MR. SPEAKER: Honourable members, I would like to call the House to order at this time to commence this morning's sitting.
My first duty today is to report to the House that I have received a letter of resignation from the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Gerald J. O'Malley. His letter to me reads:
"Dear Mr. Speaker:
I hereby resign effective this date my office as Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Yours very truly,
Gerald J. O'Malley".
That is dated March 20, 1995.
I have, therefore, to report to the House that the office of Deputy Speaker is now vacant.
The honourable Premier.
HON. JOHN SAVAGE (Premier): Mr. Speaker, I would like to nominate the member for Bedford-Fall River, Mrs. Francene Cosman, as Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Opposition.
MR. TERENCE DONAHOE: Mr. Speaker, I am most pleased to rise to second or support the nomination which the Premier has just made. All of us have come to know the honourable member as an active and interested member in the affairs of the doings of this place. She comes to this place with extensive background from the Advisory Council on the Status of Women where she was called upon frequently to chair meetings and to attempt to maintain law and order in circumstances where I know, from personal experience, the meetings and debate got a little bit raucous.
We have confidence that she will bring the skills necessary to her role as Deputy Speaker, not by way of challenge but simply by way of expression of hope that the Deputy Speaker will bring to her new role a degree of fairness and impartiality and equal treatment for all members of this House because the role she assumes is a most important one. I am most pleased to support and second the nomination just now made by the Premier.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the New Democratic Party.
MR. JOHN HOLM: Mr. Speaker, I guess I am pleased to rise to third the nomination for the member for Bedford-Fall River to the very important position of Deputy Speaker. As has already been pointed out, the member for Bedford-Fall River does have extensive experience, certainly extensive experience and knowledge of feminist issues from her role as Chairman of the Advisory Council on the Status of Women and also from her former municipal experience when she was the first mayor, if my memory serves me correctly, for the Town of Bedford and in that capacity would have had a lot of experience chairing meetings and calling members to order and to ensure that members do follow the proper rules and procedures when the occasion arises.
I think that it is very important, too, and I believe that the member is only the second woman to occupy this very important post so I congratulate her on that as well. I look forward to receiving, and our caucus looks forward to receiving from her, the same kind of fair and even-handed treatment that we did, quite honestly, receive from the former Deputy Speaker when he occupied that position. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: Is it the pleasure of the House that the question be now put?
The motion is that the honourable member for Bedford-Fall River be elected as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly. Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The honourable Deputy Speaker. (Applause)
MRS. FRANCENE COSMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I just would like to thank the mover and the seconder and the thirder of this motion and to accept this responsibility that I have been charged with. I was doing some reading last night in a book supplied to me by the honourable John Leefe who gave me some history of the positions of Speakers and Deputy Speakers and it is, in this month of 1995, that we have a 700 year tradition of the position of Speaker and evolving into the assistant to the Speaker in the position of deputy. Certainly the original history was that the Speaker not only kept order but made sure that the King heard all sides of the issues.
I accept this new responsibility with a great sense of humility. I thank the honourable members of the House for showing that confidence in me. Thank you. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Bedford-Fall River.
MRS. FRANCENE COSMAN: Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of all the members in the Chamber through you that we have in the west gallery a visiting class from Bedford Junior High School, accompanied by their teacher, Ms. Joy Matthews. I would ask the class to stand and receive the warm welcome of the House. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: Now, before we commence the daily routine, are there any other additional introductions of guests? Very well, we will advance to the daily routine.
PRESENTING AND READING PETITIONS
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley.
MR. BROOKE TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to table a petition on behalf of the residents of South Branch and area, Colchester County. The petition is to pave the South Branch Road or more commonly called the Stewiacke Road. There are some 206 names and I have affixed my name to the petition.
MR. SPEAKER: The petition is tabled.
The honourable member for Sackville-Beaverbank.
MR. WILLIAM MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a petition on behalf of the residents of Westwind Ridge, Hartland Village, Middle Sackville who have joined together in appealing to the minister to pave this subdivision as soon as possible. I have affixed my signature to this.
MR. SPEAKER: The petition is tabled.
PRESENTING REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Government House Leader.
HON. RICHARD MANN: Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the striking committee, I am pleased to table a report indicating the membership on the Standing Committees of the House of Assembly.
MR. SPEAKER: The report is tabled.
TABLING REPORTS, REGULATIONS AND OTHER PAPERS
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Government House Leader.
HON. RICHARD MANN: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to table returns to House Orders No. 133, No. 174 and No. 176.
MR. SPEAKER: The returns are tabled.
STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Premier.
THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the presence in the Speaker's Gallery of an officer of this House, Mrs. Joan Kelly, the Clerk of Committees. (Applause) Today is a very special day for Joan, she is retiring after 17.5 years as a member of the Public Service of Nova Scotia, having begun her career in the Department of Lands and Forests in September 1977 when the Honourable Vincent J. MacLean was minister.
For the past 14.5 years, Joan has been an employee of this House. In her capacity as an officer of this House, she has the distinction of having served under four Premiers and three Speakers. We wonder, Mr. Speaker, whether she has kept notes. I will be up there shortly to check. (Laughter)
During that time, Mr. Speaker, she has earned the respect and the admiration of members of all Parties whom she has served equally well regardless of political stripe. She has a well-deserved reputation as a kind and intelligent person and her quick wit and cheerful demeanour will be missed by all who have had the pleasure of working with her.
On behalf of the Government of Nova Scotia, I wish to extend to Joan our most sincere wishes for a happy and healthy retirement. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Opposition.
MR. TERENCE DONAHOE: Mr. Speaker, I want to first of all thank the Premier for sharing a copy of his notes with me before rising to pay tribute to Mrs. Joan Kelly. I want to underscore the sentiment which is expressed in the Premier's remarks just now delivered. On a personal basis I knew Joan long before she undertook her responsibilities with the provincial government and was delighted when in 1986, as it happens, another dare I say distinguished former member of this place, and a member of my family, Speaker Donahoe, who in 1986 went to Joan and suggested that Joan might be prepared to undertake the then important and onerous task of actually creating the design for the committee offices. I don't just mean the physical layout, I mean the logistics and the mechanics and the administrative structures which would surround the operation of our committee office structure. I think all of us who have been here since 1986 will agree that over time the work of the committees and the physical accoutrements made available to the committees and the tremendously effective work done by Joan and her colleagues there have enhanced in very large measure the quality and the competence of the work undertaken by all of us as members and by all of the committees. I want to join with the Premier in expressing many, many years of health and happiness and prosperity to Joan.
[11:15 a.m.]
May I on this occasion make mention of Joan's husband, Granville. Granville will be known to some by the more affectionate term of Bullet. Granville Bullet Kelly was himself a long-serving and effective member of the Public Service of the Province of Nova Scotia, has had some little bit of health problems along the way over the last number of years and Joan has been there at his side to provide him with support and assistance every moment of that time that Granville needed her in his time of difficulty. So I'm absolutely delighted on the basis of personal knowledge and acquaintance with both Joan and Granville to have the opportunity to be here in this place as we pay tribute to Joan and to wish her and Granville many, many years of health and happiness and prosperity and a very long happy retirement. All the very best. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the New Democratic Party.
MR. JOHN HOLM: Mr. Speaker, I too would like to associate our caucus to the very kind words that have been said to Joan on the occasion of her retirement. I can't help but pick up on the Premier's comments wondering about whether or not Joan has kept notes on her years of service to the province. I'm sure that she has heard a great deal so I wait patiently for the publishing of her book.
Mr. Speaker, Joan certainly has served all members, all sides of this House extremely capably over the many years. I don't know how to describe it or how to put my feelings across effectively, but I can remember coming as a new member to this House over 10 years ago not understanding, not knowing the committee structure, not knowing what my responsibilities were. Joan Kelly, I can assure you, Mr. Speaker, was of tremendous assistance to me in providing me with the kind of information and guidance that I so often needed. Certainly she has shown her tremendous patience which she had to have, of course, dealing with so many different politicians over the years.
I think it is also very important to note that over the last number of years particularly there has been an attempt to make the committee structure much more active than it has been in the past. The staff component at the Committees Office has not increased and as a result of that Joan and her colleagues had to pick up much more in the way of a work load. She has done that extremely well. Mr. Speaker, she deserves the gratitude of all members of this House for her cooperation, for her patience, for her caring and helpfulness to all of us and to all of those who appeared before the committee. We certainly would want to wish her, her husband, Granville, as others have done before, many, many years of health and happiness in the years of retirement that do lay ahead. I can't help but think, however, knowing Joan and how active she is, that she will find many very useful activities, useful and helpful to others, to occupy that time. We wish her all the very best in the years to come. Thank you. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: Thank you. A small reception to honour Mrs. Kelly will be held in the Red Room this afternoon at the adjournment of the House and all honourable members are invited to attend if they wish.
GOVERNMENT NOTICES OF MOTION
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Human Resources.
HON. JAY ABBASS: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Halifax Mooseheads hockey team won the hearts of hockey fans here, with their 2-0 win over the Beauport Harfangs last night, forcing a seventh game in the playoff series; and
Whereas Halifax hockey fans showed their support for this team's courage and perseverance by showing up in the thousands last night, surpassing all other hockey box office records in Halifax; and
Whereas the Mooseheads have amassed this impressive record in their very first year of play in Halifax, as part of the Quebec Major Junior A Hockey League;
Therefore be it resolved that this House congratulates Moosehead and the other businesses who sponsor the team and had the foresight to bring such a high calibre hockey team to town and, more importantly, congratulate the players on their victory and extend to them our wishes for their continued success in their game on Saturday.
Mr. Speaker, I ask for waiver of notice.
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.
The honourable Minister of Fisheries.
HON. JAMES BARKHOUSE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas uncontrolled and irresponsible fishing on the high seas has pushed cod, flounder and now turbot stocks, to the brink of extinction in the northwest Atlantic; and
Whereas Atlantic Canadians must respect fisheries closures inside the 200-mile limit or face strict penalties; and
Whereas domestic conservation measures are meaningless if overfishing beyond 200 miles continues;
Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House endorse Canada's efforts at the United Nations to reach agreement containing effective enforcement measures to control high seas fishing on straddling and migratory stocks.
Mr. Speaker, I ask for waiver of notice.
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 favor of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried unanimously.
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
Bill No. 1 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 18 of the Acts of 1990. The Mineral Resources Act. (Mr. Ronald Russell)
MR. SPEAKER: Ordered that this bill be read a second time on a future day.
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 the people of Nova Scotia have spoken out loudly against what they see as a faulty plan for restructuring the education system in our province; and
Whereas one parent questioned, "Why does the minister insist on railroading another pilot program down our throats before it's been properly tested and adequately funded?"; and
Whereas it took the minister a year plus to develop the paper, therefore it is only fair to extend the time available to parents, students, teachers and the community of Nova Scotia to respond to the document;
Therefore be it resolved that the Minister of Education make a commitment to Nova Scotians that he will extend his April 5 deadline for submissions and take time to ensure that the numerous concerns expressed to him will be reflected in a revised policy paper on the restructuring of the province's education system.
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 this government was ashamed, with good reason, to mention the word casino in its Speech from the Throne; and
Whereas the government has proposed regulations for the operation of casinos that violate almost every principle that Nova Scotians cherish and contrary to the assurances the government made when it introduced legislation to allow casino gambling; and
Whereas on Tuesday of next week the Liberal Government intends to appoint a Gaming Commission made up of persons chosen for their close association with the Liberal Party rather than their ability to, at arm's length from the government, look after the best interests of Nova Scotians;
Therefore be it resolved that this Liberal Government should step back and reflect upon what its primary focus should be, providing largesse to their friends or meeting the legitimate needs and aspirations of Nova Scotians, those whom they were elected to serve.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Timberlea-Prospect.
MR. BRUCE HOLLAND: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas overfishing by the nations of the world have depleted most of the groundfish stocks in the North Atlantic; and
Whereas Canada's Fisheries Minister, the Honourable Brian Tobin, has taken decisive action to curtail the overfishing of turbot outside Canada's 200-mile zone through enforcement of the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act to include the European Union vessels of Spain and Portugal; and
Whereas Canada's stand against overfishing is long overdue in light of the impending world-wide ecological disaster if irresponsible fish practices are continued;
Therefore be it resolved that the members of the House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia support the actions of the federal Fisheries Minister and encourage the nations of the world to put global environmental interests ahead of national self-interest.
Mr. Speaker, I ask for waiver of notice and passage without debate.
MR. SPEAKER: Is that request agreed to?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The honourable member for Pictou West.
