MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. We will call the House to order at this time and commence this afternoon's proceedings.
I would like to begin by recognizing the honourable Minister of Natural Resources, who would like to do an introduction.
The honourable Minister of Natural Resources.
HON. DONALD DOWNE: Mr. Speaker, through you to the Members of the Legislative Assembly, it is my pleasure to introduce to you in the east gallery the Member of Parliament for the South Shore, a representative of an urban and rural constituency. It is my pleasure to introduce to you and let this House give a warm welcome to Mr. Derek Wells, Member of Parliament for the South Shore. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Halifax Atlantic.
MR. ROBERT CHISHOLM: Also on an introduction, Mr. Speaker, in the west gallery, I would like to introduce to you and all members the representative from the Council of Labour, Vice-President, Garland Ingram, who was here earlier today to raise some concerns he has with respect to the bill that is before us in Committee of the Whole House, Bill No. 122. I wonder if Mr. Ingram would rise and all members would offer him the usual warm welcome. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: Are there any other introductions?
If not, we will move on to the daily routine.
PRESENTING AND READING PETITIONS
PRESENTING REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
TABLING REPORTS, REGULATIONS AND OTHER PAPERS
STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS
GOVERNMENT NOTICES OF MOTION
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
NOTICES OF MOTION
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Opposition.
MR. TERENCE DONAHOE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas as events get underway for the month of February to celebrate Black History Month; and
Whereas events planned throughout February will include music, readings, theatre and conferences, all offering a glimpse into the proud culture and history of our province's black community; and
Whereas the theme of this year's month is "Our Heritage, Our Future, Our Family", this is an experience in which all Nova Scotians should share;
Therefore be it resolved that this House congratulate organizers of Black History Month events, but most importantly take advantage of the opportunities offered through the organized events to learn more about a culture and community which is a corner stone of Nova Scotia's heritage and future.
Mr. Speaker, I would ask for waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: Is it agreed that notice be waived?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried unanimously.
The honourable Leader of the New Democratic Party.
MR. JOHN HOLM: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Supply and Services Minister has given Nova Scotians a glimpse of what makes this government run by explaining that Liberal Ministers and MLAs oppose a leadership review because otherwise they may lose their jobs; and
Whereas someone should tell Liberal MLAs who really employs them; and
Whereas the Liberal caucus and Cabinet don't work for an inner circle whose position was just described by the Cape Breton Post as, "colossal arrogance";
Therefore be it resolved that as the 2nd Anniversary of this government's election approaches Liberal MLAs would do well to start representing their constituents, or at least the few remaining loyal Liberals, rather than climbing all over each other to gain a higher rank on a sinking ship.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley.
MR. BROOKE TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Minister of Justice said in this Legislature on Wednesday, November 23, 1994, that the majority of the members of the public overestimates the amount of violent crime in Canada; and
Whereas the member for Hants East in a bleeding heart liberal speech in this Legislature on Wednesday, January 4th tried to push the issue of violent crime off the shoulders of the federal government saying, "What is it that we can do as legislators in Nova Scotia about this very serious problem?"; and
Whereas comments from the members for Antigonish and Hants East will do very little for parents in Nova Scotia if parents in this province are ever forced to encounter the traumatic experiences faced by the Carpenter family from Hope, B.C., in the past three weeks;
Therefore be it resolved that this government immediately make a firm and concrete stand to the federal Government of Canada and the national Minister of Justice as to whether dangerous criminals should be released on early parole or should they have their sentences increased and be forced to serve their time to the fullest extent of the law.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Kings West.
MR. GEORGE MOODY: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Minister of Finance has shuffled the deck and spun the wheel for Nova Scotians; and
Whereas the Minister of Finance has introduced a crap shoot and a shell game as his vision for Nova Scotia; and
Whereas this vision came to the Minister of Finance after a brief chit-chat with the member for Hants East who inspired the Minister of Finance with his casino whale of a tale;
Therefore be it resolved that the Minister of Finance heed the warnings of Nova Scotians who say, never bet on a sure thing unless you can afford to lose.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Halifax Atlantic.
MR. ROBERT CHISHOLM: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas creditors of M&M Manufacturing have been waiting to hear how this government intends to fulfil its promise to assess the millions of dollars in trade debts that were run up while the company continued to receive heavy government backing; and
Whereas those creditors can only boil when they read the Economic Renewal Agency Minister, in today's newspaper, pretending that there is no longer any question of major financial assistance to industries with a questionable record; and
Whereas right now, only this government has any protection should M&M, like its predecessor, fail;
Therefore be it resolved that the Economic Renewal Agency Minister should immediately inform M&M Manufacturing creditors how he intends to address the assurance they obtained from this government's generous backing of that company.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Kings North.
MR. GEORGE ARCHIBALD: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas a government out of control is a thing to behold; and
Whereas this desperate Liberal Government will soon find itself out in the cold; and
Whereas the Premier's new staff to find a way, the Government House Leader was told;
Therefore be it resolved Nova Scotians pause and reflect on the Liberal team, who all on their own have democracy sold.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Halifax Fairview.
