ELIZABETH SMITH-MCCROSSIN: I'd like to make a point of privilege.

THE SPEAKER: Please do.

ELIZABETH SMITH-MCCROSSIN: I think that after 15 years of service in this Legislature, my colleague and MLA for Bedford Basin should have been given an opportunity in Address in Reply and should have been told before it started.

THE SPEAKER: This is not a point of privilege. If the honourable member would like to get up, she could speak. I mean, we saw it yesterday, so sorry, no. And the member is more than willing to. If she wants to, then I will recognize her.

THE SPEAKER: Order. Please stop the clock. Order. We are trying to keep a sense here of calmness, and it doesn't help when a member says something that makes all of you jump out of your skin. I ask that you please stay calm.

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON: I appreciate the advocacy that is happening in the House. This is an individual case. The matter is before the courts, and I will not comment further on it.

DEREK MOMBOURQUETTE: The minister wasn't here in the last sitting, but her government . . .

THE SPEAKER: Order. Correct that. Thank you.

We stopped the clock, actually. As soon as I say "Order," the clock stops. Well, it should have stopped. I don't keep track of the clock. All right, will you please retract and rephrase what you said?

DEREK MOMBOURQUETTE: Sure, I'm happy to retract. There was a miscommunication there. 

ZACH CHURCHILL: Par for the course, and my case is made by the Premier himself. Same as on the fourth day of this sitting: I asked the Premier about a report his government hid that recommended a tenancy enforcement unit. Instead of explaining why he didn't do it, he attacked tenants as being bad neighbours. On the fifth day, I asked about his plan to double the population when the housing market and government services are buckling. What does he do? Deflect and blame others. On the sixth day, the Premier didn't even show up to work to answer questions.

ZACH CHURCHILL: When you look at how weak this legislative sitting was, I have to ask the Premier: Is the only reason he actually brought us in here to gaslight, deflect, blame, mislead, and lie to Nova Scotians?

THE SPEAKER: Order. This is twice now. I asked you to stand up. I asked you to take that back, and I asked you to apologize. You cannot use unparliamentary words. I ask you to stand up, please. Retract the words and apologize.

The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition.

HON. IAIN RANKIN: Nobody accused us, certainly, when we were in government, that we weren't investing enough in infrastructure. We were setting records in terms of our spending in making our highways safer and the multi-billion-dollar QEII redevelopment plan. The only project, by the way, from that plan that is built is one that that party opposed in Bayers Lake. They were glad to cut the ribbon at that one - by the government that apparently sat on its hands according to the member for Argyle.

THE SPEAKER: The honourable member for Dartmouth North.

SUSAN LEBLANC: I think I'm in order to adjourn debate on this Bill and then call a new Bill.

THE SPEAKER: Unfortunately, someone else has to do it because you've already spoken.

If I am to recognize the member for Cape Breton Centre-Whitney Pier, it will be to close debate on Bill No. 479.

KENDRA COOMBES: I wish to adjourn debate on Bill No. 479.

THE SPEAKER: The motion is to adjourn debate on Bill No. 479.

THE SPEAKER: The honourable member for Halifax Chebucto.

GARY BURRILL: Point of order, Speaker. I wonder if you might consider that the present discourse being offered by the minister is, in fact, about another Bill which is before the House - the Interim Residential Rental Increase Cap Bill - and not Bill No. 479, which is before the House now.

THE SPEAKER: The door is a little bit open from a whole bunch of different people speaking, but I do ask the minister to stay on the Bill.

The honourable Minister of Service Nova Scotia.