December 5, 2007

HANSARD 07-10

DEBATES AND PROCEEDINGS

Speaker: Honourable Alfie MacLeod

Published by Order of the Legislature by Hansard Reporting Services and printed by the Queen's Printer.

Available on INTERNET at http://www.gov.n s.ca/legislature/HOUSE_BUSINESS/hansard.html

Second Session

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2007

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
PRESENTING AND READING PETITIONS:
O'Connell Dr. (HRM): LIC Charges - Stop,
Mr. K. Colwell 861
TABLING REPORTS, REGULATIONS AND OTHER PAPERS:
N.S. Health Research Fdn: Building Capacity Anl. Rpt. 2006-07,
Hon. C. d'Entremont 862
N.S. Law Foundation Anl. Rept. 2006-07,
Hon. C. Clarke 862
Rept. of Registrar General: Vital Statistics (2006),
Hon. J. Muir 862
STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS:
Com. Serv.: Child & Youth Strategy - Our Kids Are Worth It,
Hon. J. Streatch 863
GOVERNMENT NOTICES OF MOTION:
Res. 679, Broadband for Rural N.S. Proj.: Partners: Congrats.,
The Premier 868
Vote - Affirmative 869
Res. 680, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Newest Charter Members -
Welcome, The Premier 870
Vote - Affirmative 870
Res. 681, MacIntosh, Alexander (Dooley): Death of - Tribute,
Hon. C. Clarke 870
Vote - Affirmative 871
Res. 682, Agric. - Organic Sector: Fed.-Prov. Contribution - Congrats.,
Hon. B. Taylor 871
Vote - Affirmative 872
Res. 683, Habitat for Humanity: Work - Congrats.,
Hon. J. Streatch 872
Vote - Affirmative 873
Res. 684, Volunteerism: Vols. - Thank, Hon. B. Barnet 873
Vote - Affirmative 873
Res. 685, West. N.S. Chap. Cdn. Soc. of Safety Engineering:
OH&S Awareness - Congrats., Hon. M. Parent 874
Vote - Affirmative 874
Res. 686, Morgan, Kandra: Vol. Serv. Award - Congrats.,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 874
Vote - Affirmative 875
Res. 687, Messenger, John: IBM Inspiration Award - Congrats.,
Hon. K. Casey 875
Vote - Affirmative 876
Res. 688, Snider, Steve - IBTTA: Vice-Pres. - Appt.,
Hon. A. MacIsaac 876
Vote - Affirmative 877
Res. 689, Copeland, Chief Gary - N.S. Chiefs of Police Assoc.: Pres. -
Appt., Hon. C. Clarke 877
Vote - Affirmative 877
Res. 690, EMO: 911 Call Takers - Commend,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 878
Vote - Affirmative 878
Res. 691, Cdn. Science Fair (2007): Students - Congrats.,
Hon. K. Casey 878
Vote - Affirmative 879
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS:
No. 71, Community-based Energy Development Act, Mr F. Corbett 879
No. 72, Retail Business Holiday Closing Act, Mr. S. McNeil 879
No. 73, Revenue Act, Ms. M. More 879
No. 74, Elections Act, Mr. S. McNeil 879
No. 75, Public Highways Act, Ms. V. Conrad 879
No. 76, Municipal Government Act, Mr. K. Colwell 879
No. 77, Defibrillators Act, Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay) 879
No. 78, Assessment Act, Mr. K. Colwell 880
NOTICES OF MOTION:
Res. 692, Hockeyland (Windsor): Proponents - Congrats.,
Mr. D. Dexter 880
Vote - Affirmative 880
Res. 693, C.B. Cancer Ctr. - Expansion: Sydney Airport Auth. Contribution -
Congrats., Mr. Manning MacDonald 881
Vote - Affirmative 881
Res. 694, Rusty & Jerome: CBC Usage - Caution Exercise,
Hon. B. Taylor 881
Vote - Affirmative 882
Res. 695, Enfield Vol. FD - Anniv. (50th), Mr. J. MacDonell 883
Vote - Affirmative 883
Res. 696, Mosaic Social Dining Lounge: Rest. Bus. - Achievements,
Mr. M. Samson 883
Vote - Affirmative 884
Res. 697, Victoria Co. Rec. & Tourism Dept.: TIANS Award -
Congrats., Mr. K. Bain 884
Vote - Affirmative 885
Res. 698, Hardy, Michael - Devonian Properties Rising Star Camp:
Attendance - Congrats., Mr. T. Zinck 885
Vote - Affirmative 886
Res. 699, Treleaven, Richard/Frankland, Alan: Frozen Gourmet Dinners -
Congrats., Mr. H. Theriault 886
Vote - Affirmative 886
Res. 700, Peters, Jane/North N.S. Educ. Ctr.: Pink Day - Congrats.,
Mr. P. Dunn 886
Vote - Affirmative 887
Res. 701, Campbell, Laurie - Beaver Bank-Kinsac Lions Club: Vol.
Efforts - Recognize, Mr. P. Paris 887
Vote - Affirmative 888
Res. 702, Kingston - Anniv. (50th), Mr. L. Glavine 888
Vote - Affirmative 889
Res. 703, Scott, Phillip: Retirement - Congrats.,
Mr. C. Porter 889
Vote - Affirmative 889
Res. 704, Gallant Fam. & Friends: Remembrance - Congrats.,
Mr. W. Estabrooks 890
Vote - Affirmative 890
Res. 705, Volunteerism - Vols: Importance - Recognize,
Mr. W. Gaudet 890
Vote - Affirmative 891
Res. 706, Highland Village Museum: Blakeley Award - Congrats.,
Mr. K. Bain 891
Vote - Affirmative 892
Res. 707, Dee, Billy - Pictou Co. Sports Heritage Hall of Fame: Dedication -
Congrats., Mr. C. MacKinnon 892
Vote - Affirmative 892
Res. 708, Hart, Winnie: GED - Congrats.,
Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay) 893
Vote - Affirmative 893
Res. 709, Stellarton/Jim Nelson Automotive: Vehicle Maintenance Course
for Women - Congrats., Mr. P. Dunn 893
Vote - Affirmative 894
Res. 710, Cleveland, Billy: River Rats Hockey Team - Memorial Team Logo,
Mr. C. Porter 894
Vote - Affirmative 895
Res. 711, Colley, Sandra: Barbara Cole Scholarship - Congrats.,
Mr. K. Colwell 895
Vote - Affirmative 896
Res. 712, Doctors N.S. Triathlon: Guysborough/Vols. - Congrats.,
Hon. R. Chisholm 896
Vote - Affirmative 897
Res. 713, Pelkey, Greg - Newcombville Sch. Fundraiser: Donation -
Congrats., Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 897
Vote - Affirmative 897
Res. 714, Sheffield Mills Commun. Assoc.: War Veterans Memorial - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Parent 897
Vote - Affirmative 898
Res. 715, Bedford Terry Fox Run - Comm. Members: Efforts - Congrats.,
Hon. L. Goucher 898
Vote - Affirmative 899
Res. 716, D'Eon, Dwight - Cdn. Idol Show: Achievements - Congrats.,
Hon. C. d'Entremont 899
Vote - Affirmative 900
Res. 717, Williams Farm: Breeder Award - Congrats.,
Hon. K. Casey 900
Vote - Affirmative 900
ORAL QUESTIONS PUT BY MEMBERS:
No. 67, Immigration - Nominee Prog.: Audit - Openness Ensure,
Mr. D. Dexter 901
No. 68, Atl. Accord Proposal: Letters - Contents,
Mr. S. McNeil 902
No. 69, Agric.: Hog Ind. Transition Process - Involvement,
Mr. D. Dexter 903
No. 70, Immigration: Prog. Success - Statistics,
Mr. L. Preyra 905
No. 71, Harper-MacDonald Accord: Crown Share - Details,
Mr. S. McNeil 906
No. 72, Health - Palliative Care: Importance - Recognize,
Mr. David Wilson (Sackville-Cobequid) 907
No. 73, Com. Serv. - Income Assistance Recipients: Perishable
Food Replacement - Policy, Ms. M. More 909
No. 74, Environ. & Lbr. - Statutory Holidays: Policy - Change,
Mr. S. McNeil 910
No. 75, Justice - Maintenance Enforcement: Status - Explain,
Mr. W. Estabrooks 911
No. 76, Health - Digby Gen.: Restorative Care Unit - Physician Hire
Mr. H. Theriault 912
No. 77, Nat. Res. - Clear-Cutting: Forestry Sector - Protect,
Mr. C. Parker 914
No. 78, TCH - Tourist Accommodations Act: Repeal - Reasons,
Ms. M. Raymond 915
No. 79, TIR - Canso Causeway: Bird Problem - Action,
Mr. M. Samson 917
No. 80, Educ.: HS Grad. Survey - Min. Response,
Mr. P. Paris 918
No. 81, TIR: Throne Speech Commitments - Details,
Ms. V. Conrad 919
No. 82, Educ. - B.Ed. Prog.: CBU Request - Consider,
Mr. Manning MacDonald 920
No. 83, Com. Serv.: Housing Grants - Income Cutoffs,
Mr. G. Gosse 922
No. 84, Health - Mar. Odd Fellows Home: Taxes - Assist,
Mr. C. Parker 923
No. 85, Agric.: Hog Farmers - Support,
Mr. L. Glavine 924
No. 86, Econ. Dev. - Sweatshop Goods: Policy - Details,
Mr. C. MacKinnon 926
No. 87, TCH - Digby Ferry: Problem - Plan,
Mr. H. Theriault 927
OPPOSITION MEMBERS' BUSINESS:
PRIVATE MEMBERS' PUBLIC BILLS FOR SECOND READING:
Bill No. 35, Education Act
Mr. L. Glavine 928
Hon. K. Casey 930
Mr. P. Paris 933
Mr. K. Colwell 935
Adjourned debate 938
MOTIONS OTHER THAN GOVERNMENT MOTIONS:
Res. 636, Status of Women - Domestic Violence: Elimination -
Leg./Progs. Introduce, Ms. D. Whalen 938
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 940
Ms. M. More 942
Mr. M. Samson 944
Hon. J. Streatch 945
Adjourned debate 945
ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION UNDER RULE 5(5):
Windsor - W. Hants Minor Hockey - Parents: Vol. Efforts - Applaud,
Mr. C. Porter 947
Mr. G. Gosse 950
Mr. L. Glavine 953^^^
ADJOURNMENT, House rose to meet again on Thur., Dec. 6th at 12:00 noon 955
NOTICES OF MOTION UNDER RULE 32(3):
Res. 718, Preston Area Learning Skills Soc. - Anniv. (20th),
Mr. K. Colwell 956
Res. 719, Gallant Fam. & Friends: Remembrance - Congrats.,
Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay) 956
Res. 720, Moore, Maureen: Entrepreneurial Spirit - Applaud,
Hon. J. Streatch 957
Res. 721, O'Malley, Timothy: Duke of Edinburgh Awards - Congrats.,
Hon. J. Streatch 957
Res. 722, Pattison, Rob & Sandra: Commun. Support - Congrats.,
Hon. J. Streatch 958
Res. 723, Discover the Wines of N.S. Fest.: Organizers - Congrats.,
Mr. H. Theriault 958
Res. 724, Hepburn, Firth: Vol. Efforts - Thank,
Mr. L. Glavine 959
Res. 725, Smith, Anita - Bedford Terry Fox Run (2007): Efforts - Recognize,
Hon. L. Goucher 959
Res. 726, Hill, Quentin - Bedford Terry Fox Run: Efforts - Recognize.
Hon. L. Goucher 960
Res. 727, Kenley, Marlene - Bedford Terry Fox Run (2007): Efforts - Recognize,
Hon. L. Goucher 960
Res. 728, Jesty, Lynn - Bedford Terry Fox Run (2007): Efforts - Recognize,
Hon. L. Goucher 961
Res. 729, Smith, Les - Bedford Terry Fox Run (2007): Efforts - Recognize,
Hon. L. Goucher 961
Res. 730, Kelades, Eva - Bedford Terry Fox Run (2007): Efforts - Recognize,
Hon. L. Goucher 962
Res. 731, Theriault, Esther - Bedford Terry Fox Run (2007): Efforts - Recognize,
Hon. L. Goucher 962
Res. 732, Giffin, Dorothy - Bedford Terry Fox Run (2007): Efforts - Recognize,
Hon. L. Goucher 962
Res. 733, Lowther, Don - Bedford Terry Fox Run (2007): Efforts - Recognize,
Hon. L. Goucher 963
Res. 734, Kenley, Del - Bedford Terry Fox Run (2007): Efforts - Recognize,
Hon. L. Goucher 963
Res. 735, Kelades, Chuck - Bedford Terry Fox Run (2007): Efforts - Recognize,
Hon. L. Goucher 964
Res. 736, Kerr, Bob - Bedford Terry Fox Run (2007): Efforts - Recognize,
Hon. L. Goucher 964
Res. 737, Deveaux, Danica: Musical Achievements - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Scott 965
Res. 738, Ells, Brian: PSC Serv. (35 yrs.) - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Scott 965
Res. 739, Blake, Rob: NSCC Skills Comp. - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Scott 966
Res. 740, Carmichael, Amy - Remembrance Day Proj.,
Hon. M. Scott 966
Res. 741, Fretter, Cpl. Shannon: Bravery - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Scott 967
Res. 742, Fairbanks, David: PSC Serv. (30 yrs.) - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Scott 967
Res. 743, Falconer, Clarence: PSC Serv. (35 yrs.) - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Scott 968
Res. 744, Falkenham, Sidney: Old Home Wk. Queen - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Scott 968
Res. 745, Ferguson, Edward: Cadet Medal - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Scott 969
Res. 746, Forshner, Allison - Remembrance Day Proj.,
Hon. M. Scott 969
Res. 747, Gillis, Kelsea: Cumberland Health Bursary - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Scott 970
Res. 748, Bragg-Gillmore, Cathy: PSC Serv. - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Scott 970
Res. 749, Glennie, Stacey: Lt.-Gov.'s Medal - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Scott 971
Res. 750, Gogan, Kirsten: KOC Free Throw Championships - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Scott 971
Res. 751, Hall, Deborah: Westchester FD Serv. (15 yrs.) - Congrats.
Hon. M. Scott 972
Res. 752, Handley Page Air Cadet Squadron (689): Achievements - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Scott 972
Res. 753, Myers, Dr. Ransom: N.S. Science & Tech. Hall of Fame - Induction,
Mr. M. Samson 973
Res. 754, Crites, Anna: Sportsmanship/Dedication - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 973
Res. 755, Nickerson, Aaron: White Point Golf Trophy - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 974
Res. 756, Kicks, Andrew: Sportsmanship/Dedication - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 974
Res. 757, Wolkins, Adam: Nat'l. NJCAA Championship Ring - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 975
Res. 758, Nickerson, Aaron: N. Sydney Golf Championship - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 975
Res. 759, Atwood, Charity - Barrington Mun. HS: Prom Efforts - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 976
Res. 760, Cheshire, Brian: Sea Derby Shark Comp. - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 976
Res. 761, Byrne, Bob: Vol. Efforts - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 977
Res. 762, Barrington Mun. HS Barons Girls Hockey Team: Achievements -
Congrats., Mr. S. Belliveau 977
Res. 763, Clark's Hr. Foggies: Rookie Grand Slam Tournament - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 978
Res. 764, Nickerson, Charlene: Bravery - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 978
Res. 765, Clark's Hbr. Cardinals: Teamwork - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 979
Res. 766, Goulden, Chelsea: Bowling Comp. - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 979
Res. 767, Atwood, Charity - Barrington Mun. HS: Prom Efforts - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 980
Res. 768, Perry, Cordelia: Afghanistan Work - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 980
Res. 769, Coastal Raider - Mayday Call: Responders - Thank,
Mr. S. Belliveau 981
Res. 770, Stuart, Ashley: Roseway Library Prize - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 981
Res. 771, EHS Symposium: Participants - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 982
Res. 772, Lawson, Debra: 7E Barrington FD Vol. of Yr. - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 982
Res. 773, Evelyn Richardson Mem. Elem. Sch. - Adopt-A-Stream Proj.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 983
Res. 774, Nickerson, Edward: Shag Hbr./Bear Pt. Vol. FD Long Service Medal
(25 yrs.) - Congrats., Mr. S. Belliveau 983
Res. 775, Mahaney, Donnie: Int'l. Dory Championship - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 984
Res. 776, Atkinson, Donna: Prov. Vol. Rep. - Barrington Mun.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 984
Res. 777, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Grand Pré Winery - Welcome,
The Premier 985
Res. 778, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Forest Products Assoc. of N.S. -
Welcome, The Premier 985
Res. 779, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Dalhousie University - Welcome,
The Premier 986
Res. 780, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Col. Reg. Dev. Agency - Welcome,
The Premier 986
Res. 781, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Coastal Communities Network -
Welcome, The Premier 987
Res. 782, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: N.S. Commun. Bus. Dev. Corp. -
Welcome, The Premier 987
Res. 783, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: BioNova - Welcome,
The Premier 988
Res. 784, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Destination Bluenose Coast -
Welcome, The Premier 988
Res. 785, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Black Business Initiative -
Welcome, The Premier 989
Res. 786, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Antigonish Chamber of Commerce -