MR. DONALD MCINNES: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Port Royal, Annapolis County, is the birthplace of Canada's first permanent European settlement; and
Whereas the Mi'Kmaq Nation played a very instrumental role in ensuring Samuel De Champlain and his party of people survived those bitter winters at Port Royal in the early 1600's; and
Whereas as a result of the February 27th federal budget, the present $2.00 bill will be replaced by a new $2.00 coin, meaning the Royal Canadian Mint is now seeking design ideas for such a coin;
Therefore be it resolved that members of this Legislature unanimously support the Municipality of Annapolis County in their bid to have Port Royal depicted on Canada's new $2.00 coin.
Mr. Speaker, I would ask for waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver of notice.
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 member for Lunenburg.
MRS. LILA O'CONNOR: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas National Sea Products Limited of Lunenburg is in business as a harvester, procurer, processor and marketer of superior quality fish and seafood under the Highliner brand in Canada; and
Whereas this is the first year since 1987 that National Sea Products reported a profit; and
Whereas lower operating costs, as a result of improvements in plant operations, higher prices for fresh fish in the market place and successful seafood product launches during the year, were largely responsible for the profit in 1994;
Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House of Assembly extend congratulations to Henry Demone, President and Chief Executive Officer, the management and staff of National Sea Products for this outstanding accomplishment.
Mr. Speaker, I ask for waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver of notice.
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 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 Metro Food Bank Society, in cooperation with metro municipalities, has declared this as Hunger Awareness Week; and
Whereas the stark reality is that 1 out of 5 of our children lives in a family which relies on a food bank; and
Whereas two-thirds of those using food banks still run short of nourishment;
Therefore be it resolved that during Hunger Awareness Week we thank those who ensure that more than 12,000 people in the greater metro area alone are offered sustenance, but also recognize that we must do more than offer praise for this existing structure, that we must find solutions to fill the voids which have created the need for food banks in our communities in the first place.
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.
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:
[11:30 a.m.]
Whereas the Minister of Supply and Services took an early opportunity to inspect his fleet at its winter moorings in the turgid and toxic waters of Muggah's Creek, also known as the Sydney tar ponds; and
Whereas the minister's first officer of Sydney Tar Ponds Clean Up Incorporated, since retired, led him to his barge by way of walking the plank, a plank which proved to be a very slippery plank indeed; and
Whereas his resulting ignominious plunge into the wet and murky tar ponds abyss has marked the Minister of Supply and Services as the first Executive Councillor to take literally the dictum that a minister is required to immerse himself fully in all departmental responsibilities; (Laughter)
Therefore be it resolved that the Minister of Supply and Services recognize his recent slip and dip into the Sydney tar ponds is but the first of many hazards which will present themselves to him as a Minister of the Crown and that above all he should suppress any and all urges, no matter how uncontrollable, to investigate the full of its nutrient richness of Halifax Harbour. (Laughter) (Applause)
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 in 1988 the Government of the Province of Nova Scotia entered into an agreement with the Government of Canada and the municipalities surrounding Halifax Harbour to effect a clean-up of Halifax Harbour and to share in the cost of that clean-up; and
Whereas the Government of the Province of Nova Scotia undertook to contribute the sum of $73.5 million to the clean-up of the harbour but no clean-up has taken place; and
Whereas the agreement expires on March 31, 1995;
Therefore be it resolved:
1. That the Government of the Province of Nova Scotia declares that it is committed to the clean-up of Halifax Harbour;
2. That it will contribute the previously agreed sum to the clean-up; and
3. That it will call upon the Government of Canada to join it in these commitments and that it will forthwith negotiate an extension or renewal of the clean-up agreement.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
However, I would caution against resolutions that have one, two and three in their structure, it is quite a wide net to throw out.
The honourable member for Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury.
MR. RAYMOND WHITE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas on Tuesday, March 28th, the Honourable Guy Brown, Minister of Labour, presented 45 employees in Department 10 of Stora Forest Industries, with the Millionaire Award for achieving an outstanding work place safety record; and
Whereas the Millionaire Award is presented by the Department of Labour to any company, plant or department, that operates for one million consecutive man-hours without a lost-time injury; and
Whereas this is the second time Department 10 has received the prestigious Millionaire Award, in addition to other safety awards of honour, presented recently to 25 of Stora's 32 mill departments;
Therefore be it resolved that this House congratulate Department 10 employees for their excellent work place safety record, as exemplified in the Millionaire Award, along with all Stora Forest employees and the company for exemplifying a long tradition of safety in the work place.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice and passage without debate on this motion.
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.
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 Throne Speech is silent on the issues of poverty and hunger, even though this is Hunger Awareness Week and thousands of Nova Scotians are living in poverty, including one child in four under seven years of age; and
Whereas social assistance benefits throughout the province are at levels only half of the poverty line as defined by Statistics Canada; and
Whereas maternal and child nutrition are fundamental necessities of health and the lack of basic nutrition in childhood jeopardizes development and education throughout life;
Therefore be it resolved that this government form a partnership with Nova Scotians to eradicate poverty completely and permanently.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice on this motion.
MR. SPEAKER: Is it agreed that notice be waived on that resolution?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
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 Town of Truro is widely known across the province for the number of very competitive sports teams that have competed in various provincial competitions over the years; and
Whereas the Truro TSN Bearcats defeated the East Hants Penguins 8 to 4 last night to win the Nova Scotia Senior Hockey League Championship for the third consecutive year; and
Whereas the championship series win means Truro will represent Nova Scotia in the National Senior Allan Cup final in Alberta in mid-April;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this Legislature extend their best wishes to the Truro TSN Bearcats in their pursuit of the Canada senior hockey championship for Nova Scotia.
Mr. Speaker, I seek waiver.
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.
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 Western Kings Memorial Hospital in Berwick closes today with 109 health care workers losing their jobs; and
Whereas the Liberal Government promised this Valley community that Western Kings would only be changing its role as part of comprehensive health system reform and that workers would have first opportunity for long-term care jobs; and
Whereas the new facility is not ready to open and workers now being laid off are assured of no seniority or even consideration for positions in long-term care;
Therefore be it resolved that this House, yet again, urges the Health Minister to provide the leadership and resources necessary to ease the transition to a reformed health care system that respects the rights and contributions of health care workers within the framework of a comprehensive province-wide labour adjustment strategy as recommended by the Blueprint for Health Care Reform.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury.
MR. RAYMOND WHITE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas a severe snow and ice storm on March 1, 1995, caused a major electrical power outage, leaving residents of the Town of Canso and some parts of Guysborough County without electrical power for several days; and
Whereas the police and fire departments, municipal groups, hospitals, community organizations and the Lions Club all rallied together to provide a variety of assistance including food, shelter and emergency care; and
Whereas Canso public workers and Nova Scotia Power Incorporated worked very diligently to restore electrical services to residents, with no serious injury being reported as a result of the storm;
Therefore be it resolved that this House congratulate the residents of the Town of Canso and Guysborough County for rallying together in a time of great crisis to provide food, shelter and emergency services in the true spirit of Nova Scotian care and compassion.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice and passage without debate.
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.
The honourable member for Pictou Centre.
DR. JOHN HAMM: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Liberal Government campaign policies states that a Liberal Government will not change municipal boundaries and structures before providing full information to the public on the impact of such change, including the costs and benefits of available options; and
Whereas the Liberal campaign policy further promises that members of the public will have a full opportunity for input and critique; and
Whereas the co-ordinator of metro amalgamation has been given insufficient time to design the new metro super-city;
Therefore be it resolved that the Liberal Government withhold any legislation to amalgamate the Cities of Halifax and Dartmouth, the Town of Bedford and the Municipality of the County of Halifax, until such time as the government fulfils its election commitment and provides full information to the public on the impact of such an amalgamation including the costs and benefits of available options, and citizens of the proposed amalgamated municipality have full opportunity for input and critique.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
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 the Liberal Government campaigned on a promise to strengthen Nova Scotia's communities and deliver new hope to our youth but has instead proceeded with reckless abandon to dismantle the infrastructure of rural Nova Scotia; and
Whereas as infrastructure goes, so too go businesses, jobs and the aspirations of the youth of this province; and
Whereas this government continues to move full speed ahead on the fallacious premise that bigger is better;
Therefore be it resolved that the Liberal Government be condemned for abandoning the people and communities of rural Nova Scotia and for delivering the very opposite of everything it promised during the 1993 election campaign.
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 the White Paper on Education Reform took the government 14 months to prepare yet it is only giving the public seven weeks to obtain, analyze and develop well researched alternatives by consensus to the government's agenda; and
Whereas speaker after speaker in public forums from Sydney to Yarmouth complained about the lack of specifics provided and urged the government to slow down; and
Whereas those present at the public forums were given vague and often contradictory answers from the Minister of Education;
Therefore be it resolved that government extend the time for public input to the White Paper beyond the April 5th deadline so stakeholders will have adequate time to develop and provide the well thought out evaluation education reform deserves.
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 today marks the death knell of the $98 million federal-provincial forestry agreement; and
Whereas the Minister of Natural Resources has been unable to secure a new forestry agreement for Nova Scotia; and
Whereas the Minister of Natural Resources has shown the Nova Scotia forest industry he is unable to provide the necessary leadership required at the present time;
Therefore be it resolved that the Minister of Natural Resources find his compass and begin leading Nova Scotia's future forest industry to prosperity and not the way of the northern cod.
Mr. Speaker, I ask waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There is a request for waiver of notice which requires unanimous consent.
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 children of Debra Stevens and others suffered sexual abuse when placed in foster care by the Family and Children's Services Agency of Lunenburg; and
Whereas the government has acknowledged responsibility for and intention to compensate the victims; and
Whereas the Department of Community Services entered into negotiations months ago towards that end but has not completed its negotiations and is giving every appearance of unreasonable delay;
Therefore be it resolved that the Department of Community Services immediately and in good faith complete the negotiation of compensation for the victims of sexual abuse so as not to further prolong their suffering.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable Government House Leader.
HON. RICHARD MANN: Mr. Speaker, could we revert to the order of business, Presenting and Reading Petitions?
PRESENTING AND READING PETITIONS
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Queens. (Interruption)
MR. JOHN LEEFE: I thank the Government House Leader for his cooperation.
Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to table a petition signed by 79 persons resident in Queens County, including myself, with respect to seeking repairs to the Medway River Road, particularly with respect to ditching and gravelling.
MR. SPEAKER: The petition is tabled.
Is there any additional business to come before the House under the daily routine?
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Government House Leader.
HON. RICHARD MANN: Mr. Speaker, would you please call the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne.
MR. SPEAKER: The motion is that the adjourned debate in reply to the Speech from the Throne be now resumed.
The honourable Leader of the Opposition. Twenty minutes have been taken up so far, 40 minutes remain.
MR. TERENCE DONAHOE: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to continue some remarks by way of Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne.
Mr. Speaker, you will know, as will all members, that for the most part this very special province of ours is made up of hundreds of small communities, small fishing villages, farming communities, small towns like Middleton and Trenton, New Waterford, Windsor, Oxford to name but a few, and the two largest urban areas in metro and the industrial Cape Breton region. These communities are home to Nova Scotians who have lived there for generations. It is not unusual in any of these communities to find families who have their roots in the establishment of those very towns and communities and villages that go back over 200 years. But like many young Nova Scotians, many of these communities are disappearing and we're starting to see the fray around the edges of some of them as a result of some of the public policy initiatives undertaken by this government.
This government has stripped away from many of these communities the elements which make them unique. The government has and, by all accounts as we see them, will continue to take away community hospitals. This government has just recently announced that local court-houses will soon be a thing of the past. The local schools will soon be governed by school board members from other communities very distant from the community in question. This plan, I think, Mr. Speaker, will make it necessary for some parents, I know it will, to drive for as much as two hours to their school board offices to discuss the education of their children with the relevant authorities. As sitting members of school boards have already said in response to the very imprecise and unclear and ambiguous White Paper that they have been presented with. This move on the part of the government will make the decision to close our smaller schools in some places in the province that much easier when the decision-makers are distanced from those affected in those somewhat more remote communities.
[11:45 a.m.]
This government is taking away much of what is Nova Scotia, from its towns and its villages and its communities. Sadly, many of those small towns and communities and villages, I guarantee you, Mr. Speaker, will in the long run, if the public policy initiatives of this government are followed, will disintegrate. Without those fundamental structures which represent a community, which tie those communities together, those communities will decay and then when they have decayed, they will cease to exist. It is not just a matter of losing identity, it is losing a sense of community around the elements which bind us and bind people in those areas together as one, as a community, as a group of friends, as a group of people who are mutually supportive, each of the other.
