MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. We will commence this afternoon's sitting at this time.
The daily routine.
PRESENTING AND READING PETITIONS
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Community Services.
HON. JAMES SMITH: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to introduce a petition given to me by Mr. Christopher Bowie at Colonna Place, Dartmouth East. The undersigned are opposed to the establishment of casinos in Nova Scotia.
MR. SPEAKER: The petition is tabled.
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 member for Queens.
MR. JOHN LEEFE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Pictou County is mourning the passing of Dr. James M. Cameron who suffered the loss of his wife only three days before; and
Whereas Dr. Cameron has made a lasting impression on the life and times of the area through the establishment of CKEC Radio and his development of the area through his print media work; and
Whereas Dr. Cameron's work as a writer will help to keep alive memories and history of the County of Pictou;
Therefore be it resolved that the House extend to the surviving family of Dr. and Mrs. Cameron our heartfelt thanks for the work and the lasting impression it will have on Pictou County and Nova Scotia, and our sympathies in the great loss that they and the people of Pictou County have experienced this past week.
Mr. Speaker, I would ask for waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
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 Premier of this province has fired and lost more senior assistants and deputy ministers in 18 months than others have in five years; and
Whereas by now no one will touch the Premier's Office with a 10 foot pole unless they receive very generous pay and severance arrangements; and
Whereas the result is that Nova Scotians are paying almost $300,000 in salary and benefits for just three individuals with Liberal experience to try to keep the government from stepping in cow pies;
Therefore be it resolved that the tens of thousands of nurses, highway workers, front-line clerks, social workers, teachers, secretaries, cleaners and others, who serve all of the people of the Province of Nova Scotia, deserve top dollar more than any Liberal rescue squad that will only make a move if the price is right.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Halifax Needham.
MR. GERALD O'MALLEY: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas in a recent Transport Canada study of 13 North American seaports the Port of Halifax outperformed all East Coast ports in cash earnings as a percentage of the original value of assets; and
Whereas Halifax's location, its deep water port, its double-stacked train service and the port's aggressive marketing, has attracted new business for the port this year; and
Whereas the Port of Halifax plays a critical role in the economy of metro Halifax and of our province;
Therefore be it resolved that this House congratulate the workers and management of the Port of Halifax for their outstanding performance.
Mr. Speaker, I would ask for waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: Is it agreed?
It is agreed
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried unanimously. (Applause)
The honourable member for Queens.
MR. JOHN LEEFE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas over the last 20 months, the Cape Breton powerhouse of 10 Liberal MLAs has done nothing to fulfil their election promise to reduce unemployment in the region; and
Whereas unemployment rates have fallen in every other region of the province and country, except in Cape Breton, where the number of unemployed continues to increase; and
Whereas in frustration, one local alderman and the president of the Cape Breton Nova Liberal Association is encouraging unemployed Cape Bretoners to call their local MLA, the member for Cape Breton Nova, to get government make-work jobs;
Therefore be it resolved that this House encourages the 10 Liberal MLAs in Cape Breton to do more than echo the government's hollow 30-60-90 public relations fiasco, and concentrate on competitive, community-based economic development opportunities to reduce unemployment in Cape Breton.
MR. SPEAKER: It sounds like an awfully long resolution. I couldn't hear the last part. (Laughter)
The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Halifax Bedford Basin.
MR. GERALD FOGARTY: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the honourable Minister of the Environment is leading a delegation of government and industry leaders to Taiwan to promote markets for Nova Scotian environmental technology; and
Whereas Nova Scotian environmental companies and research facilities are on the world's leading edge in the development of new methods for protecting and rehabilitating the environment; and
Whereas the Government of Taiwan has committed large financial reserves to address the island's environmental concerns over the next 10 years;
Therefore be it resolved that this House congratulate this initiative of the Minister of the Environment and Nova Scotia companies and universities who are developing world-class technology for protecting and rehabilitating the environment.
