Published by Order of the Legislature by Hansard Reporting Services and printed by the Queen's Printer.
Available on INTERNET at http://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/hansard-debates/
| TABLE OF CONTENTS | PAGE | ||
| ELECTION OF MR. CECIL CLARKE AS SPEAKER, The Clerk | 9961 | ||
| APPOINTMENT OF CAPTAIN KENNETH H. GREENHAM | |||
| AS SERGEANT-AT-ARMS, The Premier | 9963 | ||
| STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS: | |||
| Davis, Corporal Paul James: Death of - Tribute, | |||
| The Premier | 9964 | ||
| ADJOURNMENT, House rose to meet again at the call of the Speaker | 9966
| ||
HALIFAX, FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2006
Fifty-ninth General Assembly
First Session
9:00 A.M.
SPEAKER
Hon. Cecil Clarke
THE CLERK: Nominations for the position of Speaker of the House are now being solicited. Are there any nominations?
The honourable Premier.
HON. RODNEY MACDONALD (The Premier): I'm pleased to put forward, to nominate the member for Cape Breton North as Speaker of the 59th General Assembly.
THE CLERK: Does the honourable member accept the nomination?
MR. CECIL CLARKE: I do.
THE CLERK: Are there any other nominations?
The honourable Leader of the Opposition.
MR. DARRELL DEXTER: I would like to second the nomination of the member for Cape Breton North.
THE CLERK: The honourable Leader in the House of the Liberal Party.
MR. MICHEL SAMSON: I concur with the nomination of the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition and therefore declare the nomination unanimous.
9961
THE CLERK: Are there any other nominations?
Seeing none, I declare the member elected as Speaker of the House of Assembly. (Standing Ovation)
[The Premier, Mr. Darrell Dexter and Mr. Michel Samson dragged Mr. Speaker to the Chair.]
MR. SPEAKER: Please be seated. Honourable members of the House of Assembly, I do thank the House for the great honour it has bestowed upon me. I will do my best to uphold the prestige and high tradition of the Speaker's Office. I respectfully ask the assistance and co-operation of all honourable members.
ACTING SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Her Honour, the Lieutenant Governor, is without.
MR. SPEAKER: All rise.
ACTING SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Her Honour, the Lieutenant Governor.
[The Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Myra Freeman, preceded by her escort and by Mr. Peter Theriault, Acting Sergeant-at-Arms, bearing the Mace, entered the House of Assembly Chamber. The Lieutenant Governor then took her seat on the Throne.
The Acting Sergeant-at-Arms then departed and re-entered the Chamber followed by the Speaker, the Honourable Cecil Clarke; the Chief Clerk of the House, Roderick MacArthur, Q.C.; and the Assistant Clerks, Arthur Fordham, Q.C. and Neil Ferguson.
The Speaker, with the Clerk on his left, the Acting Sergeant-at-Arms and Assistant Clerks on his right, took up their positions at the foot of the Speaker's Table.]
ACTING SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: It is the wish of Her Honour that the ladies and gentlemen be seated.
THE PREMIER: May it please Your Honour, the former Speaker of the House of Assembly has resigned his position. The House of Assembly has proceeded to the choice of a new Speaker and has elected Cecil Clarke, the member for the electoral district of Cape Breton North, 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.
[The Speaker and the Clerks left the Chamber.]
[The Lieutenant Governor left the Chamber.]
ACTING SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: The honourable Speaker.
[The Speaker took the Chair.]
MR. SPEAKER: Please be seated.
The honourable Premier.
THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, I move that Captain Kenneth H. Greenham be appointed Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Assembly.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Opposition.
MR. DARRELL DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, I would like to second that nomination.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader in the House of the Liberal Party.
MR. MICHEL SAMSON: Mr. Speaker, I concur with the nomination of the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition and, therefore, declare the nomination of Captain Kenneth Greenham unanimous.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Premier.
THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, it indeed gives me great pleasure to move this motion. Captain Greenham, or Kenny as we call him here, is justly deserving of this position. Kenny's military service, inclusive of his time in the Corps of Commissionaires, his regular service in the army and his service in the reserves totals over 48 years. For the first time, the long-standing ceremonial duties normally associated with the position of Sergeant-at-Arms are now combined with extensive security responsibilities. Such increased responsibilities have found favour in most of our country's Legislatures, and it is only fitting that Nova Scotia do the same. I therefore congratulate Captain Greenham. I would also want to express my gratitude to the all-Party committee and our former Speaker for their considerable efforts leading up to this appointment. Thank you very much.