MS. ALEXA MCDONOUGH: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Nova Scotian bar owners and patrons have been discussing the impact of the Supreme Court of Canada decision that those who serve liquor causing intoxication share responsibility for the consequences; and
Whereas countless lives have been ruined by readily accessible and highly addictive video lottery terminals, and soon, by hundreds and hundreds more VLT/slot machines; and
Whereas the Lotteries minister has refused to study the present or future consequences of multimillion dollar ad campaigns to encourage the machines that most attract pathological and problem gamblers;
Therefore be it resolved that operators and owners of video lottery terminals and slot machines should, like bar owners, share legal responsibility for the catastrophic consequences of addiction to those machines, rather than paying conscience money to escape such responsibility.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Kings North.
MR. GEORGE ARCHIBALD: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas only six lonely Liberal MLAs have the conviction to stand up and be counted and;
Whereas only six lonely Liberal MLAs understand that their own Liberal followers want a leadership review and;
Whereas the Liberal MLA for Inverness has suggested the Premier could avoid a leadership review altogether by simply stepping down;
Therefore be it resolved that the 28 Liberal Cabinet Ministers and Cabinet wannabees, the three undecideds and the four won't say's join the lonely six by placing the wishes of their own followers first ahead of their blind ambitions.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable Leader of the New Democratic Party.
MR. JOHN HOLM: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas threats by the Government House Leader and Finance Minister failed to permanently impose closure upon discussion by rank and file Liberals of the government's record; and
Whereas on the weekend, in those ministers' backyards, most Liberals who did come forward wanted a leadership review; and
Whereas Liberal Ministers and MLAs can expect their imposition of closure and refusal to budge in this House will be as successful as the postponement of the Liberal leadership vote;
Therefore be it resolved that Liberal MLAs who wish to pose as defenders of democracy should listen to the overwhelming majority of voices calling for uninhibited debate in this House and for significant change in this government's legislative proposals.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley.
MR. BROOKE TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas a split in the Liberal caucus today shows Nova Scotians that 28 do not favour a leadership review, while six believe it should go ahead, with three undecided and four sitting on the fence, too scared to say how they feel on the issue; and
[2:15 p.m.]
Whereas members of the caucus are now publicly divided on at least two key issues surrounding this government; and
Whereas with his statements over the weekend the member for Preston appears to be more concerned about his job as a Minister of the Crown than he is about rank and file Liberals and the taxpayers of Nova Scotia;
Therefore be it resolved that this government explain today how they continue to expect Nova Scotians to believe the Liberal ship is upright and sturdy, instead of sinking deep into the murky water of Halifax Harbour, if they continue to bicker and fight among themselves.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Halifax Atlantic.
MR. ROBERT CHISHOLM: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the City of Halifax plans to lead a campaign asking that, for the benefit of world leaders and media, residents not flush the many items that normally come floating up in the harbour; and
Whereas Liberal claims to be providing "world-class" programs are justified by the world-class snafu whereby the minister responsible has managed to stop all harbour clean-up planning and progress, even plans for an affordable project; and
Whereas Nova Scotians are being forced to endure a harbour full of untreated sewage that is apparently too rotten to be experienced by anyone else in the industrialized world;
Therefore be it resolved that this government should not ask Halifax and Dartmouth residents to hold their noses, wait until federal funding has expired and municipal clean-up funds can be seized, then impose the extra costs and pollution of Thatcher-style sewage treatment for private profit.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Halifax Fairview.
MS. ALEXA MCDONOUGH: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the debate about military training unleashed by glimpses of incidents involving the Canadian Airborne Regiment has renewed concerns that specialized peacekeeping training would better enable members of the Canadian Forces to serve the United Nations; and
Whereas the person in charge of creating a supposed peacekeeping centre at CFB Cornwallis, Alex Morrison, is among the few voices heard in recent days proclaiming there is no need to change or to provide training for peacekeeping in particular; and
Whereas Nova Scotia's proposal for genuine peacekeeping training at Cornwallis would address many heightened concerns;
Therefore be it resolved that in light of renewed and heightened concerns about the training of Canadian Forces for peacekeeping duty, this House asks the Prime Minister and Defence Minister to reconsider the Nova Scotia Government proposal for Canada's Peacekeeping Training Centre to be located at CFB Cornwallis.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask for waiver of notice on that resolution.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver of notice which requires unanimous consent.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
Is there any other business to come before the House under the heading of the daily routine? If not, we will advance to the Orders of the Day.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Government House Leader to indicate Government Business.
HON. RICHARD MANN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move that you do now leave the Chair and the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on Bills.
MR. SPEAKER: The motion is carried.
[2:18 p.m. The House resolved itself into a CWH on Bills with Deputy Speaker Mr. Gerald O'Malley in the Chair.]
[9:59 p.m. CWH on Bills rose and the House reconvened. Mr. Speaker, Hon. Paul MacEwan, resumed the Chair.]
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House on Bills reports:
THE CLERK: That the committee has met and made some progress and begs leave to sit again.
MR. SPEAKER: Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
The honourable Government House Leader.
HON. RICHARD MANN: Mr. Speaker, we will be sitting tomorrow from the hours of 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m. Following the daily routine and Question Period, we will be in Committee of the Whole House on Bills and we will be reconvening debate on Bill No. 122.
I move we adjourn until noon tomorrow.
MR. SPEAKER: The motion is that the House do now rise to meet again tomorrow at the hour of 12:00 noon.
The motion is carried.
[The House rose at 10:00 p.m.]