Mr. Speaker, I would request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: I hear several Noes. (Interruptions)
The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Hants West.
MR. RONALD RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Premier Savage has admitted to paying his new A team top dollar with money from the Nova Scotia taxpayer; and
Whereas the A team is being paid over $260,000 in a last desperate attempt to save the Premier's job as Leader of the Liberal Party; and
Whereas it has been apparent since last summer that the Premier is more intent on salvaging his political future than with serving the public interests of Nova Scotians;
Therefore be it resolved that the Premier quit hiring Liberals to serve his political interest, stop wasting taxpayers' money and start working with and on behalf of Nova Scotians, as he promised to do during the 1993 election campaign.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
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 the Chronicle Herald editorial of last Thursday aptly described "the fortunes of Nova Scotia Liberals as that of party continuing to hemorrhage, mostly from self-inflicted wounds"; and
Whereas this same Chronicle Herald editorial stated, "The Liberals incompetence is also on display outside the legislature, because of the fact that provincewide hearings by the party will serve to remind Nova Scotians just how inept this party has become"; and
Whereas today on the front page story of the Chronicle Herald, the government's ineptness was displayed in the highest form possible, with both the Premier and the Minister of Human Resources tripping over themselves like circus clowns unsure of each other's next move;
Therefore be it resolved that the Premier and his new Save our Savage Campaign Team attempt to show Nova Scotians that they know something about government and less about patronage and incompetence.
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 Premier has stated that in order to get top people to work for him, he had to pay top dollars; and
Whereas the Premier has thus, quite kindly, informed his many former employees who accepted as little as $90,000 that they are not top people; and
Whereas the many thousands of women who have been denied equal pay for work of equal value by this Premier and government now know that, in his eyes, they are simply not worth as much as men;
Therefore be it resolved that this "top dollar" Premier and his top people should get moving to reduce the wage inequalities and end the wage discrimination which runs rampant in many hospitals, schools and other public institutions, as well as addressing wage discrimination and wage inequities in the private sector.
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 Premier of this province was asked in this Legislature last Wednesday afternoon about his government's involvement in luring companies to this province to create jobs involving waste handling and pollution abatement; and
Whereas the Premier of this province responded with the answer, "I can't really give you any specifics on this."; and
Whereas the Minister of the Environment has left on a four day jaunt to Taiwan to discuss the creation of jobs through Nova Scotia's environmental technology;
Therefore be it resolved that since the Premier of this province is supposed to be in charge of the government, that he somehow stay abreast of what his Ministers of the Crown are attempting to do for Nova Scotia and, therefore, be able to inform Nova Scotians of important initiatives when asked by the Opposition.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Hants West.
MR. RONALD RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Minister of Natural Resources was extremely vague when questioned about his government's plans for uranium mining when asked in this Legislature on Tuesday, November 29th; and
Whereas it is a proven fact that uranium waste products are just as deadly as the prime product, whether it be from mining or power generation; and
Whereas the present moratorium on uranium mining in Nova Scotia expires at the end of this month;
Therefore be it resolved that the Minister of Natural Resources come forth sooner, rather than later, and make it clear to Nova Scotians that uranium exploration or mining will not be permitted in Nova Scotia.
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 while conflict of interest and ethical standards were placed on the Liberal back burner, this government rushed through legislation destroying the last vestiges of an independent Civil Service Commission to safeguard fair, unbiased hiring; and
Whereas this Cabinet asserted that ministerial responsibility for hiring done under their partisan Liberal thumbs would be a far better system; and
Whereas today, even Liberals are disgusted by evident patronage hiring, yet no minister will accept responsibility for making the Premier's assistant the new Protocol director;
Therefore be it resolved that an independent, arm's length Civil Service Commission, whose decisions are beyond reproach, should be established to ensure that hiring, promotion and affirmative action are conducted without fear or favour towards the political Party that happens to be in power.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Kings North.
[2:15 p.m.]
