is failing to listen.

At Centennial Collegiate in Saskatoon, the parents involved in their school community council publicly shared the realities that their students face every day. And the numbers paint a stark picture. Last year, Mr. Speaker, they had 1,440 students at Centennial jostling for space in 17 portables. They have 94 classes with more than 33 students. One hundred students every day rely on the nutrition centre for food.

At a time when families are struggling, inadequate funding is forcing those same parents to fundraise for basic student necessities and pay out of pocket so their kids can eat lunch at school in a crowded cafeteria.

When parents are consulted through SCCs [school community council] and local trustees, they are raising the alarm on the lack of mental health supports; crumbling facilities; crowded classrooms, hallways, and portables; and complex classrooms where student needs are going unmet.

At a time when this government should be investing in our classrooms, they are instead investing in anti-teacher billboards. Parents aren’t buying it, and just like teachers they’re speaking up so that every Saskatchewan student can get the education they deserve.

[14:00]

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood.

Restorative Action Program Empowers Youth in Saskatoon High Schools

Ms. Lambert: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On November 24th I had the pleasure of speaking on behalf of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General to highlight our government’s investment of more than $770,000 to support the restorative action program, or RAP, in Saskatoon.

Mr. Speaker, RAP is a school-based restorative justice program that operates in 11 of 16 Saskatoon high schools. Two of those high schools, Holy Cross High School and Walter Murray Collegiate, are located in my constituency. RAP works to empower youth to create safe, respectful, and caring communities through prevention, intervention, and reconnection.

RAP facilitators are trained in mediation, conflict resolution, and harm reduction. They offer guidance to students in the areas of bullying, physical violence, crime, mental health, substance abuse, suicide, and self-harm. Mr. Speaker, in 2022‑23 RAP was accessed by over 1,200 students and facilitated 393 successful mediations. In the same year, students accepted responsibility and repaired harm in 100 per cent of the mediations completed.

According to the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science and Justice, RAP-involved students have shown improved communication, an increase in school retention and academic perseverance, as well as demonstrated reductions in the severity of their conflicts.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have been part of this event and to recognize our government’s continued commitment to improving access to justice for people in Saskatchewan. Thank you.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Northeast.

Saskatchewan Achieves Record Volume of Completed Surgeries

Mr. Grewal: — It’s another great day in Regina and Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker. Our surgical system has broken another record. In the first six months of the fiscal year, we have recorded the highest volumes of completed surgeries in the history of the province.

Thanks to their hard work, thousands more Saskatchewan residents have been able to receive the surgeries that they need here at home. This means an improved quality of life for numerous patients and their families. To ensure we continue to see this growing momentum, our government will continue providing needed supports to maximize capacity. By focusing on recruitment and retention of professionals through our health human resources action plan, Mr. Speaker, we have been able to enhance our surgical teams.

Additional investment into publicly funded and privately delivered surgical services has expanded capacity levels significantly. We have aggressive targets in place to ensure we surpass last year’s highest surgical volume of over 90,000 surgeries. We also aim to see 90 per cent of surgeries performed within 10 months and ensure no one is on a surgical wait-list for longer than 18 months. For this fiscal year we are investing nearly 670 million annually, which is a 144 million or 27 per cent increase since 2007.

Congratulations to our surgical teams, and we thank you for all your hard work. Thank you.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Athabasca.

English River First Nation Company Achieves Success in Diverse Industries

Mr. Lemaigre: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the work of Des Nedhe Development, an English River First Nation company.

Des Nedhe is now charting a new course for Indigenous business across Saskatchewan and Canada. They have recently signed a collaboration and participation agreement with Team Drilling LP [Limited Partnership] for drilling work in the eastern area of the Athabasca Basin. The agreement covers the McArthur River project, the Wheeler River project, and potentially other projects in English River First Nation’s traditional territory.

Mr. Speaker, Des Nedhe is working to ensure Indigenous people and northerners have opportunity in a diverse range of industries. They have companies in areas like retail, construction, professional services, and are even working on getting into the coffee industry. Their president and CEO [chief executive officer], Sean Willy, recently spoke with Canada defence briefing on how Indigenous people and businesses can play a part in Canadian defence procurement.

And following up on this, Des Nedhe and Canadian UAVs signed a formal partnership in October to provide industrial-scale drone services for the energy sector. Mr. Speaker, the sky is now literally the limit for Des Nedhe.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in congratulating Des Nedhe in all of their success and recognize their leadership in getting Indigenous and northern people involved in industry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Southeast.

B’nai Brith Canada Expresses Concerns about Demonstration in Legislature

Hon. Mr. Morgan: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to read parts of a letter from B’nai Brith Canada. These are a number of quotes.

We write today to alert members of the Saskatchewan legislature to the deep concerns of the Jewish community regarding the recent demonstration during which extremely troubling and anti-Semitic slogans were chanted by protesters. In particular the phrase “from the river to the sea” is hateful and calls for Israel to disappear.

The Jewish community is concerned that MLAs may have aided to organize the demonstration.

And, Mr. Speaker, I am quoting:

In particular, news reports suggest that MLA Jennifer Bowes shared social media posts promoting the protest. A CBC report mentioned that members of the official opposition caucus met with protest organizers on November 14th. Several media quote protester Valerie Zink admitting the following: “That’s what brought us to the legislature today, and the intention was always to deliver the message that way.”

It is difficult to believe that MLAs who helped facilitate this protest were unaware the legislative session was about to be disrupted.

And I’m continuing to quote:

No MLA should endorse slogans that call for the obliteration of the Jewish homeland. No MLA should condemn Israel for its right to defend itself. No MLA should simply parrot talking points of terrorist groups that are banned by Canada.

Today’s Jewish population continues to contribute to the well-being of the province in many ways.

QUESTION PERIOD

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Eastview.

Provision of Health Care Services by Private Facilities

Mr. Love: — Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health recently announced that patients at a high risk of breast cancer will be sent out of province for screening. He says this is an urgent measure to deal with the very urgent backlog.

This urgent situation of course didn’t pop out of nowhere, Mr. Speaker. To the minister: how did he let this situation reach the point of a public health care emergency?

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Mr. Hindley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we have discussed many times in this House, there’s a shortage of radiologists here in Regina, a shortage of radiologists and other specialities across the country right now, Mr. Speaker.

The Government of Saskatchewan, along with the health recruitment agency, the SHA [Saskatchewan Health Authority], and ministries such as the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Advanced Education as well as the Ministry of Immigration and Career Training are working very aggressively to recruit, train, incentivize, retain health care workers across this province, Mr. Speaker, to address the vacancies that we have that are impacting some of our health care services, Mr. Speaker.

And as we have talked about, one of the issues that we are dealing with is the urgent wait-list for women that are in need of biopsies and other services related to breast cancer diagnostics, Mr. Speaker. And we’re taking very important steps to address those wait times as quickly as possible, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Eastview.

