MR. SPEAKER: It is now 3:23 p.m. - just a couple of reminders for Oral Question Period. The Clerk and I are working on the order of sequence and we will have a new list in the next day or so, but the numbers between both Opposition caucuses remain approximately the same so we will keep the same sequence for today and we will have a new list based on the Opposition. As soon as it is available we will circulate that.

HON. MURRAY SCOTT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just before we begin the emergency debate and I know it's not proper to identify the presence or absence of anybody in the House but I'm just wondering, given the importance of this very provincial issue that we want to talk about, are we going to have Cabinet Ministers in the House to hear the concerns of the people of Nova Scotia?

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Deputy Government House Leader.

I don't know if they were surveyors, I'm sure from time to time when a survey was being conducted, somebody might have said something such as pòg mo thòn, if they weren't pleased with the results of the survey.

MR. SPEAKER: I would remind the honourable member that I am also from Cape Breton and my grandmother is of Gaelic descent, so I would bring your conversation back to the English language, please.

ALLAN MACMASTE: I don't know if they were surveyors, I'm sure from time to time when a survey was being conducted, somebody might have said something such as pòg mo thòn, if they weren't pleased with the results of the survey.

MR. SPEAKER: I would remind the honourable member that I am also from Cape Breton and my grandmother is of Gaelic descent, so I would bring your conversation back to the English language, please.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. As with resolutions, we can't ask questions on a bill before the House. If you can rephrase your question, I'll allow it.

Hon. Cecil Clarke: I'm sure the glee club will get together and find a way to go out and amass the people of the city to get out there and start stringing things up, like Whoville at Christmastime, the lines will go left, right and centre. That's what we're coming to and, you know, I'm just waiting for Dr. Seuss, Chairman Dexter, to decide how he's going to start conducting, what song, what theme song?

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. Honourable member, I reminded you last week that it's the honourable Premier. I will ask you to retract that, please.

HON. CHRISTOPHER D'ENTREMONT: Mr. Speaker, it's my honour to stand for a few moments to speak to this bill. I want to send a special congratulations to the member for Halifax Chebucto for his bill finally seeing the floor of the House even though it was stolen by the Minister of Energy to be brought forward. I thought it would be nice if the member for Halifax Chebucto would have been able to bring it forward.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. I would ask that the honourable member retract the word "stolen". (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: If I recognize (Interruptions) The question has been called. (Interruption)

The honourable member for Richmond.

THE SPEAKER: In the spirit of not having props or other items on our desks or chairs, I would ask maybe that the item on the desk of the member for Inverness be removed, please. Thank you.

THE SPEAKER: Again, a reminder about not having electronic equipment on during Question Period. It's only for an hour, but on both sides of the House I would ask that your computers, your laptops, your BlackBerrys, not be on. No texting, no tweeting, no e-mails, please.