HON. MAUREEN MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, I rise in my place this evening to offer some comments on Bill No. 119, the Mental Health System Public Inquiry (2015) Act. This is a very short bill, but a bill that is really important, asking for a public inquiry into mental health in Nova Scotia.

The whole issue of mental health is very near and dear to me and members of the NDP caucus. As the previous member indicated, it was in 2012 that our government introduced the first mental health . . .

HON. MAUREEN MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, I stand on a point of order. I think it does a grave disservice to Mr. Tupper, who is a resident of this province and a full citizen of this province, to have his opportunity to speak to the Law Amendments Committee prior to the tabling of the report on Bill No. 148. This individual is a full citizen of our province, and the Law Amendments Committee is established to hear from citizens in our province. Unfortunately, he was denied that.

MR. TIM HOUSTON: Mr. Speaker, today witnesses and members of the public were subjected to a distasteful display at the Standing Committee on Law Amendments. I am saddened to say that the member for Cumberland North resorted to shameful, insensitive, heavy-handed tactics in his single-minded mission to ram legislation through this House.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. A reminder to the member for Pictou East that a statement cannot be used to raise anything concerning the business of any committee of this House. We're in members' statements.

MR. SPEAKER: There is a ruling on an earlier point of order. I've reviewed the two Notices of Motion sought to be tabled. O'Brien and Bosc provides on Page 455 that motions may be made respecting the management of the proceedings and business of the House or its committees. The resolutions contained in the notices deal with those matters, and are tabled.

RESOLUTION NO. 3055

MR. TIM HOUSTON: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Standing Committee on Law Amendments is intended to allow Nova Scotians to give their opinions on legislation before the House; and

Whereas the member for Cumberland North made a mockery of the traditions of this committee and this House by conducting a sham vote to deny a gentleman with special needs his opportunity to address the committee; and

MR. STERLING BELLIVEAU: Now Roseway Hospital is struggling and the minister there basically lied to that community. (Interruptions)

MADAM SPEAKER: Order, it is unparliamentary to suggest that someone is lying. I would ask you to please retract that statement.

MR. BELLIVEAU: I'll retract that statement and, Madam Speaker, through you I suggest that the Minister of Health and Wellness fabricated the truth. (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: The motion is for adjournment of the House, to meet again tomorrow, December 4th, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Would all those in favour of the motion . . .

AN HON. MEMBER: Recorded vote.

MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for a recorded vote.

We'll ring the bells until the Whips are satisfied.

[6:01 p.m.]

[The Division bells were rung.]

[6:05 p.m.]

Statement by Prem. That the Speaker had ruled the Acting Leader of the NDP had misled the House. The Acting Leader of the NDP asserts that the Speaker did not rule that she had misled the House, and also that the Allegation of misleading the House is unparliamentary. (Pt. of order by Hon. M. MacDonald [Hansard p.6256, Nov. 26/15]) Not a point of order.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. Before we begin the daily routine, I will present a Speaker's Ruling on a couple of outstanding points of order. These were raised last week by the honourable Acting Leader of the New Democratic Party, which I had taken under advisement at that time.

In Prem.'s absence from QP, Opposition advised that Dep. Prem. Would take questions; she was not permitted to do so. (Pt. of order by Hon. M. MacDonald [Hansard p.6125, Nov. 25/15]) Not a point of order. No evidence the Dep. Prem. was prevented from answering.

MR. SPEAKER: Just before the time expires for members' statements, I'll take the opportunity to provide my semi-annual friendly reminder about directly congratulating the great work going on in our constituencies. Members' statements, like all discourse in the Chamber, are intended to be directed through the Chair and not directly at the contents or the subject of your member statements.