Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just last week the hon. Member for Edmonton-Manning, a member of a proud visible minority group, read a member’s statement about the importance of Human Rights Day.

Premiers Lougheed and Klein understood this and strengthened human rights in Alberta. But in the mandate letter to the Minister of Justice this Premier ordered him to assess the appropriateness of amending or repealing section 3 of the Alberta Human Rights Act.

To the Premier: what are you trying to achieve? Do you want to dissolve the Alberta Human Rights Commission? Yes or no?

Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, the most interesting part of the hon. Leader of the Opposition’s question is highlighted by the fact that the letter I wrote with respect to the Human Rights Commission went to the Minister of Justice. One of the things that I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to do in this very short time is to move the Human Rights Commission, which is a very important part of institutions in Alberta, from where it was sitting, in the department of culture and community spirit, into the Department of Justice. We believe that this is a commission that matters to Albertans, that will protect human rights, and it should appropriately be in the Department of Justice.

The Speaker: The hon. leader.

Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that access to affordable legal representation is already a major problem for low income Albertans, many of whom are single mothers, seniors, the mentally and medically ill, the indigenous peoples, visible minorities, and new Canadians, by moving the Human Rights Commission under the Justice department, are you planning to put this under the Criminal Code of Canada and send them to the court systems?

Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, the Human Rights Commission has legislation that both constitutes the Human Rights Commission and that we observe with respect to protecting human rights in Alberta. The fact that we’re managing the processes around the Human Rights Commission through the Department of Justice has absolutely nothing to do with changes with respect to the Criminal Code. It’s a question that doesn’t make sense.

Dr. Sherman: Mr. Speaker, what’s not making sense is this government, clearly.

To the Premier. You asked the Minister of Justice to assess the appropriateness of amending or repealing section 3 of the Alberta Human Rights Act. That was the question. Is that your plan, to repeal it?

Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, the letter was quite clear. This is an issue that matters to Albertans. It’s important for us to consult with Albertans on this to make sure that we know how Albertans feel about this. It’s very important for us to know that the intention must be to review or to consider what to do with it next.

The Speaker: Second Official Opposition main question. The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition.

Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It appears they have taken the Wildrose policy on this.

Federal Transfer Payments for Health

Dr. Sherman: Every year Ottawa shortchanges Albertans by over $900 million in health transfers even though we pay more per person to federal coffers than any province. Thousands of hardworking Alberta seniors want to stay in their homes, but they can’t. If they need long-term care, there’s nothing there for them but a long waiting line. Instead of talking about increasing premiums and taxes, nickelling and diming our seniors, our working families, and our students, why won’t the Premier fight for Albertans and shake down Ottawa for money that it owes us?

Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, one of the things that we’ve been talking about as government and that the Minister of Seniors has been very involved in in the last two months is ensuring that we’re putting in place a sustainable long-term care plan that’s going to allow for seniors to continue to have a high quality of life. That’s what Albertans want. We know that as a province in this country we do make transfer payments to Canada. We’re proud of that because we believe that we have to be proud citizens and proud partners in Confederation. We’ll be able to deal with our issues, we’ll do it well, and we’ll ensure that people have strong publicly funded health care and good long-term care.

The Speaker: The hon. leader.

Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that our seniors are for sale or rent in this province – they are paying more than ever, they’re having to get divorced, and you’re removing the cap on seniors’ living – and given that the Premier’s friendship with the Prime Minister is well known, why can’t you just pick up the phone and demand the billions of dollars Albertans are owed from your friends in Ottawa?

Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, these characterizations of what’s happening in Alberta seniors’ communities are entirely inappropriate. What we know is that Alberta seniors want to have choices with respect to accommodation, and they want to make sure that they’re continuing to be able to be provided with public health care support. We’re going to make sure that that happens within our own borders.

The Speaker: The hon. leader.

Dr. Sherman: Mr. Speaker, thank you. I understand that this is question period and not answer period. All we’re asking for is a collection call, a collection call to Ottawa, Madam Premier, not a collection call to our seniors and working families. Why won’t you unleash your horde of lawyers and sue the federal government for the money they owe us? Premier Lougheed would do it. Why can’t you?

Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, I’m not going to speculate on what anyone else may or may not do. What I do know is that as a partner in Confederation, we have to have a relationship with other provinces in this country and with the federal government. I’ll tell you that the approach that this hon. member is suggesting does nothing to support Confederation or Alberta’s place in it.

Alberta Hansard, December 6, 2011

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