This government fails fundamentally to understand Nova Scotians in small communities, when it closes their schools and their court-houses and their hospitals. To Nova Scotians in small communities, these institutions are not simply bricks and mortar, they are an integral part of how their community is defined and has in some cases been defined over as much as a couple of hundred years. These institutions, the schools, the hospitals, the clinic, those things which are the fabric of those communities, those were built by the people in those communities. Those people supported those institutions by raising funds and in some cases at very great sacrifice to themselves, to maintain and equip those facilities.
The Minister of Health is fond of saying that our health care cannot be measured by the number of hospitals we have in the province, but the lifeblood of a small community can often be measured by what these institutions really mean to the communities and the people that live there. This government has dispensed with the notion, I think, that small communities in this province represent the very fabric of what we value as Nova Scotians and what makes us unique and different and attractive to the rest of the world. Instead, this government has embarked on the old slogan, bigger is better. We will have 5 school boards instead of 22 because bigger is better but, more important when you read the rhetoric and listen to the minister, we will have 5 instead of 22 because bigger is cheaper.
We will have bigger and better court-houses in regional centres, not because bigger is better, not because there will be better service to those who need the facilities of those court-houses but because bigger is cheaper. This, Mr. Speaker, is clearly the motivator of this government, not the foundation of openness, honesty, integrity and accountability promised a short two years ago by this government. Where, when this government spoke of honesty and openness and integrity, where did they in that rhetoric tell Nova Scotians that casino gambling represented the province's economic salvation? Were the 30-60-90 failures so absolutely devastating that in desperation the only economic development initiative this government could dream up was the establishment of casinos in Halifax and Sydney?
When the Liberal Party spoke to Nova Scotians about accountability and consultation, did they have casinos in mind? Did the people of Nova Scotia know that was to be their fate? Did this government listen to 40,000 Nova Scotians who signed petitions denouncing casinos? No, Mr. Speaker, you know as well as I do, that they did not. This government said and I think it is pretty clear that this is about what they were left with. We have no ideas for the economic development of the Province of Nova Scotia, so we, this Liberal Government, will simply do what all kinds of other provinces and states are doing and trying to do and we will try that by putting up a couple of casinos. This is the extent of the innovative and creative approach this government has taken to economic development.
Now, many months after these casinos were awarded to ITT Sheraton, this government is on the eve of releasing regulations which will permit casinos to operate holus bolus, 24 hours a day, 364 days a year, in the name of consultation, this government makes those regulations available to Nova Scotians - imagine - only through regional libraries and with 14 days to respond. In a crass and calculated move to prop up the Premier's image, this government will change those regulations. I will guarantee you that, here, later today or on some future day, in the next not so many days, we are going to find a set of regulations which look a little different from the trial balloon regulations which were presented to the people of Nova Scotia not so many days ago. That change, or the proposal that there be somewhat altered or changed regulations, Mr. Speaker, is all done in the name of let's prop up Premier Savage as he prepares for his date with destiny and the Liberal Party in the middle of July. This government will change those regulations so they won't be quite as offensive, but Nova Scotians will still have the casinos and still will have pretty much wide-open casino gaming here in Halifax and Sydney and, God knows, depending on negotiations with the aboriginal community of this province, gaming in other places across the province.
When it comes to municipal reform, Mr. Speaker, this government said, "When we ran for election, we didn't want municipal amalgamation, but now we do so, like casinos," - as far as the taxpayers of Nova Scotia are concerned - "the issue is closed.".
When asked what taxpayers in industrial Cape Breton and metro will save as a result of amalgamation, there is, frankly, no clear, precise, definitive answer. The numbers they give change monthly. The Minister of Municipal Affairs has added to the stocks of those who own shares in paper companies by issuing, almost by the week, new schedule upon new schedule as to what the alleged or purported financial implication of municipal amalgamation and merger actually will be.
The government has imposed municipal service exchange in all other areas of the province. Are there savings to the taxpayers there? In a few cases, yes. In most cases, Mr. Speaker, as I know you know, the answer is no, there are no such savings. In several, tax increases will be required to deliver the services contemplated by that service exchange initiative. So why would any government introduce significant changes unless the ultimate beneficiary is the taxpayer? The government response is pure and simple, well, that just happens to be our agenda.
Let us not forget, Mr. Speaker, that the Liberal Party promised Nova Scotians in the election campaign of 1993 that they, the Liberal Party, led by a former President of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities, would establish what they called a Charter of Rights and Responsibilities with the municipalities. That was supposed to prevent the province from being able to download expenses and costs on the municipal taxpayer.
Just last week, this government announced that municipalities will pay $50 each for prosecuting each and every traffic and liquor control violation, prosecutions to take place in the various municipal regions across the province. Not only will the municipal units bear this cost, Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to note that while the cost is borne by the municipal unit, all the fines and fees collected by the municipal units in these prosecutions will be returned to Bernie Boudreau, Minister of Finance, free of charge, thank you very much.
Is this the Charter of Rights and Responsibilities that the Liberals espoused in 1993? That is a downloading of a cost and expense and an administrative responsibility on the municipalities of the Province of Nova Scotia which runs absolutely diametrically opposed to the commitments, or what Nova Scotians believed was a commitment, from John Savage as he was then Leader of the Liberal Party and now Premier.
The government's Speech from the Throne has made much of the reforms initiated by this government but it says little of the havoc it has created in the health and education systems as a result, Mr. Speaker, of misdirected Ministers of Health and Education. In these ministers, the Ministers of Health and Education, we have found visionaries who know what is best for us and know what is best for all Nova Scotians, visionaries who do not need to hear from Nova Scotians or those who work in the health and education fields because these visionaries have all of the answers. They have been there, they tell us, so they know what is best for us.
The problem is, Mr. Speaker, when you ask these ministers just where it is they are taking health and education, they frankly do not give any of the Nova Scotia taxpayers any detail whatsoever. The standard stock answer from those ministers who are responsible for the vitally important elements of every Nova Scotian's life, namely health care and education, the stock answer is, trust me, I know our health care system will be better under my vision or trust me, I am a teacher, I taught once, I know how to make the education system better.
But, Mr. Speaker, it is Nova Scotians and the poor beleaguered Nova Scotian taxpayer that know better just what is happening in their health and their education systems. Patients know that they are waiting longer and longer for services and beds. Parents and teachers know that the implications are of larger classes and fewer resources for their young people, for the students of Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotians want to know how it is that the Minister of Education can promise, as he does all over the province, a computer for every classroom but at the same time is unable and seemingly unwilling to provide enough resources for books and proper air quality for a decent learning environment in the Province of Nova Scotia.
Mr. Speaker, this is a government that cannot control its own agenda let alone the agenda of the people of Nova Scotia. This is a government that says it will accomplish this and that - whatever this and that is - and it seems to change by the day and by the week. When things start to go wrong, their stock response is to blame somebody else. When mistakes are made, they blame civil servants and, of course, they love to blame the previous government. When they are challenged in any way, they love to change the rules. When they do not like listening to opposition to casinos, they invoke closure on debate. When they do not like the questions raised in this House, they simply invent rules to avoid those questions.
Even as this House opened yesterday, Mr. Speaker, the Premier and his government appeared confident that this Legislature session will be as short as possible. And why? Because this government has abandoned the people's agenda.
I have just gotten a note, Mr. Speaker, that there is a member who would like to make an introduction and I would be pleased to relinquish the floor for a moment if there is a member who would like to make an introduction.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable for Bedford-Fall River.
MRS. FRANCENE COSMAN: Mr. Speaker, I was just trying to determine if I had a class from Bedford Junior High School in the gallery again or if it was another group. It is Bedford Junior High. Thank you for permitting me to interrupt your speech, Mr. Leader of the Opposition.
Through you, Mr. Speaker, to the members in the Chamber, I would like to introduce the Bedford Junior High School class. I understood they were travelling with their teacher, Joy Matthews. I also see others with them and would you please extend the warm welcome of the House. I would ask you to stand. (Applause)
MR. DONAHOE: Mr. Speaker, I think it is becoming clear that more and more Nova Scotians are coming to the conclusion that this government has abandoned their agenda and by their agenda I mean not the Liberal agenda but the people's agenda. The government is more concerned, I think, and I hear this constantly in every community across the province which I visit, this government is more concerned about getting in here this session and getting out so that they can be ready to dine with Bill Clinton and John Major and they can be ready for opening night with the casinos and they are more engaged with those activities than they are with the people's business.
This government wants no more bad news between now and the Premier's blind date with the Liberal Party in July. After July, I wonder then if it is at that point that Nova Scotians can then expect the bad news. Is that when we will start to hear about the Minister of Finance and his program by program review? He just made a speech the other day in which he indicated that he is going to do just fine, thank you very much, when he presents a budget here on April 11th, but he indicated, to his credit, being straight with the audience to whom he was speaking, that the impact of the federal budget results in him having to find a way to work through a loss of revenue from transfers to the Province of Nova Scotia that total something in the order of $238 million over the next three years. That, after the date with destiny and Dr. Savage and the Liberal Party in July, I suggest to you, Mr. Speaker, is when some of those shoes will start to drop.
I also understand, Mr. Speaker, that it is the case that around about 1:30 p.m. today, the Minister of Finance may well grace us with his presence here in the House and perhaps have something to say about casino and gambling and gaming regulations. I want to say to the Minister of Finance, if that is the case, I think if he lays casino regulations on the table here today, and I don't know that he is going to do that but if he does I want to suggest to him that that will probably rank as about the crassest action and activity thus far taken by this Liberal Government.
[12:00 p.m.]
These casino regulations sent out to the public libraries of Nova Scotia so that it was as inconvenient as possible for Nova Scotia taxpayers to have access to them. They were sent out suggesting that the casinos would run 364 days a year, seven days a week, that there would be liquor at the gambling tables, that there would be credit facilities at the casinos and so on. Then we had the unseemly spectre of the Premier saying publicly, Mr. Speaker, and I am sure you will recall it, the Premier says gee, I have some trouble with these regulations myself and I will push for some change.
Well, I want to ask here, . . .
AN HON. MEMBER: Who does the Premier have to push?
MR. DONAHOE: Who does the Premier have to push? What is the Premier talking about when he has to quote, " . . . push for some change.". The Premier is the President of the Executive Council. The regulations will not become regulations and not have the force of law unless they are passed at a Cabinet meeting by the Cabinet of Nova Scotia of which he is president, which he chairs. What kind of lunacy is it for the Premier of Nova Scotia to be saying to the taxpayers of Nova Scotia that he has trouble with some of these and he is going to push for change? Who does he have to push for change? Does he have to push the President of ITT Sheraton because a deal has already been cut with ITT Sheraton? Is that who he has to push?
Well, it is scandalous if he has to push them because what it indicates is that the Premier took an absolutely and totally irresponsible attitude to allow a set of regulations to be flouted across the Province of Nova Scotia in a system and in a process where it was exceedingly difficult for any interested and concerned Nova Scotian to have access to them. Then it is like he wants to come across not unlike the guy who might throw garbage on your front lawn today and then let it stink and smell for a couple of days and then come along a few days later with his pooper-scooper and clean it up for you and then expect that you are supposed to be indebted to him because he has cleaned up your front lawn. What kind of foolishness and childishness is that?
If John Savage as Premier of Nova Scotia had trouble with the regulations which went public, he owed an obligation to say so to the Minister of Finance. He had an obligation to say so to the people of Nova Scotia. He had an obligation to ensure that a set of regulations which were reasonable and rational and sensible were made available to the people of Nova Scotia so they would have a set of regulations which were somewhere even within the ballpark of reasonableness and not to engage in this charade and this sham. He wants now to have people believe that he will come along as the white knight and say, see I told you, I really didn't like these regulations and I am now here to clean them up. Well, it won't wash at all.
After July, I think we will see this government conduct itself in such a way as to exemplify all the qualities that Nova Scotian's fundamental mistrust and cynicism in the political process and toward government comes to be even further understood. Nova Scotians will not be blinded by a government which manipulates the people by playing games until the political wrinkles are smoothed over.
This government has rejected offers of the Opposition and many Nova Scotians to work together on attempting to make things better in this province. This government can't even manage to accept positive amendments moved by the Opposition to improve legislation and it continues on its arrogant path, confident that it knows best no matter what the cost.
In closing, it is very easy for a government to simply reorganize everything in the hopes that people will think progress is being made. Very often, however, progress is not the result at all. The illusion of progress is not a foundation on which we can build a better future for all Nova Scotians. Rather, in our view, it will tear away at the very heart of what has made Nova Scotia a strong and very great province, strong people who take pride in their communities and in their ability to work hard on behalf of their families, the untapped resource of a province with natural beauty and idyllic settings for tourism development, and an infrastructure of universities which can stand proud on the world educational stage, and our geographical advantage to points south and east, inviting to business development and export markets untouched since before Confederation.