Welcome, The Premier 989
Res. 787, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Antigonish Reg. Dev. Auth. -
Welcome, The Premier 990
Res. 788, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Acadian University -
^^Welcome, The Premier 991
Res. 789, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: HRM - Welcome
The Premier 991
Res. 790, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Hfx. Farmer's Market -
Welcome, The Premier 992
Res. 791, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: The Hawk 101.5 - Welcome,
The Premier 992
Res. 792, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: HB Studios - Welcome,
The Premier 993
Res. 793, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Isle Madame Confections Inc. -
Welcome, The Premier 993
Res. 794, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: MedMira - Welcome
The Premier 994
Res. 795, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Oak Island Resort - Welcome,
The Premier 994
Res. 796, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Strait Area Chamber of Commerce -
Welcome, The Premier 995
Res. 797, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Taste of Nova Scotia - Welcome,
The Premier 995
Res. 798, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: WearWell Garments - Welcome,
The Premier 996
Res. 799, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: ZedEvents - Welcome,
The Premier 997
Res. 800, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: xwave - Welcome,
The Premier 997
Res. 801, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: AG Research - Welcome,
The Premier 998
Res. 802, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Lakewind Sound Studio - Welcome,
The Premier 998
Res. 803, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: C.B. Co. Econ. Dev. Auth. -
Welcome, The Premier 999
Res. 804, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Icon Communications - Welcome,
The Premier 999
Res. 805, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Polysteel Atl. Ltd. - Welcome,
The Premier 1000
Res. 806, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: CBU - Welcome,
The Premier 1000
Res. 807, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Sydney Area Chamber of
Commerce - Welcome, The Premier 1001
Res. 808, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Techlink - Welcome,
The Premier 1001
Res. 809, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Coastal Commun.
Radio Co-op Ltd. - Welcome, The Premier 1002
Res. 810, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Mar. Environmental Training
Institute - Welcome, The Premier 1003
Res. 811, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Sydney Downtown
Dev. Assoc. - Welcome, The Premier 1003
Res. 812, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Destination C.B. Assoc. -
^^Welcome, The Premier 1004
Res. 813, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Advanced Glazings - Welcome,
The Premier 1004
Res. 814, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: St. FX Univ. - Welcome,
The Premier 1005
Res. 815, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: XFM Radio - Welcome,
The Premier 1005
Res. 816, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: MacIsaac Kilt Makers -
^^Welcome, The Premier 1006
Res. 817, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Ross Screenprint - Welcome,
The Premier 1006
Res. 818, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Antigonish Area Partnership -
Welcome, The Premier 1007
Res. 819, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Casket Printing - Welcome,
The Premier 1007
Res. 820, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: AA Munro Insurance - Welcome,
The Premier 1008
Res. 821, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Bergengren Credit Union -
Welcome, The Premier 1009
Res. 822, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Highland Place Group -
Welcome, The Premier 1009
Res. 823, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Strait Highlands Reg.
Dev. Auth. - Welcome, The Premier 1010
Res. 824, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Antigonish Farmer's Mutual -
Welcome, The Premier 1010
Res. 825, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Keane Can. - Welcome,
The Premier 1011
Res. 826, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Queen St. Studios - Welcome,
The Premier 1011
Res. 827, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Nautel - Welcome,
The Premier 1012
Res. 828, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Modern Media - Welcome,
The Premier 1012
Res. 829, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Southwest Properties - Welcome,
The Premier 1013
Res. 830, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Propeller Brewing Co. -
Welcome, The Premier 1013
Res. 831, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Sampling Technologies Inc. -
Welcome, The Premier 1014
Res. 832, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Neptune Theatre - Welcome,
The Premier 1015
Res. 833, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: The People Bank - Welcome,
The Premier 1015
Res. 834, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Aerospace and Defence Industries
Assoc. of N.S. - Welcome, The Premier 1016
Res. 835, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Archway Search Consultants -
Welcome, The Premier 1016
Res. 836, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: East Coast Sch. of Languages -
Welcome, The Premier 1017
Res. 837, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Farnell Packaging Ltd. -
Welcome, The Premier 1017
Res. 838, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: NSCC - Welcome,
The Premier 1018
Res. 839, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Laurentian Energy - Welcome,
The Premier 1018
Res. 840, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: Protocase - Welcome,
The Premier 1019
Res. 841, Nova Scotia "Come to life" Charter: ImmediaC Interactive -
Welcome, The Premier 1019
Res. 842, Bird, Tanis: N.S. Recycles Tshirt Design - Congrats.,
Mr. J. Massey 1020
Res. 843, Frier, Moira - Hebbville Acad. Female Athlete of Yr.,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 1020
Res. 844, Quigley, Emma: Soccer Involvement - Congrats.,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 1021
Res. 845, Hayward, Geneva: Soccer Involvement - Congrats.,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 1021
Res. 846, Hillier, Chelsea: Queen Elizabeth II Medal - Congrats.,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 1022
Res. 847, Baker, Mitch - Hebbville Acad. Male Athlete of Yr.,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 1022
Res. 848, Cushing-Allen, Fiona: Garfield Weston Scholarship - Congrats.,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 1022
Res. 849, Getson, Kelsey: Basketball Achievement - Congrats.,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 1023
Res. 850, Anthony, Lauren: Valedictory Address/Gov.-Gen.'s Award - Congrats.,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 1023
Res. 851, Hayward, Geneva - Work/Dedication: Basketball Team - Congrats.,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 1024
Res. 852, Dorey, Katherine - Hebbville Acad. Basketball Team: Most Improved
Player - Congrats., Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 1024
Res. 853, Getson, Kelsey: Soccer Involvement - Congrats.,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 1025
Res. 854, Annapolis Royal Town: Club 400 Prog. - Congrats.,
Mr. S. McNeil 1025
Res. 855, Alice Housing; Efforts - Recognize,
Mr. S. McNeil 1026^
Mr. S. McNeil

