It was an active legislative sitting for the last week of October as a number of issues were dealt with.
A couple of major votes took place Tuesday, Oct. 25 on the government’s motion opposing the federal government’s plans for a national carbon tax, as well as an opposition amendment motion supporting implementation of The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Act and condemning the premier for failing to address climate change and for “giving up Saskatchewan’s voice and credibility” in protecting Saskatchewan’s interests, among other things.
The opposition motion was defeated overwhelmingly 47-8, with the government’s motion passing 48-8.
Beyond that issue, opposition leader Trent Wotherspoon continued to hammer the government time and again on the GTH land deal throughout the week. On Thursday he also hammered the government on the issue of privatization of Crown corporations.
At issue was an amendment to the definition of privatization in the Interpretation Act. Wotherspoon’s exchange with Premier Brad Wall was recorded in Hansard.
Mr. Wotherspoon: — Betrayal. Desperate. Unacceptable. A desperate, damaging sell-off. These are just some of the words that I’ve been hearing from people all across Saskatchewan since the announcement yesterday that the Sask Party government is moving forward with massive privatization of our Crown corporations.
Our Crowns were built by and for Saskatchewan people. They deliver a massive economic and public benefit. The Premier, the Premier promised not to privatize them. Hand over heart, he took the pledge to Saskatchewan people. Now he’s throwing it all away just to make a quick buck.
Why does he think, why does he think he can break that promise and betray Saskatchewan people?
The Speaker: — I recognize the Premier.
Hon. Mr. Wall: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my honourable friend for the question. I want to say to members of this House and through this House to anybody observing the proceedings that we intend to keep the promises that we made in the election with respect to the Crown corporation… We are going to keep the promises that we’ve made with respect to the Crown Corporation Protection Act, Mr. Speaker.
The bill that was introduced yesterday by the Attorney General does not amend the Crown Protection Act. It does provide an amendment in the miscellaneous . . . in The Interpretation Act of the province of Saskatchewan, and it seeks to simply define privatization. We have this legislation in front of us that prescribes for the protection of Crown corporations from privatization, but the definition is never offered of privatization.
So the definition that we are adopting as a government is the definition used by the World Bank, and that definition is that if you privatize an organization, it means you lose control of it. You lose more than 50 per cent of that company. We’re not prepared to allow that to happen, Mr. Speaker.
We want to ensure that Crown corporations continue in the province of Saskatchewan, that they’re protected in the province of Saskatchewan, that a majority ownership of all of those assets remains in the province of Saskatchewan. We’re committed to the Crown Corporation Protection Act. We’ve campaigned on it in three elections. That promise remains, Mr. Speaker, and we will keep that promise…
The opposition leader continued to hammer away at the government as they insisted that what the government was really doing was move towards privatization.
Mr. Wotherspoon: — Let me be clear. This is an end run on privatization of our Crown corporations built by and for Saskatchewan people. The Premier’s breaking a clear promise, going back on his own word. And he’s shutting out the owners of our Crown corporations — the people of Saskatchewan, the shareholders of our Crown corporations. They’re the shareholders. They’re the owners, not him, Mr. Speaker.
To the Premier: why doesn’t he have the backbone and the decency to go to the people of Saskatchewan on something as big as the privatization of our Crown corporations?
The Speaker: — I recognize the Premier.
Hon. Mr. Wall: — Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the emotions of the Leader of the Opposition. I want to be very clear for the Assembly that what the . . . The change to The Interpretation Act actually prevents privatization in the Crown corporations. The definition that has been proposed to this Assembly is a World Bank definition, and it means precisely that the government, this one or a future government, cannot privatize the Crown corporations.
Another hot issue in the legislature was tougher rules cracking down on impaired driving. Minister for SGI Joe Hargrave rose to speak on that issue in the legislature.
Hon. Mr. Hargrave: — Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to rise today to move second reading of The Traffic Safety (Miscellaneous Enforcement Measures) Amendment Act, 2016. Last year in our province, there were nearly 1,200 impaired driving collisions killing 53 people and injuring 578 others. Mr. Speaker, our government takes this issue very seriously. That’s why we are taking action.
