[The First Session of the 58th General Assembly was opened on a warm, sunny day.]

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: All honourable members take their places.

HON. JOHN HAMM (The Premier): Members of the House Assembly, a Commission has been issued by His Honour, the Honourable J. James Kinley, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, which I shall read as follows:

"Hon. John F. Hamm

Premier of Nova Scotia

Greetings:

Whereas the present General Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia was summoned to meet on Friday, the twentieth of August next, then to be begun and held at Halifax, from which date the said General Assembly will meet for the dispatch of business;

And inasmuch as I cannot conveniently be present in the said Legislature until the Members who have been elected to serve in the House of Assembly have elected their Speaker;

Now therefore I have thought fit to require and command you, and do hereby require and command you, to convey and declare to the Members of the House of Assembly that I will defer declaring the causes for which I have summoned them to assemble until the House of Assembly has elected a Speaker who shall be presented in the said House for my approbation.

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Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms this 20th day of August, in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine and in the 48th year of Her Majesty's Reign.

(Signed) J. James Kinley

Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.".

THE CLERK: I have the honour to table the returns of the most recent general election and to report that 49 members have taken the Oath and signed the Roll and they therefore claim the right to take their seats in this place.

Before the House can enter upon any business, a Speaker must be elected. I will now accept nominations for that position.

THE PREMIER: I move the nomination of Murray Scott, the member for Cumberland South, for the office of Speaker.

THE CLERK: Does the member accept the nomination?

MR. MURRAY SCOTT: I do.

THE CLERK: Are there any further nominations? Nominations? Nominations are closed.

I declare that Murray Scott is elected Speaker of the House of Assembly. (Standing Ovation)

MR. SPEAKER: Please be seated. Honourable members of the House of Assembly, I thank the House for the great honour that has been bestowed upon me today. I will do my best to uphold the prestige and high tradition of the Speaker's Office. I respectfully ask the assistance and cooperation of all honourable members.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: His Honour, the Lieutenant Governor, is without.

MR. SPEAKER: All rise.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: His Honour, the Lieutenant Governor.

[The Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable John James Kinley, preceded by his escort and by Mr. Peter Theriault, Acting Sergeant-at-Arms, bearing the Mace, entered the House of Assembly Chamber. The Lieutenant Governor then took his seat on the Throne.

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The Sergeant-at-Arms then departed and re-entered the Chamber followed by the Speaker, the Honourable Murray Scott; the Chief Clerk of the House, Roderick MacArthur, Q.C.; and the Acting Assistant Clerk, Gordon Hebb, Q.C.

The Speaker, with the Sergeant-at-Arms on his right and the Clerks on either side, took up his position at the foot of the Speaker's Table.]

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: It is the wish of His Honour that the ladies and gentlemen be seated.

THE PREMIER: May it please Your Honour, the House of Assembly, agreeable to Your Honour's command, has proceeded to the choice of a Speaker and has elected Murray Scott, member for the electoral district of Cumberland South, to that Office and by its direction, I present him for the approbation of Your Honour.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: I approve of the Speaker whom the House of Assembly has chosen.

MR. SPEAKER: Your Honour's ready approval of the choice with which I have been honoured by the House, having constituted me, in due form Speaker of the House of Assembly, it has now become my duty in the name of the representatives of Her Majesty's loyal subjects, the people of this Province, respectfully to demand all their accustomed rights and privileges, and that they shall have freedom of speech in their debates, that they may be free from arrest during their attendance in Parliament, and that I, as their Speaker, may have free access to Your Honour's person.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: I most cheerfully grant your request and I declare that this House is now in session.

[The Speaker and the Clerks left the Chamber.

The Lieutenant Governor left the Chamber preceded by his escort and the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Mr. Speaker took the Chair.]

MR. SPEAKER: Please be seated.

The honourable Minister of Justice.

HON. MICHAEL BAKER: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to introduce a bill entitled An Act Respecting Oaths of Office.

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MR. SPEAKER: Ordered that this bill be read a second time on a future day.

The honourable Premier.

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move a resolution in the following form:

Be it resolved that:

(a) Pursuant to Rule 60, a Special Committee be appointed whose duty it shall be to prepare and report, with all convenient speed, lists of members to compose the Standing Committees of the House and that:

(i) the said Standing Committees be constituted for the life of this Assembly;

(ii) the lists be deposited in the Office of the Chief Clerk and that the committees be established with full authority from the date the lists are deposited in the Office of the Chief Clerk;

(iii) the Chair of each committee be the member named as Chair of that committee;

(iv) the said committees be severally empowered to examine and inquire into all matters and things as may be referred to them by this House; and

(v) the said committees be severally empowered to, from time to time, report to this House their observations and opinions, thereof, with power to send for and examine witnesses and records, and to extend to any witness the protection of the House;

(b) The Special Committee be composed of the following five members: Hon. Ronald Russell, Chair; Committee members: Hon. Neil LeBlanc, Hon. Michael Baker, Mr. John Holm and Mr. Manning MacDonald;

Further, Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Rule 33, I ask that the normal notice for this motion be dispensed with and that this resolution be now adopted.

MR. SPEAKER: Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

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Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. RONALD RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, would you please call the order of business, Government Notices of Motion.

GOVERNMENT NOTICES OF MOTION

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. RONALD RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

I move that :

(a) Rule 11 of the Rules and Forms of Procedure be suspended for this 58th General Assembly;

(b) One Chairman of Committees and Deputy Speaker be appointed from each of the three caucuses;

(c) The Chairman of Committees and Deputy Speaker from each caucus be chosen by that caucus and the Chair of each caucus notify the Speaker in writing of the member chosen by that caucus by August 30, 1999;

(d) The Chairman of Committees and Deputy Speaker from the Government Caucus be the Deputy Speaker within the meaning of the House of Assembly Act and Section 77 of the Public Service Act;

(e) Subject to Clause (d) the power and duties of the Chairman of Committees and Deputy Speakers under the Rules and Forms of Procedure be as assigned by the Speaker;

(f) The annual salary of the Deputy Speaker, established pursuant to the House of Assembly Act, be divided equally among the three Chairmen of Committees and Deputy Speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice and passage without debate.

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MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.

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 Government House Leader.

HON. RONALD RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now rise to meet again at the call of the Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The motion is for adjournment. Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

We stand adjourned.

[The House rose at 11:13 a.m.]