[Page 861]

HALIFAX, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2007

Sixtieth General Assembly

Second Session

2:00 P.M.

SPEAKER

Hon. Alfie MacLeod

DEPUTY SPEAKER

Mr. Wayne Gaudet

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. The draw for the late debate has taken place. Tonight it has been submitted by the MLA for Hants West:

Therefore be it resolved that this House applaud the tremendous volunteer efforts of parents involved in the Windsor-West Hants Minor Hockey system and recognize their exceptional commitment to bettering the lives of hundreds of children.

We will commence the daily routine.

PRESENTING AND READING PETITIONS

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Preston.

MR. KEITH COLWELL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I beg leave to present a petition entitled "Petition to Stop Impending LIC Charges on O'Connell Drive" and it is signed by 66 people on the street - actually every household on the street has signed this, and it is signed by myself as well.

MR. SPEAKER: The petition is tabled.

[Page 862]

861

PRESENTING REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

TABLING REPORTS, REGULATIONS AND OTHER PAPERS

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Health.

HON. CHRISTOPHER D'ENTREMONT: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. If I may do an introduction - I believe they are here in the east gallery - staff and the Board of Directors of the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation. I'll ask them to rise and receive the warm welcome of the House: Dr. Lori Francis; Deborah Langille, Director of Performance and Accountability; Catherine Connors, Manager of Health Research and Matching Grants Program; and Jeremy Godfrey, Communications Assistant. I just want to thank them for the work that they do on behalf of Nova Scotia and health research. (Applause)

I am introducing the Annual Report for 2006-07 for Building Capacity, the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation.

MR. SPEAKER: The report is tabled.

The honourable Minister of Justice.

HON. CECIL CLARKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I beg leave to table the 2006-07 Annual Report of the Law Foundation of Nova Scotia.

MR. SPEAKER: The report is tabled.

The honourable Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.

HON. JAMES MUIR: Mr. Speaker, with your permission, I'd like to do an introduction before tabling this, although the two are not related.

MR. SPEAKER: Please do.

MR. MUIR: Mr. Speaker, I draw the attention of the members of the House to the east gallery where we're joined today by Graham Conrad, who is the Executive Director of the Retail Gasoline Dealers Association of Nova Scotia, and his wife Donna. We welcome Graham and Donna and I'd ask all member to give them a warm welcome.

Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to present the Report of the Registrar General, Containing the Vital Statistics of the Province for the year ending December 31, 2006.

[Page 863]

MR. SPEAKER: The report is tabled.

STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Community Services.

HON. JUDY STREATCH: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On this, the anniversary of this government's response to the Nunn Commission, it is with pleasure that I rise to speak to the House of Assembly today about one of this government's newest initiatives, which will ensure that children and youth of this province have the best opportunities to reach their full potential.

While I am proud to say that staff of my department have worked tirelessly in the development of our Strategy for Children and Youth, I'm equally proud to say that staff from the Departments of Health, Health Promotion and Protection, Justice and Education have had equally significant and influential roles in its development.

Mr. Speaker, by working together as a team in a collective, coordinated effort, we are making a real difference in the lives of young Nova Scotians and their families with our new Child and Youth Strategy entitled Our Kids Are Worth It. We received positive endorsement and encouragement from our main stakeholders Monday on the direction and content of the Child and Youth Strategy. We are pleased to have these key partners join with us in delivering these joint programs and services on behalf of all Nova Scotia families.

Now, this is a comprehensive strategy which focuses on a range of services from prevention to intensive intervention. We are introducing new services while expanding existing ones, all to better meet the needs of those who need us most, our children. This strategy is a valuable piece of the fabric of our social prosperity framework based on the principles of collaboration, coordination, and shared responsibility because we all share responsibility for making sure our kids live healthy, productive lives.

[2:15 p.m.]

This strategy was a commitment made by this government after the release of the Nunn Commission Report and, Mr. Speaker, our commitment does not end there. Over the coming months, we will be implementing the pilot programs and evaluating their success as we support our province's children, youth and families. These are pilots at the local, regional and provincial levels. They include initiatives such as Family Help Expansion . . .

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. The chatter is getting a little high.

MS. STREATCH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Wrap Around Services; Schools Plus; a Parenting Journey program; A Place to Belong; Youth Navigators; Child Welfare Mental

[Page 864]

Health Services; a Social Policy Research group; a provincial Youth Advisory Network; and co-operation and coordination with the Kids Help Phone. We have a mix of both immediate and longer term priorities.

We want to build a strong foundation for our youth through initiatives like our Early Learning and Child Care Plan, which will see recruitment and retention of staff and more affordable spaces. We also want to identify problems and help early, providing programs and initiatives for parents and teachers. Coordinating programs and services is essential. Our Executive Director of Youth Strategy and Services, Robert Wright, is leading the charge. We need to make sure the appropriate programs and services are delivered to our youth when and where they need it. We intend to improve access and close gaps. We want a shorter wait for mental health services and we want to engage youth and promote shared accountability.

Now, Mr. Speaker, we are very excited with the range of possibilities this strategy provides government and our partners but, more importantly, the possibilities it provides for Nova Scotia's families. No longer will any of us talk in isolation within the confines of our programs or departments. We will come together not for cases, but for children. Our vision is to make sure our children and youth are healthy, safe, nurtured and responsible, and given the right opportunities to be the best they can be. Our new strategy can and will make that happen. Our kids are worth it. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Halifax Citadel.

MR. LEONARD PREYRA: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I welcome the minister's statement on the government Strategy for Children and Youth. Through you, I would thank her staff and staff in the Departments of Health, Health Promotion and Protection, Justice, and Education for their collaboration and attempt to coordinate a policy in this area.

