MR. EDDIE ORRELL: Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Yesterday, during Question Period, the Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism said in answer to a question: "I stand here in my place, week after week, and even with a new member representing Cape Breton North, I still hear words of bullying and intimidation. I will stand here, and that member over there, or any member over there, will not intimidate me; they will not bully me."

HON. PERCY PARIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wasn't in the House at the time, but I understand that there was mentioning in the House, I think it was on Tuesday, as a result of something that I said during Question Period. A point of order was raised in this House, and I want to say this: because of who I am and because I'm a strong diversity practitioner, I would retract the statement that they complained of. Thank you.

MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. Minister. The statement is retracted.

HON. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise on a point of order today. I think my preamble would reflect on the fact that it's important to remember that Legislative Counsel works for the House of Assembly and not the government.

SPEAKER'S RULING: Speaker's authority over proceedings in committees. (Points of order by Hon. Manning MacDonald and Hon. C. d'Entremont [Hansard p. 4625, 11/30/11]) Speaker does not exercise procedural control over committees.

MR. SPEAKER: I would like to now make a ruling with respect to the points of order raised earlier by the members for Cape Breton South and Argyle, both House Leaders for their respective Parties. I have now had the opportunity to review Beauchesne and previous Speakers' Rulings.

MR. SAMSON: Well, in the words of the Premier, that's simply not true. Presenters were told that they would be heard on Thursday evening at the Law Amendments Committee only to get phone calls today from the Legislative Counsel Office, under directions from this government, telling them, get them in tonight or they're out of luck.

HON. JAMIE BAILLIE: Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Justice. Outside this chamber, in the Legislative Counsel Office, confusion is now reigning as those who wanted to appear before his committee, who this morning were told they can't appear before his committee . . .

MR. SPEAKER: I just ruled that as out of order a little earlier, so for the second time, I'll not allow it.

MR. BAILLIE: I'll rephrase it.

MR. SPEAKER: No, thank you very much.

SPEAKER'S RULING: Gov't Curtailment of debate at Law Amendments Committee. (Point of privilege by Hon. Manning MacDonald [Hansard p. 4616, 11/30/11]) Situation underpinning the point of privilege did not come to pass; no prima facie case of breach of privilege.

Yesterday the honourable House Leader of the Official Opposition rose on a point of privilege arising from what he described as the government's move to curtail debate at the Law Amendments Committee. This was based on the same situation that had been raised earlier yesterday as a point of order.

HON. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, on a point of privilege. The discussion that has taken place regarding the Law Amendments Committee, there seems to be some confusion in government's responses to the questions asked today. It is still unclear how many the government has relented on that will be heard from tomorrow. I put this in written form, so you can rule on it at your leisure and there will be a form for the Clerk.

MR. MAURICE SMITH: Mr. Speaker, I wish to present and table a petition signed by 57 constituents of Antigonish who are opposed to an application by Alva Construction Ltd. of Antigonish to expand the Northumberland Rock Quarry in Georgeville, Antigonish County, the operative clause of the petition being:

". . . we wish to indicate to the Environmental Assessment Branch and to the Nova Scotia Minister of the Environment that we are NOT in favour of the application as it currently exists."
Mr. Speaker, as required, I've signed my name to this petition.

HON. FRANK CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I'd ask you to keep the Leader of the Third Party speaking about the amendment - not something that bothers him, but the reality of what's in the substance of the amendment. A Party that has very little substance, Mr. Speaker.

AN. HON. MEMBER: Oh, telling the Speaker to do his job.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. No, I'm sorry, he doesn't tell me to do my job, sir. That's one thing he doesn't do, I'll tell you that right off the bat.