Mr. Love: — Mr. Speaker, this is not the first extremely preventable surgical crisis on that ministry’s watch. Last year they announced that they would be sending people to the same clinics for hip and knee surgeries to deal with worst-in-the-nation wait times.

And what a job they’ve done. In March there were 4,737 people waiting for knee replacements. In June that number was down to 4,734. That’s an improvement of three. In March, 2,020 people were waiting for hip replacements; in June, 2,064. This is a track record of failure.

Is the minister expecting similar results on the mammography backlog?

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Mr. Hindley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Classic lines from the member of the opposition there referring to failures and the plan to fail that they always have over there, Mr. Speaker.

We remind the members opposite of today’s update when it comes to surgeries, Mr. Speaker, highest volumes ever recorded in the first six months of this fiscal year from April 1st to September 30th. As of September 30th 47,748 procedures performed, Mr. Speaker, which is an increase over September of 2022, Mr. Speaker.

And part of the reason that we’re able to achieve some of these numbers, Mr. Speaker, to get the surgeries — whether it’s hips, whether it’s knees, whether it’s shoulders, whether it’s cataracts — is because in addition to the significant investments we are making into the health care system into the surgeries, operating rooms, surgeons here in Saskatchewan, it’s also the impact of having these publicly funded, privately delivered surgeries out of cities such as in Calgary, Mr. Speaker, where approximately 19 per cent of all surgeries performed since 2020 have taken place in these private centres, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Southeast.

Mr. Love: — Mr. Speaker, it is a fact that their hip and knee outsourcing didn’t make a dent in the surgical backlog. Saskatchewan has the longest wait times in the country. Many of those patients are waiting in pain. They deserve better from their government.

And now we’re here talking about cancer. People can’t afford the wait times that this tired and out-of-touch government is forcing on them. This backlog will kill people if it doesn’t improve. And nothing we’ve seen from that minister shows that he’s capable of improving it.

What is he going to do to make sure that the hip and knee failure doesn’t happen again for these high-risk cancer patients?

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Mr. Hindley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And the member opposite, we’ve talked about this a number of times, been debating this topic all fall, Mr. Speaker, and the member opposite stands up and talks about some very serious consequences as a result, Mr. Speaker.

But we have yet to hear from them what is their solution. What is their immediate solution? If they don’t like this plan, Mr. Speaker, what would they propose? And they’re all yelling from across the way. Not a single one of them actually has an alternative, Mr. Speaker.

I can tell you this, Mr. Speaker. Since last Wednesday when this announcement was made, officials started contacting patients on the wait-list on Thursday. Mr. Speaker, as of today I can tell you that 30 patients have accepted this offer and have been referred to Calgary to receive the biopsies that they need, receive the diagnostics they need, Mr. Speaker.

The members opposite can talk all day all they want about the process. This government is going to talk about the patients.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Eastview.

Mr. Love: — Mr. Speaker, it is astounding to see the effort that that minister puts into patting himself on the back while people wait for care. If he cared half as much about this province’s health care resources, Saskatchewan’s only hyperbaric chamber wouldn’t be shut down today. The chamber in Moose Jaw is sitting there, out of order, because they don’t have staff to operate it. So patients have to fly to — you guessed it, Mr. Speaker — Calgary.

To the minister: when will Saskatchewan’s only hyperbaric chamber be back in use?

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Rural and Remote Health.

Hon. Mr. T. McLeod: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Stabilizing and strengthening the staffing in Moose Jaw and our other communities right across Saskatchewan is a priority for our government, Mr. Speaker. That’s why our government has the health human resources action plan to recruit, train, incentivize, and retain more health care professionals right across the province.

Mr. Speaker, the SHA is actively recruiting to fill the vacant respiratory therapist positions required to restore the hyperbaric chamber in Moose Jaw at the Wigmore Hospital. Two of these positions are currently filled, Mr. Speaker. A third has recently been recruited and will be starting in the new year. Mr. Speaker, the SHA plans to resume the hyperbaric chamber service as soon as a fourth respiratory therapist has been successfully hired. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Eastview.

Mr. Love: — Mr. Speaker, if a person in Saskatchewan needs a new hip, they’re flying to Calgary. If they need a new knee, they’re flying to Calgary. If they need a breast biopsy, they’re flying to Calgary. If they need oxygen therapy, they’re flying to Calgary.

Now the minister has said, “For us, the cost isn’t the issue.” That’s great. If he’s got money to burn, will that minister consider investing in a fleet of Ministry of Health jets to better fly Saskatchewan people to Calgary?

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Mr. Hindley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Glad to see the member up on his feet again on health questions. Apparently, unfortunately for my colleague from The Battlefords, he’s run out of education questions.

Mr. Speaker, as I said in a previous answer, 19 per cent of the surgeries performed since 2020 have taken place in private surgical centres, some of those in Saskatchewan, some of those out of province, Mr. Speaker. The members opposite, they want to debate about this. They want to talk about the dollars and cents, Mr. Speaker. They don’t care about the people that are waiting for these surgeries that contact their offices, that contact MLAs [Member of the Legislative Assembly] on both sides of this Chamber, Mr. Speaker.

Again, they’re ideologically opposed to this for a whole host of reasons, Mr. Speaker. For them it’s not about patient care. It never is, Mr. Speaker. It’s about politics for the NDP members opposite time and time and time again, Mr. Speaker. But we’re going to continue to focus on improving patient access and patient care for the people of Saskatchewan, here in Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker.

[14:15]

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Eastview.

Mr. Love: — Mr. Speaker, not an ounce of accountability from this tired and out-of-touch government. It doesn’t have answers for our health care crisis, and it’s failing to deliver for people who need care. Is it any wonder that life expectancy in this province has been dropping for three straight years? In 2019 a senior in this province could expect to live to see their 80th birthday. That is not true today. Now it’s 78 — two full years gone.

Does the minister recognize his government’s policies have, on average, stolen two years of Saskatchewan people’s lives?

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Health.

Hon. Mr. Hindley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A bit of a stretch there from the member opposite in terms of some of the comments that he’s making here today, Mr. Speaker. If he wants to talk about the policies that this government has taken . . . And if they would just listen for a second, for once, it would be nice, Mr. Speaker. I know that’s difficult for them, Mr. Speaker.

But a number of policies and initiatives that this government has instituted over the past number of years: the HHR [health human resources] action plan launched in September of last year to hire 1,000 more health care workers in this province over the next number of years; 550 more training seats for the Ministry of Advanced Education in 18 different health care designations across this province; 250 new permanent, full-time positions in health care to treat people across this province. Well over 200 of those positions have already been filled, Mr. Speaker. As I said last week, over 800 nursing grads through our various training institutions in Saskatchewan now hired, working at facilities right across Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina University.

Attendance at Conference of Parties 28

Ms. A. Young: — Mr. Speaker, those are some smug and self-righteous answers from a government that is far too cavalier with the concerns of the people of this province. They’re also far too cavalier with public money.