I said in my remarks yesterday, notwithstanding all the high sounding rhetoric and a document that was pretty shallow on substance in the Speech from the Throne, that APEC, the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council, in its report as recently as January of 1995, just simply weeks ago, has ranked this government as the second poorest in all of Canada in terms of its export promotion and marketing and this government has a long, long way to go.
Our advantages are simple ones. I urge the government to reject the complicated visions and strategies and stick to the simple and straight answers that Nova Scotians are pleading to receive from this government. Nova Scotians, I suggest, deserve the respect, the attention and the support of this government. I urge this government and the Premier to put the train back on the rails by working with us and the people of Nova Scotia for the betterment of this province.
It is crass in the extreme if we should have the Minister of Finance come forward today with casino regulations and I will be shocked and surprised if that happens. But if it does happen, it will be but one other example of the absolute lack of interest, lack of care and lack of truth that exists in statements made by members of this government. That minister on behalf of this government said, we are going to make these draft regulations available to the people of Nova Scotia for review and analysis and we want to hear from the people of Nova Scotia as to what they really think. What did he give them? He gave them something like 16 or 17 days to respond and Nova Scotians had to go to the community libraries and the draft regulations, some 60 to 80 pages long and some of them quite complex and difficult. If the Nova Scotian taxpayer who wanted to really understand what was contained in those regulations wanted a copy, yes indeed they had to go to additional expense. They had to go to the expense of having the library official photocopy them for them and then pay for the copy and then they had to go home, do their analysis, craft their response which they would then send to the Minister of Finance.
My recollection is that it was Monday of this week that the date for submissions to the Minister of Finance for proposed changes and refinements was the closing date. Today is Friday, and if this Minister of Finance stands up four days after the closing date and says here are the new drafted regulations, I presume he will do so on the basis that they were approved yesterday at a Cabinet meeting. So the net result, Mr. Speaker, potentially is that we will have a closing date on Monday, with little or no chance for the people of Nova Scotia to come to understand the impact of these regulations. A Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Wednesday or, at the latest, on Thursday, and the presentation of the fait accompli here on Friday, if that is consultation, if that is legitimate interest on the part of this government, having receipt of the input of the people of Nova Scotia in something as fundamentally important and crucial, something which has the capacity to change the fabric of the life and the lifestyle of this province and every person in this province, then I simply reject out of hand the objectivity, the sincerity and the willingness of this government to take seriously at all the wishes and the interests and the concerns of the people of Nova Scotia.
Therefore, I hope and pray that the report that reaches me that the Minister of Finance will table regulations later this day is absolutely erroneous. I trust it is erroneous and I trust that the Minister of Finance will take what he said to the people of Nova Scotia he would take; he would take advice and guidance and he would assess and review and take (Interruption) there is another honourable member on his feet. He wants to make an introduction?
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister for the Economic Renewal Agency on an introduction.
HON. ROBERT HARRISON: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for yielding the floor. There is a gentleman in your gallery, I believe, or perhaps in the Press Gallery, whom I would like to introduce to the House today and to the students assembled here. When one finishes a distinguished career in any field but, in particular, in broadcast journalism, it is important for the province to recognize those individuals. As Don Connolly, I believe, said, Paul Barr is one of the good guys in this business.
I had the distinct pleasure of working with him on a couple of assignments about a subject which this province is deeply interested in and deeply committed into terms of environmental awareness, in terms of conservation, in terms of the wonderful landscape and beauty of this province. I would like to congratulate Paul on a distinguished career. I would like to pay my respects and, I am sure, the respects of every member of this House, and to those students assembled in the gallery, you have in this gentleman a person of exemplary practice, a professional who has done the profession of journalism a great service by his career. Mr. Speaker, Paul Barr. (Applause)
MR. DONAHOE: Mr. Speaker, just before I close my remarks in my Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne, may I just simply tag on - dogtail, as my great and good friend Roger Bacon might have said - dogtail on the remarks just made by the distinguished Minister for the Economic Renewal Agency, and express my personal compliments and those of my full caucus to Paul. As has been said, Paul is not only a friend of mine and of many of us here, but the thing that was the hallmark of his career, from my vantage point, is that what you see is what you get and what you said to Paul Barr in an interview is what Paul Barr put on the screen when he put his story together. There was never any hidden plot or sub-plot or hidden agenda at any time that I had occasion to deal with Paul Barr over the many years of his very fine and distinguished journalism career.
I am delighted to have the chance to respond following the minister's remarks, and to add mine and those of my caucus to Paul and to wish Paul many years of healthy and happy and, may I say, prosperous retirement. (Applause)
My friends to my right rear are suggesting that I should now be prefacing what I have remaining to say by the words "and in conclusion.". Well, I am just about to conclude and the clock will force me to conclude momentarily. Mr. Speaker, in how many momentarilies, actually? In 10 momentarilies. Well, I don't know that I need the 10 moments but I do want to stay for just a second with the issue that I was speaking about just a moment ago. I may be in the realm of speculative and surely the reports I have heard are erroneous and the Minister of Finance will not table Cabinet approved regulations relative to casino gaming here today but I sincerely trust that is the case.
[12:15 p.m.]
This minister along with the Premier and ITT Sheraton are though, I am concerned, Mr. Speaker, perhaps in the position of having had the real regulations prepared all along. They were part and parcel of the 20 year secret deal made by the government and ITT Sheraton last December and the bogus regulations, which most people in Nova Scotia consider them to be, which were released on March 10th, were designed I think to fan the flame of outrage in the people of the province so that the Premier could now say that he himself was personally offended by them and attempt to prop up his popularity by releasing new ones which, by his standards, wouldn't be quite as offensive.
Well, Mr. Speaker, notwithstanding the fact that some honourable members across the way, the Premier included, might think that Nova Scotians are stupid, Nova Scotians aren't stupid at all. They aren't going to be fooled by this political manipulation by the Premier and the Minister of Finance, if in fact that is the case.
Mr. Speaker, the Premier stands up and tells Nova Scotians, as I said a moment ago, that he was going to push for changes. I can't help but come back to that because it is so unbelievable that this Premier could allow himself to say that in the face of the events surrounding this gambling casino issue and the issue of the regulations.
I say again, when the Premier says he is going to push for changes, who in the name of all that is good and holy is he saying he is going to have to push? He is the head of government, he is the Premier of Nova Scotia for goodness sake, the Premier of the Executive Council and this was Cabinet's responsibility and Cabinet's alone, unless the Premier and his colleagues brought ITT Sheraton into the Cabinet Room.
Nova Scotians know that by introducing new regulations today, less than three days after the Minister of Finance so-called consultations were closed, that this Liberal Government is attempting to stave off the question which this Opposition would raise at the first opportunity next Tuesday. If that is their motivation, as it might well be, it is another example of how this government at every twist and turn attempts to avoid being held accountable. Well, I say it won't work, Mr. Speaker, because the people of this province will not be manipulated by this government any longer. If Nova Scotians are to be forced to accept the Liberal Government's casinos, their questions about regulations will go forward.
The Liberal casino agenda, municipal reform, health and education reform and chaos are all a betrayal of Nova Scotians, a betrayal of so many promises, of so many commitments made by this government in April and May of 1993. When it comes to municipal reform, this government has said when we ran for election we didn't want municipal amalgamation but now we do. So like casinos, the issue is closed.
Mr. Speaker, the performance of this government in regard to health care where they are not following the blueprint; in regard to the White Paper which is confusing and contradictory and unclear and frankly offensive to thousands and thousands of people, parents included, who have toiled long and hard in the public education system; in regard to municipal reform issues where people affected by municipal reform are not able to have an opportunity to be consulted and have their say and to have that say heard by the members.
In regard to casinos, the hallmark of this government, Mr. Speaker, is to simply make the big statement, not unlike, if I may, the big statement just the other day by the Minister of Health about a new age in emergency medicine and in regard to ambulances. The difficulty is I can't find anybody in Nova Scotia who understands what the process is all about.
The minister himself at the press conference acknowledged that there were a great many details that yet had to be worked out. This is all part, if I may, this is all part of the let's get so many good news announcements out there in advance of G-7, in advance of the Premier's date with destiny and the Liberal Party in the middle of July, that we will have the people of Nova Scotia so confused, they won't know what the agenda is and they will be totally confused as to what is really going on.
My understanding from the hundreds of Nova Scotians with whom I have spoken over the last many weeks is that they are not really confused at all. They know exactly what is going on and they know that the business that is important to them and their families is not being addressed and that the only business being addressed by this government is the business of save John Savage and prepare for the July convention.
That is what the people of Nova Scotia really understand is going on and I say that is not what this government was elected to do and it is not in the best interests of the people of Nova Scotia and this government will come to their dismay to learn that it is not good enough as far as the taxpayers are concerned. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the New Democratic Party.
MR. JOHN HOLM: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I welcome this opportunity to respond to yesterday's Throne Speech. But, before I begin I would like to extend best wishes to you, Mr. Speaker, as you continue to serve all members of this House. My caucus offers our congratulations as well as we did earlier to the member for Bedford-Fall River on her selection as Deputy Speaker. We will continue to be as cooperative as we can and we look forward to all members receiving the same even-handed treatment from the new Deputy Speaker, that we received from her predecessor.
Our caucus would like to associate ourselves with the condolences expressed in the Throne Speech to families of former members and other prominent Nova Scotians who passed away during the past year. To this list, we would add Giff Gifford, a founder of Veterans Against Nuclear Arms and the countless unnamed others whose memories will be cherished for their contributions to this province.
We would also like to formally congratulate His Honour, Mr. Kinley, on his selection as Her Majesty's representative in Nova Scotia. We wish the Lieutenant Governor and his wife, Mrs. Kinley good health and happiness as they perform their important responsibilities in Nova Scotia.
As well, we extend congratulation to the newest member of Cabinet, the member for Halifax Needham on his appointment and the other members of Cabinet who have had their assignments realigned. We all must remember that we live in difficult times and recognize that the job of governing is not an easy one. We genuinely wish them well. The fate of many Nova Scotians rests in their collective hands.
I would like to welcome back the staff of this House, Buddy Daye, Mike Laffin and all of the staff who serve Nova Scotians so well in their various roles. We hope this session will be enjoyable for them and that we won't be too demanding. I would be derelict here if I didn't say a special thank you to the very wonderful staff of the team that we have within the NDP caucus office. They work very long and hard hours under intense pressure and we in our caucus are very indebted and grateful to them.
On behalf of the constituents of Sackville-Cobequid, I would like to extend greetings and best wishes to all members of this House. Sackville, as I am sure most members know, is a rapidly growing community with many young families. Many families are understandably therefore very concerned about the education of their children. Many have expressed their concerns about the reduction in some programs and increased class sizes that have resulted from last year's funding cuts.
Health care is also an important issue especially to those with young children and to the growing senior population. The Cobequid Multi-Service Centre provides excellent services but they need to be expanded. The emergency department must have its hours of operation extended to 24 hours a day. Sackville would be the third largest city in the province if it were incorporated and deserves and needs this 24 hour a day emergency service.
The community also, unfortunately, suffers from many of the social ills, like family violence, that affect all segments of society. Regrettably, the services for victims of violence and for families in crisis is sadly lacking. The Cobequid Multi-Service Centre has made a proposal to the Department of Justice for modest resources to help address this urgent need. I respectfully request, on behalf of all the residents in the community, that the government give this desperately needed project its favourable consideration.
Roads and safety remain constant concerns. Sidewalks are badly needed in many areas. Unfortunately, despite being neglected by this and the former government for many years, the government will no longer assist in these areas due to its decision to off-load those costs to municipalities.
The landfill continues to be an issue. This is especially so because of the many past broken promises and the shoddy way it has been operated. The concerns are heightened due to the suggestions from local politicians that its life should be extended. Residents expect this government to honour its commitment and not let that happen. It was, after all, the past Liberal Government that imposed the landfill upon Sackville in the very first place.
Residents living in mobile home parks are still waiting to hear what recommendations are to come out of the advisory committee established by the former Minister of Housing and Consumer Affairs. Their concerns are no less serious or important than last year and they deserve leadership from this government.
In large part, due to the efforts of the Sackville Rivers Advisory Board, the Sackville River is enjoying improved health. Concerns persist about the government's plans for the lands around Second Lake. This pristine jewel needs to be protected. There is also an ambitious plan led by community spirited people like the Sackville Kinsmen to develop an expanded community park and facilities around First Lake. This is an impressive proposal worthy of all of our support.
There are other concerns and needs. The waiting list for seniors and public housing is not shrinking. Fortunately, the community is rich in volunteers who give so generously of their time, energies and resources to help to improve the quality of life for all residents living within the greater Sackville area.