Although this strategy has been billed as a government Strategy for Children and Youth, it really is a strategy for dealing with youth crime and crime prevention. It does not acknowledge the vast majority of youth and children who are doing wonderful things in the community and it says little about what it will do to support and encourage them and to secure their well-being.

That being said, it is a youth crime and crime prevention strategy and it responds to the Nunn inquiry - it responds to Theresa McEvoy's death and the tragic circumstances of her death three years ago. This policy really has been three years in the making and we welcome the government's entry into this debate, three years later.

As you know, Justice Nunn made 34 recommendations and these can be broken down into two sections. The first part dealt with changes that were needed to the Youth Criminal Justice Act. We know from statements made over the last few days by the Halifax police - by Deputy Chief McNeil in particular - that there really hasn't been much done. In fact, the

[Page 865]

policy has been designed to do nothing. I understand the minister has no control over that, but I would encourage the minister to put some pressure on her federal counterparts to look at the Youth Criminal Justice Act and make some meaningful changes there.

Many of Justice Nunn's recommendations addressed the lack of coordination between departments. Certainly I would commend the minister for devoting her attention and her department's attention to these initiatives. I've said earlier that most of these initiatives are repackaging of existing programs - that's not meant as all criticism. Justice Nunn did say that many services existed, just as much of the problem lay in the fact that departments did not speak to each other and policies were not coordinated. So there is a real lack of coordinating and repackaging services so that they are more accessible to children at risk and their families.

A great deal of the money that's been announced in this program has already been spent and it's already been used to build the institutions of coordination. That's not necessarily criticism; we do need champions in the bureaucracy who will coordinate strategy and who will push initiatives forward.

There's very little initiative invested here in front-line support. I'd like to speak to that a little further down the road. Most of the investments here are in pilot projects and research. We had hoped that three years later we would be further ahead, that we would have more concrete policies - policies with more beef. I'd like to suggest some of them, some that have been brought forward to me by my constituents.

In Justice, for example, we would like to see more mental health courts. We would like to see a secure treatment facility for young people. We would like to see the Justice Department look at restorative justice initiatives with family group conferencing. I should say, while I'm on my feet, that I will commend the Minister of Justice for the great work that he has done on the Democracy 250 committee and the tremendous encouragement he's given to the committee on pursuing youth initiatives.

On health, I'd like to say something about mental health assessments. There are too many delays - Justice Nunn complained about the lack of follow-through in the assessments of youth who come into conflict with the law. For example, the two young women who were accused of beating the senior on the Common with a table leg are still waiting for assessments. The IWK has complained they just don't have the resources. Mr. Speaker, justice delayed is justice denied. It prevents rehabilitation and restoration of these young people into the community.

On education, again, I commend the Minister of Education for doing a great job with the Quinpool Education Centre in dealing with kids at school who are falling between the cracks there. But what we really need to do is look at the issue of school closures. We close our elementary schools, we are denying the community access to much-needed programs;

[Page 866]

we are denying kids access to programs that attach them to the community and families. This is the glue that builds the communities, Mr. Speaker.

We would like to see more support for kids with ADHD - for example, early assessment of these children and prevention programs. I would like to speak a bit to the Minister of Community Services herself. We are doing very little for kids in care; most of our troubled youth come from that area. I would like to speak something about poverty - giving some of these families $4 a month in additional support really does not address the problem of poverty and homelessness. Mr. Speaker, if we punish the parents, then we are punishing the kids.

So I would like to just, in general, say that I support the minister in her efforts to coordinate. I agree very much with the idea of coordination and doing more with less, but we also need to invest more in front-line services. I would like to say something about the reach of this strategy. We expect more, Mr. Speaker, they are taking small steps and we need more steps - we need a little bit more imagination, and we need a little bit more activity.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Liberal Party.

MR. STEPHEN MCNEIL: Mr. Speaker, first of all I want to thank the minister for the advance notice, plenty of advance notice of her remarks today, and I apologize for not being in the House - I was otherwise detained. I want to begin by acknowledging Justice Nunn and the work that Justice Nunn has done on behalf of all of Nova Scotia in his thoughtful deliberations around the terrible tragedy around Theresa McEvoy. In conjunction with the work that he has done, the McEvoy family has opened themselves up to Nova Scotians to be - really this case to be on display for Nova Scotia so that we could get a true sense of where things went wrong and what it is that has failed, not only that family but failed all of us as Nova Scotians.

So I want to begin by thanking them for the hard work that Justice Nunn has done on behalf of all Nova Scotians. I also want to acknowledge the minister and, in particular, the member of your staff, Robert Wright, for the work that he has done on behalf of Nova Scotia. When I look at this announcement that you made yesterday, while I do have some concerns, it is a good first step in dealing with some of those issues, and I was thrilled to hear the talk of breaking down the silos that operate within government.

If you remember, when I introduced my poverty reduction strategy, one of the key components to that was breaking down the silos and the fact that we all have a responsibility to those children living in poverty. It's not strictly a responsibility of Community Services, it goes across governmental departments, and that is the same issue we face with children who are at risk of falling into trouble in the Province of Nova Scotia - and I was thrilled to see that they were going to be broken down.

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One of the issues where I do have concerns - and I looked at the issue of the Youth Navigator, which I think was a wonderful program, and I would have encouraged the minister and I would have encouraged the department to begin to look at that on a more regional basis providing one, perhaps, with every school district or within every health district in the Province of Nova Scotia to make sure that service is available. One of the frightening things for Nova Scotian families who have trouble accessing the system, particularly when you have a child who has difficulty, is trying to find and reach out for those supports that you can have for your family to be able to deal with that child. This Youth Navigator, for me, should become - and I hope it becomes - a source of entry point for those families then to be able to send them in the right direction to find the services that each and every child deserves to have when they reach that critical point.

A Place to Belong - I would say that I believe, fundamentally, that program should roll out within the education system. It was wonderful to hear the idea of drama and arts being brought back in. Do you remember, that was part of all our educational experience? It gave each of us an opportunity to find something that was uniquely ours, it gave us a reason, quite frankly, to get up and go to school the next day. I always used to say the basketball court was what brought me back to school every day and, by accident, I got an education while I was there.

The arts, the drama programs which are happening, not all across Nova Scotia, there are some wonderful drama programs, there are some music programs, but they are hit and miss, depending on which school you're in. What really matters is that the educational instructor has taken a keen interest in those individual programs and has then brought in that student body around them to create an environment for that child who is artistic. The child who might lean towards the music program, to have an opportunity to excel and feel comfortable inside the public education system, and really to be part of that community and find their niche and grow as an individual and become a healthy adult.

I noticed as we were laying out and looking at each individual program you were talking about that there's a bit of overlap. My concern is that we don't chew up resources in overlapping these programs. I would encourage the minister, over the next number of years as the information becomes available, that we review this process. Career Seek is one that I know you just recently reviewed. It was flawed in the beginning and there were challenges, that Nova Scotians were not accessing it.

I don't believe that there are only two Nova Scotians who wanted to go to post-secondary education who are presently on income assistance. That program needed to be reviewed, the same as we have to do with the Harvest Connection program, that is not actually working the way that I believe it should; the in-home support program, under the direction of the member for Richmond, we were thrilled to be part of pushing that forward to make sure it is available for Nova Scotians, but that's not working the way it should be and it needs to be reviewed.

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[2:30 p.m.]

