MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. I'd like to remind the honourable Leader of the New Democratic Party that I am going to categorize that newspaper as a prop. If you have a copy of something out of it, I'd be glad to accept that. Please go on.

MR. SPEAKER: Just before I recognize the honourable member for Sackville-Cobequid, while we're all in the collegial sharing mood, I'd be remiss - although it's not proper for the Speaker to comment on legislation but I, too, grew up in a family of first responders on a volunteer basis in our community, as well as my father was a tow- truck owner/operator for nearly 30 years and I was in the co-pilot seat of the truck for many occasions on the side of a highway. So, I will limit my comments to say it is refreshing to see a piece of legislation such as this come forward. (Applause)

HON. DEREK MOMBOURQUETTE: I would like to thank the member for the question. The situation that he's dealing with was the decision that was made, an interpretation by the old Cape Breton District Health Authority before amalgamation.

I appreciate the work that Minister Delorey has done with his staff and the NSHA. We're learning that this settlement is coming for the CBRM. As we move forward, we're going to open those dialogues with the NSHA to make sure that we don't have this situation happen again.

MS. BARBARA ADAMS: We also have all sorts of wording throughout this document where it says the minister shall or the minister may. We all know if it says the minister may, it means he also may not. One of the things it says is, "subject to the regulations, direct the expenditure of all funds appropriated by the Legislature for educational purposes within the scope of and incidental to this Act . . . make grants . . ." Then it lists a bunch of things that he might do, but it doesn't specifically set out what he is going to do.

MS. KIM MASLAND: As a final message to any parents who may be listening out there, I would encourage you to stand up for your children to ensure they receive the best education possible. This government has proven that they don't respect what our teachers do.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. I want to remind the honourable member that we're not supposed to address anybody who may be listening or watching, just the members of this House and your comments through the Chair.

MS. LENORE ZANN: It's funny because they say the big lie is if you have the cojones to lie really bigly, and you throw out a lie there and you just keep repeating it over and over again, people start to believe it. They start to think that it's true.

MR. SPEAKER: Just before we move on to the next member, I'd like to remind the visitors in our gallery that it is not permitted, as per the rules of our gallery, to express pleasure or displeasure with anything that occurs on the floor of the House. So I'll ask you to refrain from indicating either way, if you wouldn't mind, please.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. I'd like to remind the honourable member that member's statements are not to be used for items falling under minister's portfolios.

MR. SPEAKER: I'd like to remind all members to keep your comments directed through the Chair and not to speak directly to the subject of your member's statements.

MS. SUSAN LEBLANC: Mr. Speaker, thank you to everyone for paying attention to this important situation that is facing a citizen - I'm sorry, a person from Nova Scotia who could be facing deportation.