And now, to the Speech from the Throne. I wish I could say that yesterday's Speech from the Throne, Mr. Speaker, filled me with a sense of confidence and enthusiasm. That is indeed what all Nova Scotians wanted. I listened yesterday also to the Leader of the Official Opposition talking about the Liberal train running out of control. Surely it is fair to remind the Conservative Opposition that the rail-bed and the tracks were in desperately poor shape and the bridge trusses very wobbly when the Liberals took power in 1993. Nova Scotians have not forgotten this, nor should they. That having been said, Nova Scotians have a right to expect that this Liberal Government, after two years in office, would have developed a clear work and maintenance plan to shore up Nova Scotia's economy. Did not the Liberal's say that they had a 30-60-90 day agenda to put Nova Scotia back to work? I seem to remember that agenda and that plan.
Madam Speaker, if I might, as this is the first time that you have occupied the Chair, I certainly would also like to welcome you to the Chair and congratulate you again on your appointment. (Applause)
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you very much.
MR. HOLM: The Speech from the Throne may go down in history as a document more devoid of content and more lacking in leadership than any in the history of this province. It is, at best, little more than a rehash of unfulfilled promises from previous Speeches from the Throne and unkept promises from the Liberal's 1993 election platform. It is consistent though - consistent with this government's philosophy of doing less and less. Governments must get out of the way, says the Finance Minister. Is this not another way of just abdicating responsibility? A Speech from the Throne should be a blueprint with goals and objectives. Where is this government's vision? The speech should lay out a strategy with defined goals and objectives with time-lines clearly set out.
This speech, though capably read, delivers none of these things. Rather than a Speech from the Throne, it is a retreat from the Throne Speech. It shows no imagination, no boldness, no sense of urgency. No mention was made of the impending slashing of $328 million out of the Nova Scotia economy over the next three years, due to the recent federal budget, no sign that the government considers this a concern. No mention was made about developing a strategy to combat the obvious disastrous impasse. Instead, the government has signalled that they have already given up the fight on behalf of Nova Scotians; 53,000 officially unemployed Nova Scotians and untold others are still asking where are the jobs? Where is a basis for hope? Where is the vision? Where are the plans? Both seasonally adjusted and unadjusted figures released by Statistics Canada in March confirm that job growth remains stalled in Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia labour force shrank by 9,000 during the last eight months as many thousands of Nova Scotians gave up trying to find work. In February, Nova Scotia recorded the worst job growth in Canada.
[12:30 p.m.]
The job situation in Cape Breton keeps growing worse, with official unemployment above 25 per cent and well above last year's level. The Throne Speech barely even mentioned Cape Breton, Madam Speaker.
While Nova Scotia's Premier has been totally preoccupied with saving his own job, he has been presiding over widespread layoffs of hundreds of long-serving, dedicated, public sector workers. Before the election, the Liberal Party promised their reforms would not come at the expense of public sector workers. In a May 3rd, 1993, speech to the Canadian Institute of Management, John Savage said, "In a new Liberal Government, the professional public service will be the principal building block to government reform. And the reform efforts will be a partnership of government, management, union and the private sector.".
What did the Liberals say during the election? They said, "We need a government of partnership because government and the public service must work together on reform. We know that the solution to reform is not cutbacks and downsizing. The new way of governing means supporting and better use of the individuals who serve the public.".
Well, while the Liberal Party and its caucus members focus their efforts almost exclusively on saving the Premier's job, hundreds of public sector workers lose theirs. In this week alone, 133 jobs at the Department of Natural Resources. In December 1993, it was 120 jobs in Economic Renewal. In January 1994, layoff notices to 160 highway supervisors in field operations units; in November 1994, 98 men and women laid off from Supply and Services. Nurses and other health care workers from the Victoria General Hospital and the Nova Scotia Hospital and other hospitals around the province have lost their jobs. One hundred and six today, Madam Speaker, at Berwick, as have other workers at the Children's Training Centre, the Nova Scotia Youth Training Centre, and the list just keeps going on and on.
Well, where are the new jobs? Your prospects for work have never been better, if you are a management consultant. So far, over $1 million has been spent for consultants to conduct management audits, as a basis for the wholesale destruction of the Public Service. Management consultant services have been purchased at big bucks, to hire and to fire. So much for democratic accountability.
The Liberals talk of partnerships but the only partnership we have seen so far is the government's partnership with the private consultants. No wonder those consultants love this government.
There has been no partnership, no meaningful consultation with the workers or their representatives in this province. Rather, this government has instituted an all out attack on their labour and collective bargaining rights.
The Speech from the Throne promises more work for management consultants in Nova Scotia. It says, ". . . the Province will begin a comprehensive Program Review to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of every program and service expenditure managed by . . . government.".
Yet, the terms of reference of the management audits already completed included the mandate to determine if there are any programs and services provided by the departments that do not conform with the departments' fundamental mandates. Is the government now saying that the more than $1 million already spent was yet another waste of taxpayers' dollars and that it has to be done all over again?
Nova Scotians are looking for evidence of real reform. That's what the NDP caucus will be fighting for here in this House and in every other arena where public policy is being formulated and decisions are being made.
The Premier made bold assertions that old style patronage would come to an end. Some old style Liberals, now disgruntled, expected the gravy train to return when the Liberals assumed office. They believed that the promise to end patronage was merely another election ploy to garner broader voter support. You might say, nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Well, we have seen the power of those disgruntled Liberals as we witness a return to the ways of old.
The 1993 Speech from the Throne promised, " . . . a comprehensive and independent review of all boards, agencies, and commissions . . .". Instead we have seen this government rush to appoint Liberals to positions on those boards.
John Buchanan would be proud of this Premier and his new found faith in the old ways. New Democrats do not share this nostalgia for the old patronage practices and most Nova Scotians will find the recent proliferation of patronage appointments obscene and insulting. Such appointments, like those soon to be made to the Gaming Control Commission, only serve to increase the sense of cynicism towards politicians. It certainly will not increase confidence and trust in this government.
What about Health? What did the government promise last year? In their Speech from the Throne they promised to address the recommendations of the Blueprint for Health System Reform. One year later, the government still has not formally responded to the blueprint or set out a comprehensive implementation plan with timetables.
Instead, the government tells us not to worry. All is in hand. Tell that to the people who are being denied or facing lengthy delays for vital medical treatment as hospitals are unable to discharge patients because the needed home care is not in place. This means more patients are denied care on a timely basis because beds are being closed.
Last year in the Speech from the Throne, the government promised to expand and renew the provincial Home Care Program. One year later, new, pilot services are only beginning in selected areas of the province.
Under emergency health services, last week we saw the minister showing off new vehicles, very expensive new vehicles, but where's the system? Who will be the operators? Where are the new standards? Last year, Bill No. 96 was so urgent, but almost one year later, that minister's advisory committee has not even met.
At both the federal and provincial levels, Nova Scotians are witnessing the systematic unravelling of Medicare. Finance Minister Bernard Boudreau boasted this week that Nova Scotia is leading the nation because program spending increases in Atlantic Canada over the past three years have been only half the national average. The Finance Minister takes pride in the fact that his government stands above all others in inflicting the most pain, that its people are being hit the hardest. Where is this government's vision if this is what they consider to be their proudest achievement?
Where is the health care labour adjustment strategy as recommended by the blueprint? This was to be a critical building block in real health system reform. More than a year after the Blueprint Committee reported, the labour adjustment committee has not even been established. The Speech from the Throne is silent on whether the government even intends to address this. So much for the human factor in health care. So much for the human resource base of our health care system.
Education White Paper; well, I would suggest that we must, as the Throne Speech says, prepare our young people " . . . to take their place in a world that demands a firm grounding in essential skills and the flexibility to adapt.". We agree. Our education system needs reform now and it always will. Our children deserve the best we can offer, which means that the system must be ever changing. But change must not come for the sake of change alone. Slashing money must not be the guiding principle. If we short change our children now, they, and the entire province, will pay a heavy price in the future.
Education reform must be done carefully and thoughtfully. All stakeholders must be respected and given an appropriate opportunity to be involved in shaping those reforms. What has the Liberal Government done? They have released their White Paper and then told the public that they have a scant seven weeks to obtain, to analyze the document and its implications, plus develop, by consensus, well-researched alternatives to the government's proposal. Never mind that it took the government 14 months to develop their paper and that it hasn't been able to complete its discussion paper - long promised - on special education in two years.
I have now attended most of the public forums, from Sydney to Yarmouth, held recently to discuss the White Paper. I wanted to be fair and open-minded and to listen to what Nova Scotians had to say. Most, Madam Speaker, are not impressed. One public forum participant said, understanding what is planned is like trying to eat Jell-O with chop sticks.
The government insists education reform is not primarily about saving money, it is about improving the quality of education. They say their reform just happens to save $11 million but it fails to identify where those savings will actually come from. They don't tell us their projections are based on 1993 figures - figures that are long past, Madam Speaker, well before the last round of funding cuts to education - that necessitated the reduction in senior administration.
They don't tell us that public education is to take another 2.9 per cent cut this year. That would work out to over $20 million and is almost double the amount that is to be supposedly saved by amalgamation. They don't tell us that one of the major reasons for amalgamation is to offset the financial crisis faced by many small boards that has resulted from the early retirement package brought forward by this Liberal Government a year ago.
Participants at most forums urged the government to go slow and to provide adequate information plus time for meaningful input. Almost everyone, our caucus included, want to find ways to increase the involvement of parents, students and the communities within our schools. Many who spoke at the forums fear that the White Paper proposals will have the very opposite effect.
Let's remember, last year we were given assurances that education in the classroom would not suffer as a result of the funding cuts to education. Nova Scotians have seen the value of those assertions as programs were cut, as class sizes increased and services to children with special needs were reduced. Our children cannot afford another very costly mistake by this government at the children's expense.
[12:45 p.m.]
Municipal reform. The only legislative initiative promised by the Liberal Government this spring is a bill to amalgamate Halifax, Bedford, Dartmouth and Halifax County into a new mega city. What was the key element, I wonder, of the Liberal election platform? Well, it said, "A Liberal Government will not change municipal boundaries and structures before providing full information to the public on the impact of such change, including the costs and benefits of available options, nor before members of the public have had full opportunity for input and critique.". That is a direct quote.
What has been the post-election action of the Liberals? Nova Scotians, I would suggest, were shocked when the Premier announced last fall that he would be amalgamating all municipalities within the geographical bounds of Halifax County. They were shocked because the Premier had been clearly on record as opposing any such dictatorial amalgamation. That approach was the Conservatives' approach, and it was scorned by John Savage when he was the Opposition Leader.
What did John Savage say when he was in the Opposition? Well, to bring forward a quote, "I am of the opinion that the present government's proposal for unitary government . . . is dictatorial, top down and shows a serious lack of understanding of the complexities of municipal government. It also shows a total disregard for Nova Scotians' pride in the history and individuality of their communities.". Those words ring very hollow today.
Nova Scotians are shocked because the plan for a mega city came one week after the municipal elections. The government clearly intended to plow ahead with amalgamation. If that was the case, why the charade of municipal elections being held throughout metro, a major deception and an insult to the voters, to candidates who had made the commitment and arranged their lives to serve and to the workers and supporters who participated in good faith? Everyone recognizes the need for municipal reform, but consultation to date has largely been bogus. I don't blame Mr. Hayward. He is just doing his job as he is contracted to do. But one might reasonably ask, where are the costs and benefits and why weren't different options developed? Certainly you cannot say the amalgamation proposal results from consensus other than within the Liberal caucus. As it currently stands, citizens will not be afforded meaningful input through a referendum. Where is the democracy in this?
Let us turn to the environment for a few minutes. The Speech from the Throne is conspicuously silent on important environmental issues: Halifax Harbour, a solid waste management strategy, the Boat Harbour Clean-up, the Sydney tar ponds, et cetera.
For the past 250 years, virtually all sewage, storm water and other effluent in the metro area has gone untreated into Halifax Harbour, with the exception of some of the effluent from parts of the county like the Sackville and Bedford areas and parts of the Eastern Passage area where there are some small treatment plants. Largely, I would suggest, because of the Conservative Government's failure to exercise effective oversight on the design of the Halifax Harbour clean-up, a highly overpriced system came forward. Now the Liberal Government has done nothing to resolve the ongoing disgrace, with the result that the federal-provincial cost sharing agreement expires today. It has gone.
What did the Liberal's promise during the last election? Well, they promised Nova Scotians a solid waste management strategy. What did they promise in the 1993 Throne Speech? They promised a draft for public consultation that fall - that would have been the fall of 1993 - in 1995, the Throne Speech is silent on this issue and Nova Scotians have yet to see a strategy let alone any leadership.