MR. SPEAKER: Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried. (Standing Ovation)
STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Premier.
THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, it is with deep regret that my first statement in the House, as Premier, is to stand in recognition of the life and the tragic death of one of our province's own soldiers, Corporal Paul James Davis of Bridgewater.
There was a wave of sadness across our province when news reached us yesterday that this young soldier had been killed while he and his fellow soldiers were on duty in Kandahar, Afghanistan. This is such a tremendous blow to his colleagues in Afghanistan, several of whom were injured in this incident, to his beloved family, and to his friends. Their pain must be unimaginable. It is also a huge loss to our country and to all Nova Scotians.
His father noted yesterday just how proud he was of his son's military service, for his brave efforts to keep peace here and abroad; so, too, are we. On behalf of all Nova Scotians, I send our deepest sympathies to his wife, his children, and to his parents and to his siblings. We send to them our prayers, and hope that the memories that they have of this brave soldier will be of some comfort in the days and the weeks ahead.
In Corporal Davis' memory, the flags here at Province House, and at all provincial buildings in his hometown of Bridgewater, are being flown at half-mast. May we at this time also think about all of our country's Armed Forces personnel serving overseas, and keep them and their families in our thoughts and in our prayers.
Mr. Speaker, following the comments of both the Opposition Leader and the Leader in the House of the Liberal Party, I would ask for a moment of silence.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Opposition.
MR. DARRELL DEXTER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is with deep sadness that I rise today to join the Premier, and the Leader in the House of the Liberal Party, in extending our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Corporal Paul Davis of Bridgewater. It is such an indescribable loss. I know we are all struggling to find words that can provide comfort at this very difficult time.
I believe that there is no more noble pursuit than the service of one's country. With that service, however, is the knowledge that the men and women of our Armed Forces face unspeakable dangers. We honour the important work that they do at home and around the world, but we must never forget the dangers involved in serving one's country in the pursuit of peace and security.
It is the selflessness of the men and women of our Armed Forces that underscores how truly heroic soldiers like Corporal Davis are. Corporal Paul Davis was a remarkable young man who served his country with great distinction. I hope his family finds strength and comfort in knowing that every Nova Scotian shares in their grief. Thank you.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader in the House of the Liberal Party.
MR. MICHEL SAMSON: Mr. Speaker, on behalf of our Leader, Francis MacKenzie, and my caucus colleagues, I rise to express our deepest sorrow and sincerest condolences to the family of Corporal Paul Davis.
Yesterday, Corporal Paul Davis died in a tragic accident in Kandahar, Afghanistan, serving his country, doing exactly what he wanted to do. It is at times of tragedy such as this that we mourn together, both as a country and as a province. On behalf of the Liberal caucus we are immensely proud of the passion, dedication, loyalty and bravery of Corporal Davis.
We are equally proud of the men and women who continue to serve in Afghanistan. Each and every day they put their lives at risk to protect our cherished values of freedom.
To Corporal Paul Davis' wife, Melanie, and their two young daughters, Julia and Malia, please accept our deepest sympathies. May you find peace in knowing that your husband and father died a hero. To Corporal Paul Davis' family - his father Jim, his mother Constance and his stepmother Sharon - we send to you our deepest sympathies as you cope with this terrible tragedy. Jim and Sharon Davis are long-time members of our Liberal family and the thoughts and prayers of the entire Liberal Party will be with you as we gather for our annual general meeting this weekend.
To his comrades in Afghanistan, especially those also wounded in the incident, we send our heartfelt support and thanks as you continue on this very important mission. This is a dangerous mission, but one that is crucial to help bring peace and security to the people of Afghanistan. We share in the thoughts and comments of Jim Davis when we say we are proud of Corporal Davis and we are proud of the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces. Today, however, we share in their sorrow. Thank you.
MR. SPEAKER: All rise for a moment of silence.
[One minute of silence was observed.]
MR. SPEAKER: Thank you. Please be seated.
The honourable Government House Leader.
HON. RONALD RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, that concludes the business of the day for the House. I move the House do now rise to meet again at the call of the Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The motion is for the House to rise. Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
We'll see you on another day. Thank you.
[The House is adjourned.]
[The House rose at 9:19 a.m.]