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 consultant's study shows the Port of Halifax is making the highest return on investment, compared to other North American Ports; and
Whereas the Port of Halifax, according to the study commissioned by Peat Marwick, is paying more in taxes than other North American ports; and
Whereas the Port of Halifax is out performing other North American ports despite tax breaks allocated by other governments in Canada and the United States;
Therefore be it resolved that the Government of Nova Scotia make recommendations of tax rate reductions for the Port of Halifax.
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 on April 29, 1993, Liberal Leader John Savage went to Cape Breton to promise that a community-based job strategy would be his government's first priority because, as he said, jobs matter most to us all; and
Whereas Statistics Canada reports that by year's end the official unemployment rate in Cape Breton has risen to 25.4 per cent, from 24.2 per cent at the end of 1993; and
Whereas there are only nine Cape Bretoners and one Canso resident who do not view the jobs crisis as a condemnation of this government's failure to deliver its promised job strategy;
Therefore be it resolved that this government should concentrate all its efforts on a sustainable, long-term, community-based job strategy in Cape Breton and in the rest of Nova Scotia, instead of simply jacking up the salaries of those paid, to excuse the lack of jobs for anyone else.
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 the Premier was cited Friday as having congratulated himself and his government for its openness in making appointments to Nova Scotia's agencies, boards and commissions; and
Whereas the Premier would like to have Nova Scotians believe that the Human Resources Committee generates and appoints all names to agencies, boards and commissions; and
Whereas in truth, the Chair of the Liberal-dominated Human Resources Committee and its members can merely vote yes or no to the names directed to them by the Premier and his Cabinet;
Therefore be it resolved that Premier Savage be reminded of the old saying, the buck stops here, and if the Premier is unhappy with the quality of appointments to our province's agencies, boards and commissions, he should look at the man in the mirror when he decides where to lay the blame.
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 Liberal Party Transition Team, featuring Bob MacKay and Heather Robertson, among others, ran up a two day hotel bill of $4,578.81 while the Tories were still in power, which was then paid by the Premier's Office; and
Whereas Deloitte & Touche, whose partner, George Unsworth, joined his friend the Finance Minister on the team, received $3,680 for unknown professional services to the transition; and
Whereas the Liberal job strategy for Cape Breton was surely intended to be more than tips, meals and rooms for a couple of days at the Dundee;
Therefore be it resolved that in view of the results, taxpayers' money spent on the Liberal Party Transition Team should be refunded because the services provided have proven to be defective and those expenses should be paid by their political Party instead. (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Is there a request that the notice be waived?
MS. ALEXA MCDONOUGH: I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver of notice, which requires unanimous consent.
Is it agreed?
I hear several Noes.
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 Municipal Affairs Minister visited all 66 municipalities as part of her initial consultation about the provincial-municipal service exchange; and
Whereas the November 1994 Liberal newsletter hailed this triumph of consultation and promised the final decision would be the outcome of further consultations; and
Whereas the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities now reports that they do not yet know the details or costs of the service exchange scheduled to take place in less than 12 weeks time;
Therefore be it resolved that the government should cease its practice of demanding legislative authority to dictate schemes like the provincial-municipal service exchange which reflect neither careful consultation nor thorough, well-informed planning.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
Are there further notices of motion? Is there an additional business to come before the House under the heading of the daily routine? No.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Deputy Government House Leader.
MR. ALLISTER SURETTE: Mr. Speaker, I move that you do now leave the Chair and the House resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole House on Bills.
MR. SPEAKER: The motion is carried.
[2:21 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, tomorrow we will be sitting from the hours 12:00 p.m. 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 resume debate on Bill No. 120, the Gaming Control Act.
I move that 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.]
By: Mr. Terence Donahoe (Halifax Citadel)
I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move that an order of this House do issue for a return showing, with respect to the Department of Education:
(1) List of student passenger capacity of the public school buses across Nova Scotia in 1993-94 and for 1994-95.