Economic development, ". . . the new economy is largely focused on technology . . ." reads the 1995 Throne Speech, making it crystal clear that the Liberal Government is not focused on people or on jobs; at least it is honest on that one point. For the past two years, we have heard that community economic development would be a cornerstone of this new government's economic development strategy. Instead, in direct contradiction, we witness the provincial government actively participating in the dismantling of the successful Community Futures program without even ensuring an orderly transition to something else, and that is a shame.
This year it is public-private partnership that will bring economic development and jobs; it sounds like another way of saying privatization. This year the Throne Speech doesn't mention community economic development because it is clear this government is incapable of allowing communities to control their own futures.
"The Province of Nova Scotia is committed to preparing Nova Scotia to take advantage of emerging technologies," so says the Throne Speech. Last year the Premier's Council on the Electronic Marketplace was to be named by the spring of 1994. One year later, the council has not been named, yet its mandate is to develop a supportive economic policy and regulatory environment which ensures that every Nova Scotian enjoys equitable and affordable access to electronic highway services. The Liberal Government is moving down the information highway at a snail's pace.
Last year's Throne Speech promised the opening of five, one-stop government service and information centres by the summer of 1994; almost a year later than scheduled, there is but one centre, recently opened, in Kentville.
A year ago, the government committed to promoting export-oriented Nova Scotia businesses to the world. This month, APEC reported that Nova Scotia ranks 9th out of 10 provinces in export orientation. "Nova Scotia lagged the pace" says the Economic Council. Yet the Throne Speech says a Liberal Government will ensure that senior ministers and officials continue to lead the efforts to open up new markets for Nova Scotia companies in 1995. Number nine, Madam Speaker, the government, to the Premier, in the Throne Speech is promising that they will continue at that same pace. Great prospects. All this means is that we will continue to see government members off on junkets around the world while problems in Nova Scotia continue to go unresolved.
Casino gambling, the only concrete economic initiative the Liberals can add to their credit, is not even mentioned in the Throne Speech. Nova Scotians were assured casinos would be good for the province. They would create hundreds of well paying, secure jobs. The economic spinoffs were to be plentiful. A gaming commission, totally independent of government, would be established to protect Nova Scotians against the harmful aspects associated with widespread gambling.
What has this government actually done? Proposed regulations that would permit the casinos to operate 24 hours a day, 364 days a year; alcohol to be sold on the gambling floor; money machines and loan officers to provide loans at the casinos to feed the habit of problem gamblers and to ensure, at a time of weakness, every last nickel is extracted. This sounds like a sick joke written by the casino operators themselves. It is no wonder that government was ashamed to mention their very own addiction.
The 1993 Throne Speech proudly proclaimed, "30-60-90 is an indication of how my government intends to do business.". God forbid. What was 30-60-90? Tinsel? When the consultants' fees ran out, the government's vision vanished.
The resources industry. The area in which this government lacks a vision is most apparent in the dealings with our natural resources. Nova Scotians love their land and the sea and the activities associated with them. We know that ultimately their health is our health. They are life-support systems, literally.
But where is the Liberal Government's vision in this vital area? In the fall of 1991, the Department of Natural Resources released a draft energy strategy for Nova Scotia. It was a step in the right direction. Whatever happened to it? Where is it? First, it was blind-sided by the privatization of the Power Corporation and then was quietly shelved. No minister has brought it back to its deserved centrality.
The results? Instead of efforts to control automobile traffic, we get double-tracking of highways; instead of strong limits on emissions, we get unrestrained efforts by Nova Scotia Power to sell us more power.
The government is silent on the proposal by Mobil Oil for an offshore megaproject to pipe in natural gas, build a pipeline across the province and through New Brunswick for export to the United States. Where is the leadership in providing assurances that Nova Scotia will not be treated as a hinterland with a valuable resource to be extracted and sold, with no lasting economic benefits here?
Mining is an activity that has serious environmental consequences, but what does this mean to the Liberal Government that brought in a new environmental Act last year and then exempts a strip mine in Thorburn from a full environmental assessment process? And what of uranium mining? The moratorium is due to expire. There should have been a commitment in the Throne Speech that it would be extended.
What of the parks and protected areas strategy? Again, the Throne Speech is silent. The Throne Speech is silent on the fact that forestry, a significant activity in our province, is in serious trouble.
Where is the leadership on the fisheries? The crisis of resource destruction must never happen again. The only way to ensure this is to support small coastal communities' fishing, mainly on the inshore, and using gear that has been tried and true. It is not to support the use of destructive technologies that can destroy the habitat while catching the very last fish. Where is the government's vision and leadership in these vital areas? Again, the Throne Speech is silent.
Community services equality. What hope does the Throne Speech offer the thousands of Nova Scotians who are living in poverty? What of the nearly one child in four under the age of 7 years living in poverty in this province? This year the government promised to begin the first phase of what they promised during the 1993 election, to do within six months of taking office, that is to begin to dismantle the two-tiered social assistance system, but only in Cape Breton. Which, of course, members of this House will know they promised to do last year. In other words, this Throne Speech promises absolutely nothing more to address this very serious problem. So, the children in this province, the one in four living in a state of poverty, are expected, by this government, to continue to suffer.
Is it not perverse, that the Minister of Finance, goes to the luncheon at the Chamber of Commerce to announce an overhaul of the provincial welfare system? Can we imagine the reverse? The Minister of Finance, before the organized poor, announcing an overhaul of the Business Development Programs. Just think about that one.
In November 1994, Premier Savage was quoted as saying, "It is my personal conviction that a Liberal Government must have as its major priority to fulfil its social responsibility, and to help those in need protect the rights of individuals and promote tolerance and equality . . . we must never lose sight of that . . . that's what makes us different from other parties and governments . . . we may not always be right, but we will always hold to our fundamental philosophy of looking after those who don't have the same benefits as others". Important words, but very hollow.
[1:00 p.m.]
The Speech from the Throne is utterly silent on those issues. What have we seen instead? This year, the Minister of Community Services cut assistance benefits to disabled persons who live at home with their families. This year, the Minister of Human Resources, despite all evidence that the cost is negligible, continues to deny basic employment benefits to gays and lesbians.
It is somewhat encouraging, I must say, that the Speech from the Throne does acknowledge the significant number of women in Nova Scotia who are not safe in their homes. This year, the government promises to introduce a policy on family violence and it is a beginning. It is our hope, however, that the government will go further. It is our sincere hope that after years of studying this life-threatening problem, the government will begin to effectively enforce existing laws and policies. This is the conclusion recently reached by the Law Reform Commission of Nova Scotia. But the commission further concludes that violence against women, "is not an individualized problem between two people but a widespread form of oppression which has its roots in the historical treatment of women. It requires resources, education and leadership in order to eradicate it.". The upcoming budget must contain the necessary resources to begin this work in earnest, once and for all. If the injustices were being done to men, I suggest the problem would have been tackled many years ago.
The Finance Minister, again, in his speech to the Metropolitan Halifax Chamber of Commerce, argues that the Liberal Government is doing what any rational individual with a financial crisis would do: "Cut out frills". "We're hitting all our fiscal targets, and we're not picking your pockets to do it" he said. Not picking whose pockets, one might reasonably ask? Tell that to the thousands of Nova Scotians who have lost their jobs or who have had their very modest benefits chopped or reduced, courtesy of this government. Tell that to the countless Nova Scotians who are not able to obtain the needed home care that they and their families require or the hospital care or the prescription drugs and the list goes on and on. Tell them that this government is not picking their pockets. They may not be picking the pockets of their closest friends but certainly, Madam Speaker, it is picking the pockets of Nova Scotians in greatest need.
It was the Finance Minister, not the Speech from the Throne, that clearly signaled this government's agenda. The government has one focus, one obsession: the financial deficit. While the deficit is indeed serious, I remind members of the Liberal Government, that the deficits are not only measured in financial terms. The economy was developed to serve people; people were not created to serve the economy. Nova Scotians measure wealth in many ways, including how fair and open, how healthy and educated, and how sustainable our society is. Governments can help by making strategic investments in health that are people oriented by ensuring that our youth enjoy the best possible and equal educational opportunity and by ensuring we work towards attracting meaningful well paid, permanent jobs, jobs that do not further compromise our society or our environment.
The G-7 will be meeting in Halifax in June. The Liberal Government certainly appears to be trying to make the World Bank and the IMF feel right at home here in Nova Scotia with their assault on the very basic values that Nova Scotians cherish.
Nova Scotians need and expect their government to have a vision and an agenda to meet all the deficit needs. This Throne Speech is sadly wanting in all of these aspects. It is not worthy of support, therefore, Madam Speaker, I would like to move an amendment to the Throne Speech.
"I would move that the Speech from the Throne be amended by adding the following words. That this House lacks confidence in this Government because:
(1) The Speech From the Throne completely fails to come to grips with the true needs of Nova Scotians, who continue to reel from lack of opportunity for bettering themselves and caring for each other as the Government reduces essential public services in the health care system and in education; and
(2) The Speech From the Throne demonstrates that the Government persists in the delusion that reduction of the fiscal deficit is of more importance than reduction of the human deficit, the education deficit, and the natural resources deficit.".
Mr. Speaker, I so move.
MR. SPEAKER: I see two speakers rising to follow. I will recognize a further speaker now on the debate on the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne.
The honourable member for Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury.
MR. RAYMOND WHITE: Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased on behalf of the constituents of Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury to respond to the Throne Speech.
It is important, Mr. Speaker, at this time to pass on congratulations to you, to the new Deputy Speaker and to my colleagues who have received new appointments recently.
It is indeed an honour to represent an area, such as Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury, that stretches from the Strait of Canso to Ecum Secum on the Eastern Shore. As I reflect on the Throne Speech, I have to think about some of the examples of action that our government has taken that has instilled confidence in the private sector and has either stabilized existing jobs or has created new jobs in the area.
During the last sitting of the House, Mr. Speaker, many members will recall the crisis facing Stora Forest Industries. The Liberal Government, under the direction of Premier Savage set up a special Cabinet committee and local MLAs to deal with that situation. I think it is important to put that into context. We do have a Party in this House that is calling itself the alternative and we have to look at the alternative styles that were developed to deal with this crisis.
After direction by the Premier, the committee worked with Stora Forest Industries, the committee worked with the community and a deal was struck which has resulted in the long-term stability of Stora Forest Industries. As well as saying what new jobs the government has created, it is important to look at what jobs we have saved. In the Strait area, the action taken by this government has resulted in the long-term viability of Stora Forest Industries and those who supply products.
Now, let's take a look at style, Mr. Speaker. The Leader of the Opposition, in great dynamics stood here and said, let's rush to Ottawa, let's pound on the Prime Minister's desk and demand results. Well, that is great style and theatrics, but the result was the Premier set up a committee, that committee did its work and a testament to the type of direction we had from the Premier is that Stora is now viable, it is working, it has increased its productivity and people are working. That is what we did. (Applause)
Madam Speaker, without the intervention of the Liberal Government, without the support of the community, the proper business climate would not have been set. It is questionable whether the forestry industry, in particular Stora Forest Industries, would be playing a key role in the community today and that certainly would have produced a different scenario. So I am proud that our government has played a role in providing the leadership to deal with the Stora crisis. The New Democratic Party record in this issue speaks for itself and I don't think we need any further comment.
When we compare the alternative, I can think about being in a debate in Mulgrave during the election campaign in which the current member at that time of the Progressive Conservative Government made a non-announcement about a new industry coming to Mulgrave. That is not the alternative that Nova Scotians want. We made an announcement the other day about a partnership between the local economic development communities - the Town of Mulgrave - to open a shrimp processing plant which will produce 45 jobs. We didn't say it might be coming, we announced it when it happened and that was through the efforts of the Premier's Secretariat, that is through the efforts of the Department of Fisheries and the Economic Renewal Agency all working together to produce results, not to make a non-announcement. That is what this government is about and that is what this Speech from the Throne reflected upon.
Again, we talked in the Speech from the Throne about setting the proper economic climate. I think it is important to recognize that the effort we have done is the first major announcement of an industry in Mulgrave that will produce jobs. In the past there have been efforts and unfortunately they have not been successful.
Five years ago, almost to the day, the province quelled the Canso crisis and what was done to open the Seafreez Fish Plant. Working with the Secretariat, working with the Minister of Fisheries and working with our Federal Minister Brian Tobin, we have stressed the importance of the turbot quota not only to Canso but to Nova Scotia. We have also looked at helping that company find ways to diversify and hopefully the herring production which will begin this spring and later, the development of crab options for processing in Canso, will meet the needs of what the community has said. They have said, we don't want these products landing on the wharf and then going to New Brunswick. Our government has responded, we have worked with the industry and this again is a sign of working on community economic development.