Now, Mr. Speaker, it really does seem to be the only thread unifying this tired and out-of-touch government, but just last week we found out that they’re spending $750,000 of public money to attend the United Nations climate change conference, and then yesterday the minister told us he’d gone and spent another $238,000 on ads in the Dubai subway.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I guess you can’t put a price on telling Saskatchewan’s story on the world stage, or that of the University of Guelph. But, Mr. Speaker, let’s try a little bit of transparency. How much is total government spending on COP28 [Conference of Parties 28] going to reach, including the cost to all government?

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Trade and Export Development.

Hon. Mr. J. Harrison: — Well thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And let’s be very clear why we’re in COP. We’re there to support our companies, tell our story, and make sure that our products that are made here in Saskatchewan are sold right around the world, Mr. Speaker.

And I can tell you that we have been doing that: working with our companies, working with our entrepreneurs, working with our producers to make sure that that is a success. And we have seen success — $53 billion dollars of exports last year, Mr. Speaker. That is how we pay for hospitals, that is how we pay for schools, that is how we fix highways, something that the NDP never did any of, Mr. Speaker. And the reason they never did any of those things, Mr. Speaker, was because exports were $16 billion at their very peak, and I’m being generous, at their very peak during their last year in government.

Three times more export value over the course of that period of time, Mr. Speaker. That’s how we pay for things here in this province, that’s how we’ve added 200,000 new jobs to this province, and that’s why we’re growing quicker than we have ever grown before.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina University.

Ms. A. Young: — Mr. Speaker, that is a minister who has overseen a job creation record of 1 per cent in the last nine years. Do you want to talk about no credibility, Mr. Speaker? I don’t know what kind of credibility it brings to the economy of Saskatchewan to be spending taxpayer money to support the government of Newfoundland, to support the University of British Columbia, to support the University of Guelph.

But, Mr. Speaker, maybe the cost doesn’t matter to this tired and out-of-touch government, but it does matter to us because it matters to Saskatchewan taxpayers. And we haven’t even begun to touch travel costs, Mr. Speaker.

So to the minister, simple question: can he provide a full head count for all government and public sector employees, and can he tell us who will be picking up the tab?

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Trade and Export Development.

Hon. Mr. J. Harrison: — Well I’m going to start at the beginning, Mr. Speaker. Let’s talk about jobs. Let’s talk about the last jobs report that we had, Mr. Speaker. Nearly 20,000 jobs were added over the course of the last year in this province. Twenty-five thousand full-time jobs, Mr. Speaker, were added in Saskatchewan over the last year.

And what was their record over 16 years, Mr. Speaker? Their record was negative job growth over 16 years, Mr. Speaker. We have added nearly 200,000 jobs over the course of the last 16 years. Apple-to-apples comparison, I think I know which side the people of this province would rather be on, Mr. Speaker, and that’s reflected in a number of things.

Let’s talk as well about those that those members are counting as out-of-province companies that should not be using and telling their story at COP, companies like Whitecap Resources, Mr. Speaker. Companies like Cenovus Energy. Companies like Foran Mining. Companies like Enbridge. Companies like Mosaic. Companies like BHP. Organizations like the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. Companies like Agrocorp . . .

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina University.

Ms. A. Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The question was, who will be picking up the tab? And the answer is, the taxpayers of Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker. And now there are a lot, the minister is right, there’s a lot of people travelling to Dubai on the public dime. And the taxpayer deserves to know how big the bill is that they’re footing.

Last week we were worried it was $1 million. But with the steady drip, drip, drip out of this government, it looks like it’s going to be a million five. So will the minister commit to tabling the full amount paid by the government and all public sector entities?

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Trade and Export Development.

Hon. Mr. J. Harrison: — Well I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, we are very proud of our companies, who paid their own way by the way to be in Dubai at COP. We are very, very proud of what they do. We are very, very proud of the commodities they produce.

The NDP, on the other hand, have expressed their shame. They want to apologize for what we do in Saskatchewan, just like Justin Trudeau, just like Steven Guilbeault, Mr. Speaker.

We are not going to apologize for what we do in this province better than any other jurisdiction in the world, Mr. Speaker. We are not going to apologize for working with our companies — whether it be in Dubai at COP, whether it be through our international trade missions, Mr. Speaker — to sell our commodities around the world. Fifty-three billion dollars of exports last year; the highest they ever had, Mr. Speaker, was 16 billion. That $53 billion is how we pay for hospitals. It’s how we pay for schools. It’s how we fix highways, something they never did, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Nutana.

Release Date for Annual Reports of Crown Corporations

Ms. Ritchie: — Mr. Speaker, I don’t think we got a straight answer to that last question. It’s just more deflection from a tired and out-of-touch government. Clearly they have trouble managing money.

The CIC [Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan] annual report showed their earnings dropped by $354 million. We know this from the Crown reports released on July 28th. But according to The Crown Corporations Act, the deadline to release the Crown’s subsidiary annual reports was July 14th. And FOIs [freedom of information] from the various Crowns show they were ready to go on July 1st.

Can the minister explain why these annual reports were released two weeks late?

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Crown Investments Corporation.

Hon. Mr. Duncan: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we worked very closely with the Crown corporations in preparing the annual reports and preparing the timelines for those reports.

Certainly we know that there were by-elections that were going to impact the timing of the release of those reports. We were advised by a number of the Crown corporations that they couldn’t move up their timelines in order to be able to deliver those earlier than when the by-elections would need to be called, Mr. Speaker. And so we, Mr. Speaker, as the normal course of action, we did release the annual reports for all the people of this province to see.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Nutana.

Ms. Ritchie: — Well, Mr. Speaker, I think the FOI reports show a very different story. The deadline is not a courtesy; it’s a law which the Sask Party government passed in 2016. Since they wrote it, I’m sure the minister can answer this very simple question. Does he know the purpose of that deadline in The Crown Corporations Act?

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Crown Investments Corporation.

Hon. Mr. Duncan: — Mr. Speaker, I believe the law is 90 days after the fiscal year. Mr. Speaker, we worked with the Crown corporations in terms of the timing. Obviously they bring together all the information, prepare the annual reports.

We looked to see the best point in terms of the timing of the releases, Mr. Speaker. But knowing that there was a by-election, Mr. Speaker, we did ask the Crown corporations if it was possible to move that deadline up in terms of their having the annual reports available to be publicly released prior to the by-elections. It wasn’t possible in a number of the cases of the Crown corporations, Mr. Speaker, but we did table them accordingly.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Nutana.

Ms. Ritchie: — Well since the minister had so much difficulty in answering that question, I’ll answer it for him, Mr. Speaker. It’s so that the government cannot weaponize the release date to create an unfair advantage over political opponents. Perhaps it slipped the minister’s mind that three by-elections were announced on July 14th, the tabling deadline. They didn’t announce losing hundreds of millions that day the writ was dropped. They waited two weeks then quietly released the reports — no media, no briefings, just letting it pass under the radar.