So we, as a caucus, will watch as this program begins to be laid out, whether or not Nova Scotia children are getting an opportunity to have access to it, whether it's doing what the department is intending it to do. We'll do everything we can, quite frankly - and I can commit our caucus to this - we will do everything that we can that's in the best interests of the children of Nova Scotia, particularly those children at risk and those children who need us to stand up and make sure that the services are available for them.

We're prepared to be a working partner in this Legislature to make sure that Nova Scotia children are put first, ahead of politics. So I want to commend the minister for bringing this forward. We'll be watching it very closely and we'll probably give you some advice on how you can improve it. Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Agriculture on an introduction.

HON. BROOKE TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to introduce two very distinguished gentlemen who are in your gallery, the Speaker's Gallery. One is the former Minister of Agriculture and, of course, a former MLA for Colchester North. A friend of the farmer and a gentleman who can be seen at community events throughout the summer and Fall all across Nova Scotia, still standing up and fighting hard for the farmers and their families in Nova Scotia, and that is former Agriculture Minister Ed Lorraine. (Applause)

I know Ed really appreciates the round of applause from his colleagues in the House here and, as well, I would like to introduce, if I could, a gentleman who has for a long time now represented the forestry concerns and forestry interests in the Province of Nova Scotia. A constituent of the beautiful Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley, the Executive Director of Nova Scotia Forest Products Association, Mr. Steve Talbot. I wonder if Steve would stand and receive a round of applause. (Applause)

Mr. Speaker, if I could conclude, I'd like to make an introduction in the east gallery - I know the NDP is anxious here, but I would like to introduce a Halifax Regional Municipality Councillor and a former MLA in the House, Mr. David Hendsbee. (Applause)

GOVERNMENT NOTICES OF MOTION

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Premier.

RESOLUTION NO. 679

HON. RODNEY MACDONALD (The Premier): Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

[Page 869]

Whereas signed contracts announced today with Internet service providers bring all Nova Scotians one step closer to becoming the most connected area in North America by the end of 2009; and

Whereas this commitment is a major cornerstone of providing all Nova Scotians with access to this vital electronic infrastructure; and

Whereas the completion of the $74.5 million Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia initiative will mean that more than 200,000 Nova Scotians, 93,400 dwellings, 213 schools and 5,600 businesses are connected;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate all partners in this ambitious provincial project, including the federal government and our newest high-speed Internet service providers - Bragg Communications Inc. and Seaside Communications - for making this vital link accessible across Nova Scotia.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 Premier.

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, just before I read my resolution, if I could make an introduction. In the Speaker's Gallery, we have a number of guests with us here today representing several of the latest signatories to the Come to Life Charter - assisting all as they promote our province when doing business. They are, and I would ask them to stand and be recognized - representing MedMira, a former member of this Chamber, Jim Smith, VP Corporate Affairs and Human Resources and Stephen Sham, chair of the board. Welcome. (Applause)

From Farnell Packaging, Don Farnell and David Stanfield; we have with the Antigonish RDA, Alicia Grant; The Brain Repair Centre, Joann Tusia; Gail Pierre-Jerome with The People Bank; Catherine MacDonald and David Gough with Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Nova Scotia; Mike Perry, Modern Media; Justin Fox of Keane Canada; Ray Ritcey, Heritage Gas; Protocase, Mike Rudderham; Brennan Gillis, Nova Scotia

[Page 870]

CBDCs, an old neighbour of mine; Dan Hodgins, CEO of Bergengren Credit Union; Steve Talbot, Executive Director of the Forest Products Association of Nova Scotia; and John Lahey of immediaC Interactive. I would ask our guests again to receive the warm welcome of the House. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Premier.

RESOLUTION NO. 680

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

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia Come to Life Charter; and

Whereas Nova Scotia's Come to Life is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting edge universities, a forward thinking community college system, industry leaders and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry."

Therefore be it resolved that all members welcome and thank our newest Charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver.

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 Minister of Justice.

[Page 871]

RESOLUTION NO. 681

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

Whereas on Sunday, December 2nd, Alexander (Dooley) MacIntosh, a former Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice, passed away at the age of 90 years; and

Whereas Mr. MacIntosh earned his law degree at Dalhousie University, was admitted to the Bar in 1947 and practised law for 26 years before being named to the Supreme Court in 1973; and

Whereas after leaving the legal profession in 1991, Mr. MacIntosh also served as conflict of interest commissioner for the Province of Nova Scotia;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize the tremendous contribution Mr. MacIntosh made to our justice system in Nova Scotia and express our deepest condolences to his family.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 Minister of Agriculture.

RESOLUTION NO. 682

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

Whereas Nova Scotia has a certified organic agriculture industry that has grown by 25 per cent at the farm level while the processing capacity has maintained its current levels; and

[Page 872]

Whereas the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture supports this province's organic industry through its financial contribution to the Atlantic Canada Organic Regional Network and by its representation on the new Organic Federation of Canada; and

Whereas earlier this week, the federal government announced over $1.2 million in financial contributions that will be used to identify research needs of the organic sector and to develop a national organization that will support this growing sector;

Therefore be it resolved that members of this House welcome the significant financial contribution to the organic sector and recognize the importance of this growing industry to Nova Scotia's agriculture sector.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 Minister of Community Services.

RESOLUTION NO. 683

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

Whereas Habitat for Humanity has built more than 200,000 homes around the world, providing safe, decent and affordable shelter; and

Whereas our government is committed to providing all Nova Scotia families with more than a house, but providing them a home to call their own; and

Whereas this government is providing Habitat the foundation for affordable housing through the donation of property lots in the Halifax Regional Municipality and contributing a $50,000 cheque for Habitat for Humanity's newest South Shore chapter;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Habitat for Humanity for wonderful worldwide work over the past 31 years and the homegrown effort

[Page 873]

they continue to do here in Nova Scotia in co-operation with the federal government and the Government of Nova Scotia.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 Minister of Volunteerism.

RESOLUTION NO. 684

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

Whereas December 5th is International Volunteer Day and was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985; and

Whereas volunteers throughout Nova Scotia make an important contribution to many not-for-profit organizations that would find it impossible to carry out their work without their support; and

Whereas 377,000 Nova Scotians volunteer their time with a not-for-profit community-based organization, giving just over 47 million volunteer hours a year, making Nova Scotia a leader in the number of average hours contributed;

Therefore be it resolved that this province recognize and thank the many volunteers who have helped improve our communities, become a mentor to our children, and have made Nova Scotia the best province to live, work and play.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

[Page 874]

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 Environment and Labour.

RESOLUTION NO. 685

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

Whereas the Western Nova Scotia Chapter of the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering was recognized for their excellence in promoting the advancement of health, safety and the environment within Nova Scotia by being awarded the National Outstanding Service Award at the Canadian Safety Society of Engineering 2007 Canadian Safety Awards; and

Whereas the Western Nova Scotia Chapter of the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering implemented substantial safety training and awareness programs for workers in the western Nova Scotia area including Nova Scotia Occupational Health and Safety Act and Due Diligence Workshops, the Environmental Health and Safety Expo, and the Valley Safety Symposium; and

Whereas their efforts are going a long way in creating an accident and injury free Nova Scotia;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House join the people of Nova Scotia in congratulating all members of the Western Nova Scotia Chapter of the Canadian Society of Engineering for promoting and creating awareness of the importance of health and safety in the workplace.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

[Page 875]

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable Minister of Seniors.