In Whitehead, one of the most technologically advanced aquaculture projects is now under construction with over a million animals actually in Whitehead Harbour waiting to be processed. I am talking about the Whitehead scallop factory which will employ 50 permanent jobs and 43 spin-off jobs. That was the result of more than one government agency saying, we can't work in the old framework, we have to come together; we have to cross boundaries and work together for a new project. I am pleased to see that this is under way; 50 new jobs and a new industry which has potential growth for all of Nova Scotia.
Through working with the Secretariat, through the Minister of Fisheries, a small private company in the community of Sonora just outside of Sherbrooke is well known for its product, Sonora clams. That company, through private involvement, has doubled its size. It will go from a production staff of 22 to over 45 people and in that community, that is a significant economic development. If this government hadn't set the proper climate, this wouldn't have happened. Again we talk about local economic development and this is what we are doing.
Through the Economic Renewal Agency and the Secretariat, several small businesses have been set up in Sherbrooke and throughout Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury. Again this is an example where our government has produced results not just rhetoric.
The Economic Renewal Agency has worked very closely with two communities who have identified as part of their overall economic development, the development of their waterfronts. I am referring to both the Town of Canso and the Town of Port Hawkesbury. In both of those cases they have involved their citizens and their citizens support the direction that these waterfront development agencies are taking and I want to thank the government for their continued financial support of these developments.
Madam Speaker, for the last seven years in the community of Little Dover, a fishing community outside of Canso has identified the potential for eco-tourism and it is only because of the Premier's Secretariat, it is only because of the assistance provided by the Department of Natural Resources, the economic development, the local agencies, human resources and development and so on, that they, at this present time, are employing people who are constructing a day park, trails which will highlight the beauty of our constituency, and will provide an economic stimulus to that area. Again, it is a matter of three of these agencies together and doing what we can for the communities.
[1:15 p.m.]
These trails, Madam Speaker, will be part of an expanded eco-tourism initiative that is underway from Dartmouth right down through to Mulgrave as part of the enhancement of the Eastern Shore trail complex. One of the things that resulted from this consultation is that when we met in Sherbrooke, that community came together and said that we now may be able to control our destiny for economic development and, as a spinoff from these meetings to explore economic development, this community now has an active chamber of commerce. It is working very hard to look at other initiatives and they've seen that they finally have received cooperation from a government that is prepared to go out and talk to the people and meet them in their backyards to help them identify the potential.
Madam Speaker, I am pleased that Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury had the highest participation percentage-wise from private sector industry in all of Nova Scotia in our recent Nova Scotia Works Program. That is an indication that when we as a government provide the opportunity to the private sector to get involved, they will take advantage of that opportunity. I am pleased to also advise you that some of these jobs will become permanent, long-term jobs, which was a goal of that program.
In the area of literacy for Nova Scotia, the Premier announced, approximately a year ago, a literacy initiative which was to hopefully create a hundred classes throughout Nova Scotia. I am pleased to announce that, through that initiative, we have sponsored over 127 classes, we have set up 27 networks from one end of this province to the other within budget. That's through the initiative put forward by the Premier who recognized that the development of literacy will provide skills for Nova Scotians to deal in the modern world.
These are examples, Madam Speaker, stretching from Port Hawkesbury through to Ecum Secum, that shows that the people and the communities of Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury want development. I think it is important and I would be remiss if I didn't say that this is only the tip of the iceberg of what must be done. There are serious issues facing Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury and we must continue to address them. The downturn of the fishery, as everyone knows, has had a major impact on my constituency, both the inshore and the offshore. Although these announcements that I mentioned are important, they are only a step towards replacing some of the lost employment. The challenge remains that we must explore every opportunity, working with this government, to do what can be done.
It was interesting the other day, Madam Speaker, when I heard the Leader of the Opposition refer to our government as a train going down the tracks. That analogy can be interpreted in different ways. If I was on the PC train, it would probably be narrow gauge and not really knowing where it was going. If I look at our course down the tracks, the scenery hasn't been pleasant at times and we've had to make tough decisions, but if I want to think about the Opposition Party, the analogy I would draw is that when we inherited this province from the previous government it was like inheriting the Titanic. As a province we were sinking further and further in debt. What were the crew and the captain doing? They were ignoring the problem; it will go away. This province and our ability to steer the course we really want to steer was hindered because they didn't do anything. (Applause)
Madam Speaker, I can remember a case in which the former Premier was going around saying that we're going to do this to the deficit, we're going to do that to the deficit. Then, somewhere else in Nova Scotia, the then Minister of Finance would say, well maybe we're not, we might do this. What's the difference? What's the alternative? We have a Premier and we have a Minister of Finance who have set a course. The course has been maintained and it is now producing the type of results that Nova Scotians will understand and the business community throughout Nova Scotia has recognized throughout Canada.
Madam Speaker, decentralization of government operations and decentralization of trying to encourage industries to locate not only in Cape Breton, which is part of my constituency, but in Guysborough County, is something that I will pursue with our government. I certainly hope that when the time comes to look at options for areas such as Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury that we will be able to take advantage of these opportunities.
The challenges facing Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury are huge, Madam Speaker. I do believe that with a committee of cooperation of working with our government, working with the various communities, we can find alternatives.
I want to change, just for a second, to recognize that during the Canada Winter Games we, in Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury, were extremely pleased when Jason MacLean from Port Hastings was chosen to carry the Nova Scotia flag. What we are working towards is to ensure that our young people will have a future in Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury. The key thing we must do is to find industries that will locate in that area. But we must put forth efforts, as indicated in the Throne Speech, which will stabilize what we have. We must find a way to identify an anchor, something which we can expand upon.
The Premier has demonstrated he is interested in rural Nova Scotia. I do believe that over the next number of months and years we will identify opportunities for rural Nova Scotia. Of course, I will be looking for some of those opportunities, Madam Speaker, to be identified for Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury. Like many other constituencies, there is a need for infrastructure. For the members who have driven Route 16 or other highways through Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury, we realize that those must be addressed. There is also the reality that we must set a priority list to address those with the greatest needs. In doing that, we have met with municipal councillors. We have had their input and we will continue to work on their behalf.
Madam Speaker, if the previous government had not created the debt that we are saddled with, we would be able to do much more. I found it very interesting to listen to the two cases put forward. During the last sitting the Opposition said, you are going too fast, slow down. When we have a Throne Speech that says we are going to consolidate our efforts, they said wait, now you are going too slow, what is going on. Nova Scotians can read beyond that rhetoric and see that we are consolidating what we are doing as a government. We are bringing back fiscal stability to this province. I believe these are the things that will attract the private sector and industries to Nova Scotia.
As I have said, there are many challenges still facing a constituency such as Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury. I am pleased that both the Minister of Education and the Minister of Municipal Affairs realize that when we deal with rural areas such as Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury, there are special circumstances that must be considered.
Madam Speaker, it has, indeed, been a pleasure to respond to the Throne Speech, to indicate to you that there have been actions taken in the past by the government to address community economic development and to be realistic in my assessment that it is never enough, that you must continue to do more and look for more opportunities. Anyone who travels throughout Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury realizes that there is a great deal yet to be done and a great many issues to be addressed. But without the financial stability that this government is going to bring back to this province, those tasks will be more difficult.
I want to thank you for the opportunity to respond to the Throne Speech and indicate that I will be supporting not only the Throne Speech but also the efforts of our government to move this province in the right direction, to set the right course. The train is moving; we do have a conductor and we do have a train crew. I do hope that Nova Scotians, who have already signalled once, that the crew that maintained the Titanic, that put this province in the state it is now, have received a message. I believe that our message is one of a responsible government and we will move forward. Thank you.
MADAM SPEAKER: Are there further speakers in response to the Throne Speech?
I recognize the honourable member for Hants West.
MR. RONALD RUSSELL: Madam Speaker, it is a somewhat unexpected pleasure to be on my feet this afternoon and respond to the Speech from the Throne. May I first of all congratulate His Honour, the Lieutenant Governor and congratulate yourself, Madam Speaker, on your appointment as Deputy Speaker and knowing you from committees I am absolutely sure that you will do an excellent job as Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House. It is an onerous task but it is one that I know that you will fill with grace and with complete fairness to all members.
I would like to congratulate the member from Halifax Needham on his appointment to Cabinet. I have known that gentleman for many years and I know that he will bring to that particular task in Cabinet it is a self-assurance and his knowledge and expertise in those matters of business with which he was connected before he came into this House. I would also like to congratulate the other members of Cabinet who have changed portfolios and trust that they too, will enjoy their change of responsibilities. They say that a change is as good as a vacation and certainly I know myself having been in Cabinet for a short period of time that indeed changing portfolios is a great experience because you get to learn what some of the problems are with other members of Cabinet in their respective portfolios. One can very easily develop tunnel vision when one is in a position, particularly in Cabinet, for a long period of time because you are extremely focused in your attention to your own department and the difficulties that other people are facing in their particular departments seem rather remote.
This is the Third Session of this Fifty-sixth General Assembly and thus the government that we presently have can no longer consider themselves a new government. They have been there now long enough to have become the government and I would suggest to you, Madam Speaker, that this government is fast approaching that stage when they are going to have to finally open that third envelope because they are at a stage now where they can no longer blame the previous government for any mistakes that they should make.
I read the Throne Speech with great interest, it is a very thin document (Iinterruption) I will be coming to the Minister of Labour very shortly, Madam Speaker. It is a very thin document. I don't know how many other members in this House took the, I am sorry, Mr. Speaker, you are back in the Chair, I don't know how many other members took the time to read this document through in clause by clause form to just see exactly what is within this document.
The first thing that I noted was on Page 2 when they speak of, under the heading of, A Climate For Economic Growth, and we are told that "When My Government took office 21 months ago, the unemployment rate was 14 per cent and climbing.". Now, Mr. Speaker, I know that that for instance, is not true and I have the figures across in my office and I was going to present them to House today but unfortunately, because I am on my feet much earlier than I had anticipated in this debate I just don't have them with me but that was the first thing that I noticed in this particular document that was incorrect.
On Page 3 we are told, and this is the government's statement of course, that "Building permits have increased by 12 per cent, urban housing starts are up by 19 per cent, new business incorporations up by 19 per cent, and business bankruptcies have gone down by 7.5 per cent.". I don't think that is anything for the government really to crow about because of the fact right across this country we are having an economic revival. No matter where you go across this country today things are certainly better than they were back in 1993 when this government came to power. In fact, when we get to examine the budget in a week or so, we will discover that indeed whereas the deficit for this year is down considerably, the reason that is down considerably is because indeed those other provinces particularly British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario have done exceedingly well and thus our transfer of payments under equalization is that much better.
Further on Page 3 we are told that, "A positive climate for doing business is essential to create new opportunities for Nova Scotians.", and of course that is a truism but we should remind this government and particularly the new Minister of the Economic Renewal Agency that government has to establish the rules by which business is going to work and unfortunately at the present time, business does not know what those rules are. I would suggest to the new minister that what he should be laying out for small business in this province is exactly what are the rules for establishing businesses in this province and also to take a very close look at the regulatory regime that we have in place for the operation of business.
We are told on Page 4 of the Speech from the Throne that the details with regard to the government's growth dividend will be presented to us in this year's budget, in other words, what will become of that 20 per cent dividend? That 20 per cent dividend, I believe, originally, was going to be something in the order of $16 million to $17 million for this year but in point of fact that growth dividend now is going to be a tremendous sum, it is going to be something in the order of $50 million that are going to go into the growth dividend fund. Now we are told in the Speech from the Throne that the minister will be telling us in his Budget Address how he is going to utilize that windfall that he had accumulated in that fund.
[1:30 p.m.]
I really don't think that the minister has to take any great initiative because he called upon Voluntary Planning to come forward with proposals as to what to do with the growth dividend fund and they came forward very clearly with a couple of recommendations to the Minister of Finance, one of which dealt with a portion of that growth dividend fund accruing to the Workers' Compensation Fund to take care of some of the unfunded liability.
Mr. Speaker, you might well ask why would Voluntary Planning be suggesting that a portion of this money go into the Workers' Compensation Fund? One of the things a business looks at before they establish a business or before they expand a business is the cost of doing business. The cost of doing business in Nova Scotia is perhaps not as reasonable as it is in the adjacent provinces with whom we are in competition. Certainly that is true insofar as the amounts that business must pay for Workers' Compensation. I think it would be a recommendation, certainly from myself, to the Minister of Finance that he accept the recommendations of Voluntary Planning with regard to the expenditures of those some $50 million that he will have this year in the growth dividend fund.
We can carry on through this document to Page 6 where we are talking about marketing and again the Department of IRA. We are told on Page 6 of the Speech from the Throne that, "My Government has already created the Nova Scotia Marketing Agency to promote Nova Scotian products, and Nova Scotia itself, as a reason for investment and tourism.". I just made a note beside that, this can be a good idea or it can be a bad idea. It is a good idea if indeed we have a specific part of that marketing that is directed entirely to tourism because the one growth industry that we have in this province is tourism.