Can the minister think of any reason why his government broke the law governing tabling dates other than to bury an expensive failure during the by-elections?

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Crown Investments Corporation.

Hon. Mr. Duncan: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first of all I think we were very clear with the people of Saskatchewan as it relates to the expected earnings of the Crown corporations. I know the previous minister in committee in the spring would have indicated that, for example, SaskPower would have been on track for a loss, which was experienced by the Crown corporation.

But, Mr. Speaker, just to be clear, the fiscal year ends March 31st. The legislation says that it’s 90 days that is required in terms of tabling. That would be to the end of July, Mr. Speaker, so I believe we did meet those timelines.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Elphinstone-Centre.

Emergency Hotel Stays Paid by Social Services

Ms. Conway: — Thanks, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday the member from Regina Northeast appeared before the media to answer questions regarding his Sunrise Motel, if you can call it that, Mr. Speaker. He did manage to clarify that he endorses his Sunrise Motel’s practice of upping rates when the Government of Saskatchewan is picking up the tab. He justified that by blaming and shaming and stereotyping low-income clients, saying they routinely cause damage to motel rooms.

The problem is, Mr. Speaker, in the case of Ms. Harper the Sunrise Motel charged a windfall of 800 bucks, because of the risk of low-income clients, in addition to holding her damage deposit until I had to write an open letter to the member from Regina Northeast, and then pocketed the $800 windfall after Ms. Harper did not cause damage to her room.

Does the Minister of Social Services consider it appropriate to shame and perpetuate harmful stereotypes about his ministry’s own clients by suggesting they can’t be trusted not to cause damage? Does he not see the issue in his colleague pocketing a windfall of 800 bucks?

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Social Services.

Hon. Mr. Makowsky: — In fact what we’re doing is looking after the most vulnerable people in all our areas, Mr. Speaker, in terms of if there’s a hotel needed in an emergency situation, we will look after that individual in both income assistance, child and family, Mr. Speaker.

I have committed to the member opposite that we will look into the information she has asked for, and we will release that as soon as we can. The Provincial Auditor has also indicated they are going to look at these measures as well. As well as internally, Mr. Speaker, we’re going to take a look at the procedures and policies around using hotel rooms, Mr. Speaker.

And as I’ve said before, we’re going to continue to do that if we have to, Mr. Speaker, to look after the most vulnerable people in our province. We’ve seen during this entire question period the NDP playing politics, Mr. Speaker. I’m more interested in vulnerable people.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Elphinstone-Centre.

Ms. Conway: — Ah yes, the procedures and policies. We keep hearing about the procedures and policies. It’s not the minister who doesn’t respect his clients, this Assembly, or basic principles of ethics and transparency, it’s the policy. Well there’s a very simple solve, Mr. Speaker: show us the policy.

Will the minister commit to finally tabling his policy on hotel rooms for clients? Will he now, in the final days of this fall sitting, table the information we’ve been requesting for weeks?

[14:30]

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Social Services.

Hon. Mr. Makowsky: — Mr. Speaker, as I’ve said many times before, we’re going as quickly as we can, compiling that information that the member has asked for. It is a lot of information and it will take some time, Mr. Speaker, in terms of looking at different units within the Ministry of Social Services that happen to use hotels, but also older programs, some older computer programs. So that will take time, Mr. Speaker. As soon as we have that information, that will be released. As well, the Provincial Auditor has mentioned that their office will be looking at this matter as well. Thank you.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Elphinstone-Centre.

Overdose Deaths and Treatment for Addictions

Ms. Conway: — Mr. Speaker, we still haven’t received this month’s death statistics from the coroner’s office. But we already know it’s going to be another record-setting year for overdose deaths in the province, another year of hundreds of parents, children, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives all lost to addiction.

We want to see progress. We deserve to see that line going down. Instead we see 2023 worse than 2022. How is that minister going to prevent another record-setting year of deaths in 2024?

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.

Hon. Mr. T. McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And as I said yesterday, what we’ve seen is this government making a record investment in mental health and addictions in this province, Mr. Speaker. We have an ambitious mental health and addictions action plan that is more than doubling the addictions treatment spaces to be available and easily accessible to individuals who may be struggling with addictions so that they can overcome those addictions, Mr. Speaker, and live a life in recovery.

Mr. Speaker, this investment is ambitious, and we are just at the front end. We are going to see this plan roll out over the next five years, Mr. Speaker. And I’m excited to see the growth that this plan will develop in the mental health and addictions treatment facilities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: — I recognize the Government House Leader.

Hon. Mr. J. Harrison: — Point of order, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: — State your point of order.

POINT OF ORDER

Hon. Mr. J. Harrison: — During question period the member for Elphinstone-Centre said that the Minister of Social Services doesn’t respect the ethics of the Chamber. Obviously that’s a violation of the Rules and Procedures. I would ask that member to stand in her place, withdraw, and apologize.

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Elphinstone-Centre.

Ms. Conway: — I withdraw and apologize, Mr. Speaker.

PRESENTING REPORTS BY STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

The Speaker: — I recognize the Chair of the Crown and Central Agencies.

Standing Committee on Crown and Central Agencies

Mr. Cheveldayoff: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I am instructed by the Standing Committee on Crown and Central Agencies to report that it has considered certain estimates and to present its ninth report. I move:

That the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Crown and Central Agencies be now concurred in.

The Speaker: — It has been moved by the Chair:

That the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Crown and Central Agencies be now concurred in.

Is the Assembly ready for the question?

Some Hon. Members: — Question.

The Speaker: — Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried. I recognize the Chair of the private members’ committee.

Standing Committee on Private Bills

Mr. Bradshaw: — Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Private Bills met earlier today and considered compliance of the rules for the petition of a private Bill No. 906, The Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute Amendment Act. Mr. Speaker, I’m instructed by the Standing Committee on Private Bills to present its sixth report. I move:

That the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Private Bills be now concurred in.

The Speaker: — It has been moved:

That the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Private Bills be now concurred in.

Is the Assembly ready for the question?

Some Hon. Members: — Question.

The Speaker: — Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — The motion is carried. And pursuant to rule 102, private Bill No. 906, The Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute Amendment Act is deemed to be read the first time and is ordered for second reading on the next private members’ day.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The Speaker: — I do now leave the Chair for Committee of Finance.

COMMITTEE OF FINANCE

Motions for Supply

The Chair: — The items before the committee are the appropriation resolutions. I recognize the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Ms. Harpauer: — I move the following resolution no. 1:

Resolved that towards making good the supply granted to His Majesty on account of certain charges and expenses of the public service for the fiscal year March 31st, 2024, the sum of $193,182,000 be granted out of the General Revenue Fund.

The Chair: — The Minister of Finance has moved resolution no. 1:

Resolved that towards making good the supply granted to His Majesty on account of certain charges and expenses of the public service for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2024, the sum of $193,182,000 be granted out of the General Revenue Fund.

Is the committee ready for the question?

Some Hon. Members: — Question.

