#prasad panda

Mr. Nielsen: Historically I’ve always seen this cycle that comes forward. You know, government comes in: “Ah, well, you know, the former government just spent recklessly and put us into debt and everything, so we’ve got to climb our way out of that.” Then you get to the point where you’re starting to make some success: “We can’t help you just yet. We’re close. We’re almost there. Just hang on a little bit longer.” Then you get to the next stage of: “You know what? We’re just starting to get ahead. Things are really ramping up. We’re really going to get going here. Can I just get you to hold tight a little bit longer?” People keep waiting, and then you get: “You know what? There are signs the future is not looking good. We’ve got to prepare for the future. You’re just going to have to wait.” Then when things are free-falling: “Well, things are in free fall. We can’t help you now.”

It’s this cycle that keeps going along. It’s the cycle of failing to help, and we’re always leaving the most vulnerable behind based on what I was just talking about, a constituent on AISH who can’t afford a utility. But what’s up for offer? Oh, a whole $150 spread out over three months in $50 chunks. And I still haven’t heard the plan as to when that’s going to get paid out, how that’s going to get paid out. In the meantime they’re falling further and further behind, which then leads me to another constituent that’s already in trouble, and now their power is getting limited. Can you imagine, Mr. Chair, not being able to have a pot on the stove and some toast in the toaster? But, hey, I’ve got 50 bucks for you. Come on. Really?

You all were able to bet $1.3 billion on Donald Trump’s election. You’ve managed to find tens of millions of dollars to go chase Bigfoot and get logos wrong. Yet we can’t help some of our most vulnerable in the province to make sure that they at least have a decent quality of life because, as I believe the Minister of Community and Social Services had said: we’ve got to create wealth first before you’re able to take care of people.

Mr. Panda: Yes.

Mr. Dang: The Calgary cancer centre is one of the most expensive and important pieces of infrastructure ever built in Alberta. When complete, it will welcome tens of thousands of patients and their families annually, so I was very disturbed to hear reports that corners are being cut in the construction of the centre, that some of the contractors installing fire safety systems are not trained to the level required in the specifications. Is the minister aware of these reports, and what has he done in response? 

Mr. Panda: That’s why under 29(2)(a) through you, Madam Speaker, I would ask that they withdraw and apologize if they can’t provide me the proof of the $4.7 billion that was given away allegedly by the government, which I’m a member of the Executive Council. I couldn’t find that. I went around in Calgary even during, you know, Halloween. I asked kids to go and find it, actually. Where is that $4.7 billion? Nobody in Calgary could find it.

Mr. Dang: So you announced that you’re going to be doing P3s without already knowing how much this is going to cost taxpayers?

Mr. Panda: Here is what we told 4 and a half million Albertans on our campaign commitment.

Mr. Dang: I’m not concerned about the campaign.

Mr. Panda: We’re trying to keep our promise to Albertans.

Mr. Dang: Today you announced you’d do five P3s without knowing how much those five P3s would cost.

The Speaker: At this point, the point of order is not well taken but noted.

Mr. Panda: Mr. Speaker, is there still an opportunity to seek clarification on your ruling?

Mr. Panda: Okay. Thank you. Mr. Chair, I’ll share my time with Mr. Gotfried.

The Chair: You have seven seconds.

Mr. Gotfried: Have a great morning.