GARY BURRILL: Speaker, I wonder if you would be good enough to grant us, at this point in the debate, a five-minute recess.

THE SPEAKER: I would need unanimous consent. Do I have unanimous consent for a five-minute recess?

There has not been unanimous consent.

The honourable member for Halifax Chebucto.

GARY BURRILL: Am I wrong to think that you, in fact, do have the capacity to rule unilaterally for a recess?

THE SPEAKER: I cannot force a recess if people object on it. We could have a motion on it, but there would have to be unanimous consent.

LISA LACHANCE: The FMA, much like this year's budget, is a disappointment. It fails to address the skyrocketing costs of everything from food to energy and housing. The striking lack of intersectional analysis throughout the budget and throughout the FMA, despite being mandated by the Dismantling Racism and Hate Act that this government brought proudly forth, which was supposed to guide all of the other pieces of legislation, including the FMA.

HON. ZACH CHURCHILL: Speaker, I listen day in and day out to the Premier speak to the Leader of the NDP very differently than he speaks to other members in this Chamber. He calls her negative all the time. I have no problem saying that the Leader of the NDP is not negative. She is constructive and her questions are a lot more thoughtful than the answers that come from the Premier. I want to ask the Premier Will he do the right thing, the classy thing, apologize to the Leader of the NDP and actually . . .

HON. ZACH CHURCHILL: All the evidence is pointing to the health care system getting worse, despite the fact that the government is spending so much more money on it. That's why the government can only brag about spending so much more money on it. What we don't know is how much more money is going to be spent on the Hogan Court project because of the contract with Shannex. We've heard there's going to be a massive premium for that mortgage.

ELIZABETH SMITH-MCCROSSIN: Speaker, there are 356 signatures and I have affixed my name to the top, as per the Rules of the House.

THE SPEAKER: Unfortunately, the petition is out of order, due to the fact that there are phone numbers instead of addresses.

SUZY HANSEN: Can the minister explain then why her government colleagues are preventing teachers from appearing before an upcoming Public Accounts Committee on this particular issue?

THE SPEAKER: Order, please. I would ask the member for Halifax Needham to rephrase her question. You cannot include any type of committee business in your question. I'll give you an opportunity to stand quickly in your place and rephrase the question, please.

THE SPEAKER: Order. I would ask that the member for Timberlea-Prospect stand in his place and retract that.

The honourable member for Timberlea-Prospect.

HON. IAIN RANKIN: Speaker, what the member had said about spending more money is not true. I disagree with what the member had said.

THE SPEAKER: Order.

IAIN RANKIN: I will retract my comment.

THE SPEAKER: As we all know, in this Chamber it is unparliamentary to accuse another member of lying. I would kindly ask the member to stand in his place and please retract that statement.