The Chair: — Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Chair: — Carried. There being no further business before the committee, I would invite a member to move that the committee rise and report progress and ask for leave to sit again.

Hon. Ms. Harpauer: — Mr. Chair, I move that the committee rise and that the Chair report that the committee has agreed to a resolution, and ask for leave to sit again.

The Chair: — It has been moved by the Minister of Finance that the committee rise, report progress, and ask for leave to sit again. Is that agreed?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Chair: — Carried.

[The Speaker resumed the Chair.]

The Speaker: — I recognize the Chair of Committees.

Mr. Bradshaw: — Mr. Speaker, the Committee of Finance has agreed to certain resolutions and has instructed me to report the same, and asked for leave to sit again.

The Speaker: — When shall the resolutions be read the first time? I recognize the Minister of Finance.

FIRST AND SECOND READINGS OF RESOLUTIONS

Hon. Ms. Harpauer: — I move that the resolution be now read the first and second time.

The Speaker: — Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — First and second reading of the resolutions.

The Speaker: — When shall the committee sit again? I recognize the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Ms. Harpauer: — Next sitting, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: — Next sitting. Pursuant to rule 32(1), the Minister of Finance shall move the first reading of the appropriation bill. I recognize the Minister of Finance.

APPROPRIATION BILL

Bill No. 155 — The Appropriation Act, 2023 (No. 2)

Hon. Ms. Harpauer: — I move that Bill No. 155, The Appropriation Act, 2023 (No. 2) be now introduced and read the first time.

The Speaker: — The Minister of Finance has moved that Bill No. 155, The Appropriation Act, 2023 (No. 2) be now introduced and read the first time. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — First reading of this bill.

The Speaker: — When shall the bill be read a second time? I recognize the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Ms. Harpauer: — With leave and pursuant to rule 32(1)(e), I request that Bill No. 155, The Appropriation Act, 2023 (No. 2) be now read a second and third time.

The Speaker: — The Minister of Finance requested leave to move second and third reading of Bill No. 155, The Appropriation Act, 2023 (No. 2) immediately. Is leave granted?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried. The minister may proceed.

Hon. Ms. Harpauer: — Mr. Speaker, I move that Bill No. 155, The Appropriation Act, 2023 (No. 2) be now read a second and third time.

The Speaker: — The Minister of Finance has moved second and third reading of Bill No. 155, The Appropriation Act, 2023 (No. 2). Is the Assembly ready for the question?

Some Hon. Members: — Question.

The Speaker: — Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — Second and third reading of this bill.

SECOND READINGS

Bill No. 154 — The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Amendment Act, 2023

The Speaker: — I recognize the Minister of Environment.

Hon. Ms. Tell: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the end of my remarks today, I will move second reading of Bill 154, The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Amendment Act. These amendments will allow output-based performance standards, or OBPS which is how I’m going to refer to them, compliance payments, penalties, and debts from the province’s electricity sector to be used in support of ongoing developments and future investments needed to achieve a clean provincial electricity grid by 2050.

Mr. Speaker, the Saskatchewan Technology Fund was established under The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Act in 2018 as a compliance option for regulated emitters in Saskatchewan’s OBPS program.

Effective January 1, 2023 the regulatory scope of the OBPS program has been expanded, changing the size and distribution of annual compliance payments. The Act currently states, all compliance payments and any debts associated with compliance obligations must be deposited into the technology fund. These funds are returned to industry through a merit-based application process to support innovative projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

When the technology fund was established under the Act, the electricity sector was not included as part of the OBPS program. The recent expansion of the OBPS program to include the electricity sector, combined with the federal carbon tax increasing to $170 per tonne by 2030, would result in annual compliance payments into the technology fund not typically seen in revolving funds outside of the GRF [General Revenue Fund]. Revolving funds operating under ministerial authority outside of the GRF are usually relatively small.

The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to achieving net zero emissions from the provincial electricity sector by 2050 by incorporating possibly nuclear power as part of the energy mix, building wind and solar at an ambitious pace, and leveraging natural gas generation to ensure reliability. As a publicly owned Crown utility, SaskPower is committed to reducing emissions and supplying Saskatchewan residents with safe, reliable, and affordable power.

The Act will provide the province and SaskPower with the additional flexibility needed to invest in clean energy to achieve net zero electricity while ensuring Saskatchewan households, businesses, and farms continue to have access to safe, reliable, and affordable power. The Government of Saskatchewan will be directing all future OBPS program electricity sector proceeds towards clean energy transition priorities, including funding Saskatchewan’s first small modular reactor. Further details will be included in the ’23‑24 third quarter report and as part of the ’24‑25 provincial budget in March.

[14:45]

The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to ongoing transparency and accountability through the provincial budget, quarterly reports, and public accounts, including tracking how all OBPS program electricity sector revenues are being used to support the province’s clean electricity transition.

In conclusion, the province is committed to a long-term plan to transition to net zero electricity sector, but that cannot mean sacrificing affordability or economic competitiveness. The Act will help support clean electricity transition priorities while maintaining affordability and competitiveness for generations to come. All other OBPS program compliance payments from industry will continue to be deposited into the technology fund to support industry-driven projects that reduce emissions while strengthening the provincial economy through technological innovation.

I now move second reading of Bill 154, The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Amendment Act.

The Speaker: — It has been moved that Bill 154 be now read a second time. Is the Assembly ready for the question? I recognize the member from Regina University.

Ms. A. Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. A pleasure to be on my feet and enter some initial comments on second reading of The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Amendment Act. I think it is fair to say that there are a number of questions in regards to this bill, and I know myself and the critic will be doing considerable outreach and looking at this bill very closely, Mr. Speaker, because at first blush, as I said, there’s a number of questions.

And this is a government that has not, despite the protestations, has not been particularly transparent, upfront, or accountable when it has come to things like the OBPS, like compliance payments, like the state of the industrial carbon tax, and what their plans are for the hundreds of millions of dollars. We’re hearing a little bit more about that, Mr. Speaker, and I hope we continue to hear more about that. Having heard the minister’s comments, I’d like to put a couple on the record very briefly.

You know, Mr. Speaker, when we look at the OBPS and the money that is available, their money that should belong to Saskatchewan people, Mr. Speaker, money that should be used for affordability, for customers of SaskPower, Mr. Speaker, money that should be used for large fixed emitters to allow them to innovate, Mr. Speaker, the technology fund is something that we spoke in support of. I think this is a good model for businesses, for industry to be able to reduce their carbon footprint. And this money should also be available for things like retrofits and innovations for families, farms, and small businesses.

What this money should not become, Mr. Speaker, is a slush fund for this government, Mr. Speaker, which . . . The minister’s right; we’ve discussed this in committee. And we’ve seen some comments along the lines of, perhaps this money — and I’m paraphrasing here — might end up in the GRF, Mr. Speaker. And again we are talking about money that belongs in Saskatchewan that should be used to innovate, to reduce emissions, and to provide some affordability relief. This cannot be money used willy-nilly by members opposite for whatever pet project strikes them, Mr. Speaker.