RESOLUTION NO. 686

HON. CAROLYN BOLIVAR-GETSON: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, the Honourable Mayann E. Francis, announced in her inaugural speech last year, her commitment to advancing two areas of interest, recognizing healthy communities and the wisdom of elders; and

Whereas an award, the Lieutenant Governor's Intergenerational Award, was created by the Department of Seniors to foster interaction and bonding between Nova Scotians of different ages by celebrating and promoting inspiring intergenerational programs exiting in communities across the province; and

Whereas the Youth Secretariat sponsors the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award: Younger Generation;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Kandra Morgan of Lunenburg on receiving the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award: Younger Generation for her dedication to working with seniors at Harbour View Haven long-term care facility.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 Minister of Education.

RESOLUTION NO. 687

[Page 876]

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

Whereas the International Baccalaureate Program encourages excellence for those students seeking an academic challenge; and

Whereas the International Baccalaureate North America Inspiration Award recognizes leadership and commitment within the program; and

Whereas John Messenger, a distinguished educator in Nova Scotia, received this prestigious award;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate John Messenger on receiving the International Baccalaureate North America Inspiration Award and recognize his tremendous commitment and leadership in the IB Program.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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.

[2:45 p.m.]

The honourable Minister of Economic Development.

RESOLUTION NO. 688

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

Whereas on October 10, 2007, Mr. Steve Snider, General Manager and CEO of the Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission, was elected 2nd Vice-President of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association at its annual meeting in Vienna, Austria; and

Whereas the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, with headquarters in Washington, D.C., is a worldwide alliance of 280 members in 25 countries

[Page 877]

on six continents that share knowledge and ideas to promote and enhance toll-financed transportation services; and

Whereas this appointment is a tribute to the high regard with which leaders of Nova Scotia Crown Corporations and agencies are held by the international community;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Mr. Snider on this important appointment and wish him continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 Minister of Justice.

RESOLUTION NO. 689

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

Whereas every two years, the Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police Association elects a new president; and

Whereas this past October, Springhill Police Chief Gary Copeland, who spent many years working professionally and diligently on behalf of the citizens of Springhill, was elected president of the Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police Association; and

Whereas Chief Copeland is the first Chief of Police in Springhill's history to be elected to the office of president of the association;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Chief Copeland on his new position and thank him for his many years of dedicated service to the people of Springhill.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

[Page 878]

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 Minister of Emergency Management.

RESOLUTION NO. 690

HON. CAROLYN BOLIVAR-GETSON: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas our dedicated 911 call-takers continue to demonstrate their commitment to public safety through community outreach; and

Whereas a team of call-takers recently participated in Truro's annual holiday parade, featuring Nova Scotia's 911 emergency program; and

Whereas they volunteered their time to distribute 911 literature and education items to local residents;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of the House commend our 911 call-takers for their role in delivering 911 education to the citizens of Nova Scotia.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 Minister of Education.

[Page 879]

RESOLUTION NO. 691

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

Whereas each year in Nova Scotia, more than 10,000 students participate in science fairs in their schools and more than 1,000 of them move on to participate at the regional level; and

Whereas in 2007, a Canada-wide science fair was held in Truro, where 450 young students and volunteers were hosted from across Canada; and

Whereas the 36 students from Nova Scotia who participated in that science fair earned numerous medals, awards and scholarships;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate those students who took their scientific pursuits to the national level and offer thanks to teachers and school boards across the province for encouraging their love of science.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

Bill No. 71 - Entitled an Act Respecting Community-based Energy Development in Nova Scotia. (Mr. Frank Corbett)

Bill No. 72 - Entitled an Act Respecting the Holiday Closing of Retail Businesses. (Mr. Stephen McNeil)

Bill No. 73 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 17 of the Acts of 1995-96. The Revenue Act. (Ms. Marilyn More)

Bill No. 74 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 140 of the Revised Statutes of 1989. The Elections Act. (Mr. Stephen McNeil)

[Page 880]

Bill No. 75 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 371 of the Revised Statutes of 1989. The Public Highways Act. (Ms. Vicki Conrad)

Bill No. 76 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 18 of the Acts of 1998. The Municipal Government Act. (Mr. Keith Colwell)

Bill No. 77 - Entitled an Act to Provide Access to Defibrillators. (Mr. David Wilson, Glace Bay)

Bill No. 78 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 23 of the Revised Statutes of 1989. The Assessment Act. (Mr. Keith Colwell)

MR. SPEAKER: Ordered that these bills be read a second time on a future day.

NOTICES OF MOTION

The honourable Leader of the Opposition.

RESOLUTION NO. 692

MR. DARRELL DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Nova Scotia is the birthplace of hockey; and

Whereas a group of hockey fans and community supporters is working hard toward the construction of the International Hockey Heritage Centre, or Hockeyland for short, in Windsor; and

Whereas the group envisions Hockeyland as becoming an international signature attraction that would celebrate the cultural history of hockey in Canada and beyond;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House of Assembly congratulate the proponents of Hockeyland for their vision and dedication to celebrating the great sport of hockey and providing economic spinoffs for the Windsor area for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

[Page 881]

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable member for Cape Breton South.

RESOLUTION NO. 693

MR. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in 2008, the Cape Breton Cancer Centre will celebrate its 10th Anniversary and will be expanding their facility in the near future; and

Whereas the total cost of the expansion will be $8 million, with $6 million coming from the federal government and the hospital being left to raise money for the rest; and

Whereas in an act of generosity, the Sydney Airport Authority has donated $25,000 towards this worthwhile cause;

Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly recognize the generosity of the Sydney Airport Authority in contributing towards the expansion of the Cape Breton Cancer Centre.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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.

Just a reminder to the members if they could keep the chatter down so we could actually hear the people who are speaking, it would be very helpful.

The honourable Minister of Agriculture.

[Page 882]

RESOLUTION NO. 694

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

Whereas two genuine treasures of CBC Television memorabilia, Jerome the purple polka-dot giraffe and Rusty the harp-playing rooster, have been removed from the CBC Museum in Toronto; and

Whereas Rusty and Jerome played integral roles in the hit children's televison show The Friendly Giant from September 1958 to March 1985; and

Whereas the family of the late Robert Homme, who played the role of The Friendly Giant for 27 years on the CBC, were disappointed that permission was granted by the corporation for Rusty and Jerome to be used in a video-taped skit at the Gemini Awards on October 28th;

Therefore be it resolved that MLAs in the Legislature encourage the CBC to exercise more caution in the future toward the use of such national television icons, especially Rusty and Jerome, and encourage the public-funded broadcaster to exercise their negotiating skills and have Rusty and Jerome returned to their rightful home, the CBC Museum in Toronto.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

Everybody in favour of the motion signify by looking up. (Laughter)

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable member for Hants East.

MR. JOHN MACDONELL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I do my resolution, could I do an introduction, please?

MR. SPEAKER: Please do.

[Page 883]

MR. MACDONELL: Mr. Speaker, I'd like to draw the attention of the members to your gallery and a gentleman who is accompanying the former minister, Ed Lorraine, to the House and is no stranger to this House. He was here when the minister was here, Mr. Ralph Taylor. I'd like members to give him a warm welcome. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Hants East.