Mr. Speaker, allow me to outline the specific amendments in this bill, which built on the already significant changes we introduced back in 2014. Currently, for experienced drivers with a blood alcohol content between .04 and .08, vehicles aren’t impounded until a second offence. We’re changing that to impoundment on the first offence. British Columbia and Alberta have seen success with this approach of impoundment on the first offence, and we’re optimistic we will see similar results.
Mr. Speaker, we’re also proposing to change the zero tolerance threshold for drugs and alcohol. This is currently limited to drivers under the age of 19. Drivers age 19 to 21 are overrepresented in alcohol-related collisions compared to drivers under 19. That’s why we are proposing the zero tolerance threshold apply to all drivers 21 years of age and under. Other jurisdictions such as Ontario, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Manitoba have had positive results with similar legislation in place.
Mr. Speaker, ignition interlock devices prevent drivers from operating a vehicle if they have alcohol in their system. Mr. Speaker, this legislation proposes further strengthening ignition interlock measures. These include imposing longer interlock periods for blood alcohol content over .16 or refusing to provide a breath sample, imposing longer interlock periods on second and third offences for experienced drivers over .08, imposing mandatory interlock for third or subsequent offences for new drivers with any drugs or alcohol in their system.
Mr. Speaker, along with the changes I’ve just outlined, I’m pleased to announce our commitment to provide $800,000 for an additional 32 automated licence plate readers to help police catch disqualified drivers. This brings the total to 47, enough to equip all enforcement vehicles in the combined traffic services Saskatchewan pilot. This pilot involves 60 officers dedicated to traffic safety enforcement, targeting problematic roads and intersections in central and southeast regions of the province.
Mr. Speaker, we are also providing $500,000 for law enforcement to increase checkstops targeting impaired drivers. Knowing there will be more police checkstops provides an extra motivation for people to plan a safe ride ahead of time.
Further on the education side, Mr. Speaker, SGI is bolstering awareness of impaired driving consequences through multi-media advertising campaigns and social media channels with the goal of changing driver behaviour. Members have likely seen many of those ads which are currently running.
Mr. Speaker, we also know that distracted driving is an issue in this province. In response to recommendations from law enforcement, we are also strengthening cellphone legislation. We are changing the offence to holding, viewing, using, or manipulating a mobile device while driving instead of simply using a mobile device, which is the current wording.
There are also a few smaller housekeeping amendments, Mr. Speaker. The first includes removing all vehicle impoundment and driver licence suspension forms from the regulations and placing the requirements for them in the Act. Currently, regulatory changes are required every time a prescribed form is amended because the form is specifically identified in the regulations. These forms are primarily used by law enforcement to carry out their duties, so we want to make sure we can get them from the updated forms when required.
A final housekeeping change we’re making, Mr. Speaker, is around dealer licence plates. This past February, the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority made changes to The Consumer Protection and Business Practices Act, which governs companies that sell vehicles as part of their business. This resulted in the unintended consequence that several businesses and entities that regularly use dealer plates no longer qualified for them. The proposed change to this Act essentially allows SGI to continue to administer dealer plates the way it always has.
Mr. Speaker, I move second reading of The Traffic Safety (Miscellaneous Enforcement Measures) Amendment Act, 2016.
Opposition critic Carla Beck spoke on the issue for the Opposition.
Ms. Beck: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the minister for his comments. And we’ve just had the opportunity to just now look over Bill 42. Mr. Speaker, not only are we ready to ensure swift passage of the bill today, members from this side of the House were ready to see certain of those measures proposed in this bill enacted over three years ago when they issued a minority opinion on the Special Committee on Traffic Safety final report.
Mr. Speaker, as was noted in 2013, to continue to ignore the profound evidence of the efficacy of a mandatory three-day impoundment of vehicles for drivers found in the warning zone would be to risk more lives in Saskatchewan. Mr. Speaker, as the families in your gallery know all too well, too many lives have been impacted and lost in our province due to impaired and distracted driving. To the families with us today, and all families impacted by this senseless crime, you have our deep and sincere sympathy. Please know that we will be paying close attention to ensure that the regulations associated with this legislation are robust and provide a clear path. We will also be watching to ensure that the resources needed for effective enforcement are forthcoming, adequate, and secure.
And with that, Mr. Speaker, I will call upon the minister to do what he needs to do in order to provide swift passage of this bill. There will be no delay from members on our side. This legislation is long overdue.