And lastly I think I’d like a little bit more clarification. The minister said that this money is going to be used to fund Saskatchewan’s first SMR [small modular reactor], Mr. Speaker. Now on this side of the Assembly, we’ve been clear. We’re really open to that conversation of looking at what low-carbon, low-emission energy and what the electricity future of Saskatchewan looks like. But this is a government, Mr. Speaker, that has committed time and time again, publicly, to real consultation, a real conversation with the public. And they’ve committed to a decision-making timeline. So it’s perhaps strange to hear the minister speak so clearly on the fact that this money is going to build Saskatchewan’s first SMR when, you know, as the critic for SaskPower, I wasn’t clear that this government had made a decision fully to proceed with SMRs.

With the commitment made by the minister to full transparency, full accounting for these public dollars, on this side of the House, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the official opposition, on behalf of people of this province, we look forward to that.

But, Mr. Speaker, I think when we look at this bill there’s a lot of questions that deserve real attention. And hopefully alongside the critic for this bill, our team will endeavour to bring some light and some transparency to this very important piece of legislation.

Thank you. I move to adjourn debate.

The Speaker: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried.

ADJOURNED DEBATES

SECOND READINGS

Bill No. 140

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Ms. Eyre that Bill No. 140 — The Miscellaneous Statutes Repeal Act, 2023 be now read a second time.]

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Meewasin.

Mr. Teed: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m proud to be on my feet again one more time to speak to Bill 140.

Mr. Speaker, my colleagues have put thoughtful comments on the record. I want to thank the minister for her comments, and at this time I will allow the bill to move on to its next stage in committee.

The Speaker: — The question before the Assembly is a motion by the minister that Bill No. 140 be now read a second time. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — Second reading of this bill.

The Speaker: — To which committee shall this bill be committed? I recognize the Government House Leader.

Hon. Mr. J. Harrison: — The Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice.

The Speaker: — The bill stands committed to the Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice.

Bill No. 142

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Mr. Duncan that Bill No. 142 — The Miscellaneous Statutes (Utility Line Locates) Amendment Act, 2023 be now read a second time.]

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Walsh Acres.

Mr. Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Happy to rise on this bill today. A number of our members have put a number of comments on the record in a fairly straightforward manner, and so with that I would be happy to allow this bill to move on to the next stage.

The Speaker: — The question before the Assembly is the motion by the minister that Bill No. 142 be now read a second time. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — Second reading of this bill.

The Speaker: — To which committee shall this bill be committed? I recognize the Government House Leader.

Hon. Mr. J. Harrison: — Crown and Central Agencies.

The Speaker: — The bill stands committed to the Standing Committee on Crown and Central Agencies.

Bill No. 143

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Mr. Cockrill that Bill No. 143 — The Child Care Amendment Act, 2023/Loi modificative de 2023 sur les garderies d’enfants be now read a second time.]

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Centre.

Ms. Nippi-Albright: — miigwech, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to provide some comments on this bill that’s being presented today and being debated on.

And so this bill is allowing centres, they have to have a board of directors and parental advisory — so part of the folks that sit on the board of directors must be parents of children that they have in the child care centre — and that non-profits can operate more than one facility at a time. And my understanding is, if you lose your licence in these child care centres, that you can’t reapply for one year and that you have to pay the fees, you have to do the training, correct all deficiencies, and meet any requirements to get a new one. The minister, on the other hand, can refuse the application for public interest. And also the minister sets minimum wage and wage enhancements and that the centres can’t set higher fees for grant parents than non-grant.

So when I think about this, it’s good that you’re looking at allowing centres to operate more facilities. However it doesn’t address the core issue that there just isn’t enough folks to fill those positions in these child care centres. We want child care that works, you know. It has to be effective. It has to be beneficial for the facility, the staff, the parents, and the children. So we have to look at that.

And you know, we always talk about how, or we hear in this House how much investment is being given to the community and organizations, yet one of the things that happens is we have such a bureaucracy within these institutions that when we say we’re going to do something, or when the government says they’re going to do something, there’s red tape. You know, they’re slow, slow processes that are in place. And we’ve had folks coming into this gallery saying, you know what, the government is moving at a snail’s pace.

And like, I just think of my own experience, and I’m quite proud to say my first job was working in a child care centre. I worked with from babies to toddlers to pre-schoolers. And one of the things I had quite an appreciation for, where I worked at the daycare centre, for the staff, for the amount of training that they would take, we took. The love and care that we gave to the children that the parents entrusted us with, and also the appreciation from the families that they were entrusting us with their babies, you know.

And we had a variety of different parents’ income levels that brought their babies to the child care centre, and it was such an honour to be there. But one of the things I did notice was, it was really hard — and this was a long time ago; this is when my girl was a baby, you know, a young girl — that it was hard to keep and attract people, attract people to come and work and to provide that love, care, education to the children we were entrusted with.

And one of the things that . . . I loved the work that I was doing, but the pay didn’t reflect the importance of what we were doing, you know. And that is one of the things that I questioned back 30 years ago, you know, when I worked there and was saying, you know, we don’t get paid the amount that we ought to because we’re caring for parents’ children. And I’ve always spoke about that where, yes, we always talk about how it’s important that we’ve . . . child care is very important and that our children are very important, yet we don’t invest enough in the people that are providing that care. Like, today I don’t encourage any of my family to go into that profession because they’re going to struggle financially, you know.

So when the government is creating, in their eyes, these opportunities, it’s really important to talk to the child care providers, talk to the child care centres, talk to the stakeholders that are going to be impacted. And it’s really sad when that doesn’t happen and that the message that is conveyed to the stakeholders is that the government is the one who knows best, which quite frequently is not the case. It’s the users of those facilities. It’s the parents. It’s those child care centres. They know their business.

[15:00]

And it’s important that any government, any sitting government, you have to go and talk to those people and say, what is going to work best for you? Here’s what we’re thinking; what do you think? And then also when you do that, it builds that trust. You build that relationship. You demonstrate to the people, to the stakeholders, you respect them and you value their input and you truly want to be a good legislator.

So like time and time again my colleagues have had folks coming into the gallery that are directly impacted by this, saying that, you know what, you guys are moving too slow. And that’s true. We’ve created systems that get in the way of doing what’s the right thing to do. We create red tape. We don’t have timelines. We don’t have target measures. We don’t evaluate ourselves and say, are we meeting our goal. And in the case that we’re not, what’s holding up? We don’t take that time to reflect and that’s unfortunate. And the people that are going to suffer are the people that we’re creating these bills for, this legislation for. That’s who’s going to get hurt.

So when I took in . . . This is when I was much younger. I took in my five-month-old nephew and I enrolled him in a daycare centre. And we didn’t qualify for the subsidy, but that was okay. That was okay because I knew that the people in that child care centre were going to take great care for my nephew.

