MS. DENISE PETERSON-RAFUSE: I want to read this article by Jason Edwards. It's a look at the health impacts of the Nova Scotia Liberals' attack on workers' rights. "On Saturday, Nova Scotia's legislature, led by Liberal Premier . . ." - I won't say the name - ". . . came together to pass essential service legislation . . ." - as I said, this is in reference to the home care workers - ". . . forcing home-support workers from Northwood Homecare back to work (and stripping 700 nurses from the Victorian Order of Nurses of their right to strike).

MS. LENA DIAB: I would love to have a discussion with the member opposite at any point he wishes with respect to the duties of a chairman, whether it's the Law Amendments Committee or any other day. (Applause) I can assure the member opposite and everyone in the Legislature that I've been chairing meetings for about three decades and very much understand what it takes. I also do recall at the Law Amendments Committee that I was able to attend and did in fact ask . . .

MR. SPEAKER: Just before we go on to the next notice of motion, I want to remind all the ministers on the government side that Government Notices of Motion are intended for business to do with your portfolio, and if it has anything to do with your constituency business that falls under regular Notices of Motion. I just want to have that duly noted.

MR. SPEAKER: Just before we get to the next question, I want to remind all members on both sides of the House that if you have a question, speak to your House Leaders and get your name on your list and you'll have ample opportunity to pose questions. (Interruptions) I am pleased to say that we're a little bit more awake than we were yesterday here.

HON. DENISE PETERSON-RAFUSE: It's very sad that a political decision was based - and the money, $350,000 on an annual basis - and it all came down to politics. What a shame. Does that mean that those youth in Pictou are being punished because of the fact that the people of Nova Scotia, in that county, chose to go with a different political Party?

MR. ALLAN MACMASTER: Why don't you take - and I know we're not allowed to use props in here - why don't you take the "X" off the ring because X refers to St. Francis Xavier.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. I do remind the honourable member that he just violated the rule that he just referred to, so I'm obligated to enforce my rules.

JUSTICE - BARTON CASE: WRONGFUL CONVICTION - MIN. AGREE

MR. ALLAN MACMASTER: Mr. Speaker yesterday the Minister of Justice indicated that cases such as those of Gerry Barton are sometimes more complex than what we hear in the media. She also said that there has not been a verdict of the nature I spoke about, but I was speaking about the 2011 Court of Appeal decision that Mr. Barton was wrongfully convicted. Does the minister agree that Barton was wrongfully convicted as found by the Court of Appeal?