MR. SPEAKER: Thank you very much. I would just like to remind all members, while we have a couple of seconds here, that member statements are one minute. I have been a little lenient today and the previous day on Member Statements. Tomorrow, we'll tighten it up a little bit.

HON. MARK FUREY: I'd like to congratulate Gina and her volunteer committee for the strong program the Bridgewater Curling Club is able to offer their junior curlers, due in large part to the efforts and dedication of Gina herself. Thank you for all you have done for the community. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

MR. SPEAKER: I'd like to remind the honourable members during Statements by Members, to keep your comments and congratulatory notes in the third person, directed through the Chair, if you could.

MR. GARY BURRILL: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

This afternoon, members received a communication from yourself which referred to "some members", who are in fact the member for Cape Breton Centre and myself, having been allegedly, in your words, "most disrespectful" by not having been present in our seats at the appointed hour for the entrance of the Lieutenant Governor and the Speech from the Throne.

MS. LENORE ZANN: Mr. Speaker, Nova Scotia institutionalizes more people with intellectual disabilities than any other province in Canada. We also boast a long list of human rights violations, poor treatment, assaults, and deaths of those we put in our various institutions, and here we are again, racing to the bottom as the worst in Canada with a new piece of legislation.

MR. GORDON WILSON: On behalf of the residents, I wish to table a petition. The operative clause being:

"We, the undersigned citizens of Nova Scotia, call on the Premier of Nova Scotia - Stephen McNeil, Health Minister Randy Delorey and the Nova Scotia Health Authority to give your immediate attention to the issue of:

...

MR. SPEAKER: The petition is tabled.

I just remind all members that even though members of the House may be named by their proper name in the prayer of the petition, it's not parliamentary to actually use those names in the Chamber.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. I'd just like to remind all members that the clock on the wall is for my reference and for your reference. If somebody is in the middle of a question or an answer, I will reserve the right to be the judge of when to cut them off. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. Before we move on to the next question, I'm obligated to remind all members that the use of electronic devices is strictly prohibited during Question Period, including the taking of phone calls.

MS. CLAUDIA CHENDER: Please join me in offering these small businesses your congratulations and support for all of their hard work. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: Just before we move on to the next member's statement, I think it is a good time for me to interject that I do realize it is Small Business Week in Nova Scotia and there are lots of great things going on, but I want to remind all members that members' statements are not to be used to promote anything specific for commercial purposes whether they're products, tickets to events, et cetera.

MR. SPEAKER: Before I recognize the next speaker, after some review, I just want to remind all members that we're supposed to be speaking generally to the bill, not quoting separate clauses or parts of the bill. Although, in this case, the entire clause was not totally given, partially given, I will show some leniency on all sides to be fair. But I do want to remind members of this House of the Rules; please note.

MR. BAILLIE: It's clear what's going on here - we have a blatant coverup of a deliberately misleading statement made to a woman in this province, Ms. Coffin, who asked a legitimate question, and that is not acceptable. She deserves the truth, and women's centres deserve the truth so that people will know what really happened.