And I knew that they weren’t being compensated the way they ought to have been compensated. Because I went in with the love of my nephew whom I loved, who’s five months old. I treasured him. And I knew, taking my little nephew into the child care centre, I knew those child care providers, those directors were going to take wonderful care of my nephew. I knew that.

I also knew that they weren’t being paid enough, you know. And that’s so sad when we talk about affordability, you know, we’re talking about that. And many of our child care workers, child care folks that work in this area, it’s hard for them to make ends meet. You know, it’s hard for them to make ends meet.

And I think that it’s important for us as legislatures, especially when we’re presenting legislation trying to . . . under the guise of making life more easier, we have to look at the processes we’ve set in place. And the processes we set in place sometimes get in the way of actually doing the right thing.

So I won’t speak any more on that. I’m sure that others will weigh in on this and add their remarks in here. So with that, Mr. Speaker, I move to adjourn debate on Bill 143, The Child Care Amendment Act, 2023. miigwech.

The Speaker: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried.

Bill No. 144

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Mr. Merriman that Bill No. 144 — The Police (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act, 2023 be now read a second time.]

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Walsh Acres.

Mr. Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s good to be back on my feet to discuss Bill 144. You know, a number of my colleagues have put forth a number of rationale as to why we have problems with this Act. Most importantly I think, you know, we don’t understand or we haven’t heard a clear, compelling reason why we need the marshals service in general.

So I know the critic for Justice is eager to ask some more questions during committee to the minister. And so with that we are willing to allow this bill to move on to the next stage.

The Speaker: — The question before the Assembly is the motion by the minister that Bill No. 144, The Police (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act, 2023 be now read a second time. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — Second reading of this bill.

The Speaker: — To which committee shall this bill be committed? I recognize the Government House Leader.

Hon. Mr. J. Harrison: — Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice.

The Speaker: — This bill now stands committed to the Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice.

Bill No. 145

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Ms. Eyre that Bill No. 145 — The Funeral and Cremation Services (Legal Decision-Maker Protection) Amendment Act, 2023 be now read a second time.]

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Douglas Park.

Ms. Sarauer: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my honour to rise today and enter into the debate on Bill No. 145. Now I’ve already had the opportunity to put my thoughts on this bill on the record. I know I’m looking forward to having a conversation with the minister about this at committee. In order to facilitate that work, I’m prepared now to allow this bill to move on to its next stage.

The Speaker: — The question before the Assembly is the motion by the minister that Bill No. 145 be now read a second time. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — Second reading of this bill.

The Speaker: — To which committee shall this bill be committed? I recognize the Government House Leader.

Hon. Mr. J. Harrison: — Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice.

The Speaker: — This bill stands committed to the Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice.

Bill No. 146

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Ms. Eyre that Bill No. 146 — The King’s Bench Consequential Amendments Act, 2023 be now read a second time.]

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Meewasin.

Mr. Teed: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s an honour to be on my feet again speaking to Bill No. 146, The King’s Bench Consequential Amendments Act. As my colleague mentioned, I’ve also spoken to this bill looking to replace Queen’s Bench rules, regulations Act with King’s Bench. Many a good thought and comment on the bill really looking at how deeply the Crown and Her Majesty is so deeply baked into our legal system.

I know that our critic will have more questions to ask in committee, so at this time I am willing to allow this bill to move on to its next stage.

The Speaker: — The question before the Assembly is the motion by the minister that Bill No. 146, The King’s Bench Consequential Amendments Act, 2023 be now read a second time. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried.

Deputy Clerk: — Second reading of this bill.

The Speaker: — To which committee shall this bill be committed? I recognize the Government House Leader.

Hon. Mr. J. Harrison: — To the Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice.

The Speaker: — This bill stands committed to the Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice.

Bill No. 148

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Ms. Eyre that Bill No. 148 — The Film Content Information Act be now read a second time.]

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Centre.

Ms. Nippi-Albright: — miigwech, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to enter into debate on this bill, the film contact information Act. What I gather from the short notice I had to review it, it is replacing the 2016 film and video classification Act. So the public has to be informed about the classification of the film, you know, whether it has some violence in there or if it’s PG [parental guidance] rated, etc.

Also the films must provide the audience with the ability to contact the film creator for questions or to make complaints, and also that the director of the film content shall be appointed to perform duties of fulfilling and enforcing this Act or any other Act. So basically it is giving the authority to the director or other authorized entity to investigate films for the purpose of enforcing this Act without a warrant as well as with a warrant, and it establishes penalties for non-compliance.

I guess when I think about this I think, you know, it’s unfortunate that the Sask Party had . . . I wish they would have shown more care for filmmakers as theatre owners before they gutted the film tax credit. You know, when they gutted that, I heard from a lot of folks as many, many, many people that I know relied, relied on that. And we saw a large group of people leave the province when that film tax credit was gutted.

Now I guess the question I have here and others would have is, how broad will this Act be able to enforce film regulations? For example, can it apply to films viewed over the internet? You know, like I remember when we watched movies, films on those big wind-up machines in the ’70s where those big reels . . . and then moved to the Beta machine, then the VCR [videocassette recorder] machine, the DVDs [digital versatile disc]. And then now you can watch movies over the internet, which I haven’t. I’m not techie-savvy. But I really need to, once I figure that out, maybe look at that.

But here I guess it’s a good question to ask: how far of a reach is this? Will it also be inclusive of films that are shown on the internet, over the internet? So I don’t have much more to add to this, so I’m prepared, Mr. Speaker, to move adjourned debate on Bill 148, The Film Content Information Act.

The Speaker: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried.

Bill No. 149

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Ms. Eyre that Bill No. 149 — The Franchise Disclosure Act be now read a second time.]

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina University.

Ms. A. Young: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. A pleasure to enter debate on Bill No. 149, The Franchise Disclosure Act. My understanding is that this piece of legislation is looking to regulate and address the imbalance between franchisees and franchisors, Mr. Speaker.

My understanding from some of the outreach being done by the critic on this file and comments of other members that we’re the only province in Western Canada not to have a piece of legislation like this establishing some of the obligations of the franchisors around information disclosure to prospective franchisees.

Mr. Speaker, you know, I think it’s also important to recognize that this bill enshrines the rights of franchisees to associate with other franchisees and allows them to form and join organizations, which I think is important, Mr. Speaker. Often when we discuss local businesses, we neglect to think of franchisees in our city who do really good work, Mr. Speaker, with the community and often with their employees and their surrounding neighbourhoods.

Another example in part of some of the struggling small businesses, with 8,000 in the province right now facing closure potentially and struggling with the reality of increased costs, of inflation, of increased transportation costs, power bills — all of these things that are unfortunately being piled on to our struggling small business sector, Mr. Speaker.

But The Franchise Disclosure Act itself is a new bill, an important piece of legislation. I look forward to the discussion of the critic at committee, and I know we will continue to do important outreach on this file. And with that, Mr. Speaker, I move to adjourn debate on Bill No. 149.

The Speaker: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried.