However, if we are going to take a marketing division and chop it up so that part of that division is directed towards fisheries, a portion towards agriculture, a portion of their energy is to the forestry industry and a growing one, I might mention at the present time. Certainly I know the woodlot owners in my area are very happy at the present time with regard to selling pulpwood, which they have had great difficulty with before the upturn in the economy.
But getting back to marketing, Mr. Speaker, the marketing agency is going to be marketing business, our natural resources and tourism. I would suggest to the minister that we have a separate Department of Tourism but that is a debate for another day. I would suggest to the minister that there be one segment defined exclusively from the marketing division for tourism. What other industry that we have in this province, year after year, shows an increase in volume? What other industry does that year after year? (Interruption) The minister just said $850 million this year.
I would suggest to you, Mr. Speaker, and to the minister, that either this year or next year, at the conclusion of those years, we are going to have a $1 billion industry in tourism, and tourism is the generator of jobs. Now they may not be high-tech jobs but a job is a job, particularly when you think of the fact that these jobs are created during the tourism season and the tourism season is that season of the year when our colleges are out and our young people are out looking for jobs.
Mr. Speaker, we can talk all we want in this place about creating jobs, high-tech jobs, et cetera. But what the youth want who are attending universities and high schools, what a number of people want, is just simply a job. There is no faster way to create jobs than through the tourism industry.
I am glad that the minister over there just said, hear, hear, because indeed, I am the strongest believer, as I suppose you can possibly be, for doing everything in this province to increase that particular sector. We should be directing every effort we can to making the regulatory apparatus, et cetera, for the tourism industry as clear and as open as we possibly can, so that people feel secure investing in that industry.
Just along those same lines, Mr. Speaker, when they are talking about marketing, on the same page of the Throne Speech, it tells us about the wonderful things they are doing attracting major investments from various companies. We are told about Sears Canada creating 150 jobs and the recently announced CIBC Teleservice Banking Centre, which will eventually create over 530 high-tech jobs.
Now, Mr. Speaker, I ask you honestly, people answering the telephone have not got a high-tech job. They may be using a high-tech instrument but they have not got a high-tech job. I am not complaining about this but I am complaining about this emphasis that we have continuously on high-tech jobs. The CIBC jobs are not high-tech jobs; the Sears jobs are not high-tech jobs. They are jobs. (Interruption)
The Minister of Supply and Services is telling me something about the fact that it depends on what they say. Well, I don't think it does. The thing is that there may be 1 per cent of them that possibly could be high-tech jobs. The general jobs that were created are simply those people who are answering the telephone and taking orders. It is essential that people do that, that is part of the service that people want, but don't say that those are high-tech jobs, that is just not the truth of the matter.
AN HON. MEMBER: They are good jobs.
MR. RUSSELL: Of course they are good jobs, every job is a good job. (Interruption) Misrepresenting the facts, that could well be. Thank you.
Along with those kinds of terms that the government has used in the Throne Speech, Mr. Speaker, we come down to sustainable development. We are told that, "The global economy and the environment are inextricably linked.". Now there is an original statement, Mr. Speaker. We are told that along with this fact that the global economy and the environment are inextricably linked, "Environmental Industries in Nova Scotia employ more than 4,000 people and contribute over $300 million to the economy.".
I don't know who wrote this stuff but 4,000 jobs in environmental industries; now if somebody read that they would say, I wonder what those jobs are. I will bet you that if you start counting them and checking on what we are talking about here, Mr. Speaker, what we are talking about is really people who are involved in the landfill business, collecting garbage and those kinds of things. Once again, I think it is time to put a pretty face on a pretty ugly looking creature.
Mr. Speaker, within this Throne Speech, and this is what I wanted to come to when I said I was glad to see the Minister of Labour in the House, we are told that under labour, "My Government faced the challenge of saving the Workers' Compensation Fund . . . and we will implement the many Legislative reforms passed by this House in its last sitting, thus securing the future of this essential program for our workers and their families.". That is not true, Mr. Speaker.
Back in January of this year we were told by the Government House Leader and by the then Minister of Labour that there was a great urgency to get this bill through, so workers could benefit. We were told, what are you holding this thing up for? What are you trying to amend it for? Let's get it through because the workers wanted to take advantage of the new programs that would fall out from the Workers' Compensation Act.
Mr. Speaker, the Workers' Compensation Act is still to be proclaimed, and the minister says it will be. Let me tell the minister what the result is - through you, sir, of course - of this non-proclamation of the Workers' Compensation Act. I had a call from a gentleman who is a truck driver. He was unloading a truck and a box fell off the back of the truck onto his foot and crushed his foot. He was taken to the hospital and they operated. They took off all the toes on that foot, except for the small toe. He had to go back again a week later and he lost half of his foot.
He went on workers' compensation on February 14, 1994, and on August 14, 1994, exactly to the day, he said I want to go back to work because he feels he can work okay. So he went back to work driving a truck - it was his left foot. A good fellow, an honest fellow, a right up-front fellow. He went back and he got workers' compensation, under the wage loss benefits, from February to August. He asked them, he said I understand that because I have a permanent impairment I am entitled to some other benefit or some other pension arrangement. He was told, well look, we really don't know about that at all because the Act has not been proclaimed yet; we don't know what the schedule is for benefits, we can't do anything about it at all.
He said, well can you at least tell me if I am going to get a pension or a cash payment for the loss of half my foot? They told him, we don't know. He said, well, does anybody know? They sent him to somebody else, and he spoke with somebody else within the Workers' Compensation Board. They told him the same thing, we don't know. Now what kind of a way is that to run an insurance company? Because that's what workers' compensation is, if you've got a claim on your car and you smash you car in and you go up to the insurance agent and ask, am I going to be compensated? They'll tell you, but you go to the Workers' Compensation Board and they say we don't know.
[1:45 p.m.]
The bill that I had brought in was not proclaimed because it didn't get through this House because of the gentlemen opposite. (Interruption) I am not arguing the merits of whether one bill is better than the other, what I am arguing is that there's a guy out there with half a foot who's not getting paid. That's what I'm arguing about. It is not right. That Act should be proclaimed. I trust that the minister will certainly be onto that fact.
Mr. Speaker, underneath Labour, we come to Human Resources. This is the opening statement. "My Government is dedicated to the principles of fair hiring.". Well, what absolute nonsense. What absolute nonsense. Patronage is as rife today in this Liberal Government as it was back in 1970 to 1978. Now we have a new Minister of Human Resources and this new Minister of Human Resources is the former Minister of Labour. I hope he does better as Minister of Human Resources in curing the patronage problem than he did as Minister of Labour in curing the problems at the Workers' Compensation Board. (Interruptions) Mr. Speaker, could I have a little quiet please?
Under Supply and Services - I suppose the new Minister of Supply and Services wrote this piece that went into the Throne Speech - we're told that "My Government is actively using an innovative new procurement system called Co-operative Business Solutions.". That's sentence number one. Sentence number two is, "There will be an updated comprehensive provincial procurement policy based on the principles outlined by My Government in 1993.".
This is 1995. How come it has taken them from 1993 to 1995 to figure out a procurement policy? We were told there would be transparency in tendering. We were told that everything over, well one time it was everything over $5,000, then it was over $25,000, then it was over $50,000. Somewhere around about those numbers they had to go out to tender but, then again, of course if there were special circumstances they didn't have to go out to tender. Well, if they knew all that back in 1993, and this is what their new system is based on, we're told, ". . . based on the principles outlined by My Government in 1993," we're going to end up with a wonderful system of tendering I'm sure. (Interruptions)
Well, I'll tell you something. You can go back to anywhere between 1970 and 1993 and you'll find there was a policy that was followed. Now whether it was the greatest policy on earth, that doesn't matter. It is still better than the policy that this gang over here's got, where it changes day by day just to fit whatever they're going to do or whatever they have done. (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.
MR. RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, they can make fun but they came into this House and they said they had a policy for procurement, I suggest to you that they still don't have a policy because they have admitted it in this Throne's Speech on Page 15 in case anybody is reading along with me. The Department of Natural Resources and the Minister of Natural Resources is rapidly reading up to see what is in the Throne Speech about that department; we are told under Natural Resources that, "A draft mineral policy has been prepared to ensure a viable mineral industry. This year My Government will implement the policy, which supports exploration, development and marketing of primary and value-added mineral products." and I have no quarrel with that. I have no quarrel whatsoever but there is not one word in there about what they are going to do about uranium mining.
Why would there not be anything there about uranium mining? Well, Mr. Speaker, I suggest to you and I know the minister will smile at me and say, it is poppycock but it is not, I would suggest to you that if somebody came along to the Department of Mineral Resources tomorrow and they said, we have a likely prospect for mining uranium in downtown Antigonish or somewhere, that the Department of Mineral Resources would fall over themselves giving that particular company a permit. Because there is nothing at the present time in spite of what that minister says that would prevent the issuing of that exploration certificate and there would be nothing to stop them from going eventually into mining (Interruption) Well, the minister is getting his socks all knotted up there. All you have to do is we have a bill, we brought in a bill this morning which would indeed look after uranium mining and I know that will have that minister's support.
Continuing on, the next item in the Throne Speech deals with the Department of Fisheries and we are told that "My government will continue to build on the tremendous progress of the aquaculture . . .", great stuff all the way through there, but the minister doesn't mention the fact that if I am a senior citizen, which I am, and I want to go fishing this year I have to buy a license (Interruption) I did not buy one last year, no seniors did last year. Now, when Joe Smith goes down to his favourite fishing spots and starts fishing and he is a senior citizen and he is sitting back there just fishing away and a fisheries inspector comes along and asks to see his license and he pulls out his thing which says I am a senior citizen I don't have to have a license, he will be dragged off and charged. People don't know that. The seniors of this province haven't been told, they are completely unaware. There is a notice where they sell licenses that seniors are no longer able to fish without a license but however, if they don't require a license why are they going to go to some particular place where they are selling those particular license to get that information.
I would suggest, why didn't the minister in the Throne Speech tell us that that is what they are doing to seniors. Why didn't he take an ad in the city and rural newspapers to tell the seniors what he is doing to them? We were told by this gentleman opposite, the Premier of this province, that there would be no tax increases in 1995. A registration fee, a license fee, any other fee that increases is tax and there is no way you can hide that this is not a tax grab, a tax grab on seniors. I am surprised that the minister hasn't as yet got 10,000 letters from 10,000 seniors but the reason, Mr. Minister through you, Mr. Speaker, is because they don't know yet but they are going to know because I am going to tell them. Pretty sneaky tax.
On the last page of the Speech from the Throne we are told that 1995 is an important year for Nova Scotia. Well, indeed it is, it is an important year for Nova Scotia but I would suggest it is also a very important year for Premier John Savage. So, with those remarks I would like to adjourn the debate and return to say a few words on Monday evening.
MR. SPEAKER: Thank you. The motion is that the debate on the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne be now adjourned.
The motion is carried.
The honourable Government House Leader.
HON. RICHARD MANN: Mr. Speaker, would you please revert to the order of business, Tabling Reports, Regulations and Other Papers.
TABLING REPORTS, REGULATIONS AND OTHER PAPERS
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Finance.
HON. BERNARD BOUDREAU: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to table the Regulations to the Gaming Control Act.
MR. SPEAKER: The regulations are tabled.
MR. TERENCE DONAHOE: Shame, shame. What a scam!
THE PREMIER: Five o'clock is your trick, five o'clock on Friday.
MR. DONAHOE: No, this is a scam.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Government House Leader. Order please.
MR. DONAHOE: No, it is a scam.
THE PREMIER: Five o'clock on Friday.
MR. SPEAKER: Order please. The honourable Government House Leader has the floor.
Order!
Order!
MR. DONAHOE: Absolute arrogance.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Government House Leader has the floor.
MR. DONAHOE: What a joke. What an absolute joke.
THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, throw him out.
MR. SPEAKER: I don't want to have to do that so early in the session.
The honourable Government House Leader has the floor.
MR. DONAHOE: Non-consultation, you read all the responses that came in, did you?
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Government House Leader has the floor.
THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, come on.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Government House Leader.
HON. RICHARD MANN: Mr. Speaker, if I might suggest the little caboose has left the rails.
Mr. Speaker, I would advise members of the House that we will be sitting Monday from the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and following the daily routine we will return to the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne.
I move we adjourn until 7:00 p.m. on Monday.
MR. SPEAKER: The motion is that the House do now rise to meet again on Monday at the hour of 7:00 p.m.
The motion is carried.
[The House rose at 1:58 p.m.]