Bill No. 150

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Ms. Eyre that Bill No. 150 — The Securities (Saskatchewan Investors Protection) Amendment Act, 2023 be now read a second time.]

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Rosemont.

Mr. Wotherspoon: — Mr. Speaker, it’s a pleasure to weigh in, albeit briefly here today, with respect to Bill No. 150, The Securities (Saskatchewan Investors Protection) Amendment Act, 2023. Mr. Speaker, it’s always important for government to be doing its part on appropriate and needed regulation, Mr. Speaker, to ensure that capital markets have the integrity that all investors need and deserve, to make sure that they’re well-functioning.

[15:15]

Mr. Speaker, we know that that’s a critical role, for government to be acting and making sure that the appropriate bodies have the powers and the authorities to act on these fronts, Mr. Speaker, to make sure in this case that we’re protecting Saskatchewan investors and of course investors right across the country and around the world. We need to make sure that those securities that relate to Saskatchewan, that are housed within Saskatchewan, that there’s integrity to those investments.

In this case, I understand that this has been a call from the Canadian Securities Administrators, Mr. Speaker. I also understand, based on the minister’s comments, that this would align us or harmonize us with the other provinces across Canada. Certainly we will pursue further responses and clarification on those fronts at the committee stage, Mr. Speaker.

What I see here as well is that this assigns greater powers and processes for dispute resolution and enforcement, Mr. Speaker, while increasing penalty for violation from $100,000 to a million dollars, Mr. Speaker. Certainly we need to make sure that penalties are sufficient to appropriately penalize and serve as a disincentive to fraudulent bad actors in the securities world, Mr. Speaker. I understand that this houses this responsibility with the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments, OBSI, Mr. Speaker.

We do have questions as we go through committee. We are working with stakeholders on this front. And we would invite anyone with expertise in this area, anyone directly impacted, anyone that’s a direct stakeholder, to share their perspective. We would be looking for every opportunity to strengthen legislation and make sure that our capital markets are well-functioning and that investors are protected to make sure that they have integrity to them, Mr. Speaker.

There is, you know, some questions around how vague some aspects of this legislation are, Mr. Speaker. Questions as well about adequacy of the tools for enforcement, Mr. Speaker. So those are questions we’ll pursue in due course at committee, but questions we pose out to the investment community and to all stakeholders, those with expertise, and invite their responses to our critic, the critic for Justice, on these fronts, Mr. Speaker, to inform us and to allow us to make sure that we do justice to this piece of legislation, Mr. Speaker.

With that being said, I would move to adjourn debate.

The Speaker: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried.

Bill No. 152

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Ms. Eyre that Bill No. 152 — The Protection From Human Trafficking (Coerced Debts) Amendment Act, 2023 be now read a second time.]

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Coronation Park.

Mr. Burki: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to be entering into the debate on Bill 152, protection human trafficking amendment Act, 2023.

Mr. Speaker, it’s not only the provincial things that trafficking we are looking into, but it is international as well. But our colleagues on our side, they talked about that in detail and they discussed in a few sessions over here. Our MLA from Saskatoon Meewasin, Eastview, and Regina University, they talked about that in detail about that. It is not a very simple issue. It is really complex, multi-tier, multi-level, so we have to make sure.

And I’m greatly thankful to the minister and their team for putting those kind of bills together, amendment into that with the passage of time so we can protect our vulnerable communities, especially kids, women. And on our side we are very strong advocates every day for vulnerable people in our communities.

So we have to make sure when we think something, it should be protection, vulnerable kids protection, to make sure that people are not being affected by those people. And I know people will suffer and will be suffered, and we should have to provide them some adequate resources just in case they want to get rid or are being trapped into those kind of gangs or groups, so they are taking advantage of vulnerable people. They should have all the support to be getting rid of them as well.

So with that I will adjourn the debate on Bill 152, the protection from human trafficking amendment Act, 2023.

The Speaker: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried.

Bill No. 153

[The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion by the Hon. Mr. McMorris that Bill No. 153 — The Miscellaneous Municipal Statutes Amendment Act, 2023 be now read a second time.]

The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Eastview.

Mr. Love: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll be brief for my comments today on Bill 153. I think this is our last piece of legislation before the Assembly today, so I won’t take too long. I won’t take it till 5 p.m. as my seatmate has encouraged me to do, but maybe a couple minutes if you’ll indulge me.

So The Miscellaneous Municipal Statutes Amendment Act of 2023. I heard the comments from the minister and I’ve spent some time looking into these amendments. I understand there’s some changes coming here to three different Acts that govern our most local form of government in terms of our RMs, our rural and urban municipalities.

And I’ll take a minute to just say thank you to all those folks that engage at that level of government. We often see people here, Mr. Speaker, and in your gallery — leaders, reeves, councillors, mayors from around the province — who come here to watch these proceedings. And we know that that we need to have a great relationship between those levels of government.

And I know in my critic areas that I’ve held over my first few years here, Mr. Speaker, how much I’ve enjoyed engaging with those kinds of leaders, whether it’s reeves and councillors and mayors talking about maybe struggles in accessing health care in their communities or concerns that they have on all sorts of other issues, how incredibly valued their work is here by members on both sides of the Assembly.

I don’t want to say too much without expressing my appreciation to all those folks who take on that elected role as well as all the folks who are working behind the scenes — the CAOs [chief administrative officer] and the staff who keep our RMs, our towns, villages, resort villages, municipalities running around the province.

These changes, these amendments here, just a few questions that I might have that we’ll continue to canvass, and I know our critic for municipal affairs will have more to say about this. But just wanting to know that stakeholders have been thoroughly consulted; wanting to know who brought forward some of these changes, in particular the term changes that are included here related to terms on boards for members; how hamlets are organized; the reduction of inactivity from two years down to one year; and just wondering kind of who brought forward these requests.

Also of interest is allowing for virtual meetings of councils while still requiring them to provide an in-person viewing. And we have to wonder in the opposition if this is perhaps due to the areas in our province where broadband internet isn’t available, and so folks would need to come to a central location to watch that virtual council meeting take place.

So those are some of the things that we’re wondering, but we’ll continue to listen to the debate from my colleagues in opposition. And our critic I know will be talking to folks about this, but at this time I’ll move that we adjourn debate on Bill 153. Thank you.

The Speaker: — The member has moved to adjourn debate. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried. I recognize the Government House Leader.

Hon. Mr. J. Harrison: — In order to facilitate the work of committee this afternoon, I move that this House do now adjourn.

The Speaker: — The member has moved to adjourn the House. Is it the pleasure of the Assembly to adopt the motion?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

The Speaker: — Carried. This House now stands adjourned until 1:30 tomorrow.

[The Assembly adjourned at 15:25.]

Disclaimer: The electronic versions of the Legislative Assembly's documents are provided for information purposes only. The content of the documents is identical to the printed record; only the presentation differs unless otherwise noted. The printed versions are the official record for legal purposes.