RESOLUTION NO. 695

MR. JOHN MACDONELL: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas volunteer fire departments are often the first service groups organized in communities; and

Whereas the need for a fire department is always of paramount importance; and

Whereas on October 27, 2007, the Enfield Volunteer Fire Department celebrated its 50th Anniversary;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate the members of the Enfield Fire Department on their half century of continuous service to their community.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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.

[3:00 p.m.]

The honourable member for Richmond.

RESOLUTION NO. 696

[Page 884]

MR. MICHEL SAMSON: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Mosaic Social Dining Lounge has been selected by WHERE magazine as one of the top 10 best new restaurants in Canada and has also been named Halifax's best new restaurant; and

Whereas the award recognizes the concept surrounding Mosaic as one of uniqueness, bringing new ideas to the restaurant industry; and

Whereas with the use of local ingredients, an extensive wine list, stylish decor and a menu offering selections outside the norm, Mosaic was an easy choice for best new restaurant in Halifax;

Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly recognize the achievements that Mosaic Social Dining Lounge has made in the restaurant business and wish them many more years of success in Halifax.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 member for Victoria-The Lakes

RESOLUTION NO. 697

MR. KEITH BAIN: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Victoria County's Department of Recreation and Tourism received the 2007 Tourism Atlantic Technology Award at the 30th Anniversary of the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia's annual conference earlier last week; and

Whereas Victoria County was chosen to receive the award because of work on broadband, enhancing tourism with broadband and being a leader across Canada in

[Page 885]

broadband, with 83 per cent of all dwellings in Victoria County presently having access to high-speed Internet; and

Whereas Victoria County Warden Wayne Budge and Director of Research and Tourism Tom Wilson accepted the award on the municipality's behalf, with Wilson leading the way and by year's end it is expected with the completion of Phase 3, Victoria County will be the most connected rural area with broadband anywhere in North America;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House of Assembly congratulate Tom Wilson, a current member on Canada's e-Tourism Council, the Municipality of Victoria and its Department of Tourism and Recreation and the many groups and individuals involved with this superlative broadband initiative.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 member for Dartmouth North.

RESOLUTION NO. 698

MR. TREVOR ZINCK: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas 16-year-old Michael Hardy of Ingramport, Nova Scotia, has had a passion for downhill skiing since the early age of two; and

Whereas Michael has recently been selected for the prestigious Devonian Properties Rising Star Camp in Panorama, British Columbia, December 2 to December 6, 2007; and

Whereas Michael was chosen by Alpine Canada Alpin as the number one seeded athlete in the Atlantic Canada Division, earning one of 18 spots available for men at the Devonian Properties Rising Star Camp;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Michael Hardy of Ingramport, Nova Scotia, on the excellent and merited opportunity to train with Canada's

[Page 886]

best young talent at the Devonian Properties Rising Star Camp of British Columbia, and encourage and wish Michael many future successes.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 member for Digby-Annapolis.

RESOLUTION NO. 699

MR. HAROLD THERIAULT: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Digby, Nova Scotia, is not only the most romantic town in Canada, it is also known for its world-famous Digby scallops; and

Whereas Richard Treleaven and his business partner, Alan Frankland, are bringing Digby scallops to a whole new audience by packaging them in a new line of frozen gourmet dinners, a fine example of adding value to an already delicious product; and

Whereas Digby Scallop House Dinners were officially launched at Pete's Frootique on December 1st, bringing Digby scallops to the people of Halifax in a new, convenient, much tastier form;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House of Assembly congratulate Richard Treleaven and Alan Frankland on establishing this line of frozen gourmet dinners, and try one of their great dinners tonight, a treat you will not soon forget.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

[Page 887]

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable member for Pictou Centre.

RESOLUTION NO. 700

MR. PATRICK DUNN: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas recently, the students of North Nova Education Centre honoured the new tradition of wearing pink in a stand against bullying; and

Whereas Grade 12 student, Jane Peters, followed the story from Kings County and organized the Pink Day event at her Pictou County school; and

Whereas the Central Kings students who started it all, David Shepherd and Travis Price, were also invited to address the student body about the importance of rising up against bullying;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House send their congratulations to Jane Peters and all of the faculty and students of North Nova Education Centre for their efforts in organizing a very successful Pink Day in support of the new Nova Scotia tradition that takes a stand against bullying in our Nova Scotia schools.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 member for Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank.

RESOLUTION NO. 701

MR. PERCY PARIS: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

[Page 888]

Whereas lifelong Beaver Bank-Kinsac resident, Laurie Campbell, is a dedicated community volunteer; and

Whereas Laurie Campbell founded the Beaver Bank-Kinsac Lions Club in 2005 and has invested much of his time and energy to encourage donations to support various community projects; and

Whereas in October 2007, 69-year-old Laurie Campbell undertook a 25 kilometre walk to raise funds for the Beaver Bank-Kinsac Lions Club, generating over $800;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly recognize and express thanks to Laurie Campbell on his unflagging community spirit and volunteer efforts on behalf of the Lions Club in the Beaver Bank-Kinsac community.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 member for Kings West.

RESOLUTION NO. 702

MR. LEO GLAVINE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Village of Kingston was incorporated June 1, 1957, with George Balcom serving as the first village chair, and Sharon Balcom continuing the family tradition by serving as chair for part of the 50th year; and

Whereas the residents of Kingston celebrated their 50th Anniversary with a variety of events, including a Princess Tea, a concert in the park, and a tree planting ceremony; and

Whereas to mark this significant milestone for the community, Canada Post has created a cancellation stamp with the village crest for the local post office;

[Page 889]

Therefore be it resolved that members of this House recognize the hard work that went into the planning of this celebration and wish the Village of Kingston and the residents continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 member for Hants West.

RESOLUTION NO. 703

MR. CHUCK PORTER: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Hantsport resident, Phillip Scott, served as a member of the Hantsport Fire Department for more than 30 years, including eight years as chief; and

Whereas Phillip worked diligently on an array of projects in the fire service, including the success of the Maritime Fire Chiefs convention when it was hosted in the Annapolis Valley on at least three separate occasions; and

Whereas Phillip Scott, after many years of dedication and a commitment to firefighting and fire safety with the Hantsport Fire Department, has decided to join the veteran ranks of the department;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House of Assembly take this opportunity to extend our warmest and best wishes to retired chief and firefighter, Phillip Scott, as he becomes a veteran within the ranks of the department, while realizing that when truly needed in an emergency crisis, he will likely be only a phone call or a page away from assisting.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

[Page 890]

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 Timberlea-Prospect.

RESOLUTION NO. 704

MR. WILLIAM ESTABROOKS: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas this evening, December 5, 2007, the family and friends of Paula Gallant will meet in Glace Bay and Timberlea to celebrate the launching of Paula's Web site entitled Come Meet Paula at www.PaulaGallant.ca; and

Whereas family, friends, colleagues and students of Paula Gallant will never forget this wonderful mother and teacher; and

Whereas magnetic Ps that symbolize Paula - peace, perseverance and prosecution - will be made available this evening;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate the family and friends of Paula Gallant on their continuing efforts to remember this outstanding woman.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 member for Clare.

[Page 891]

RESOLUTION NO. 705

MR. WAYNE GAUDET: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas each year on December 5th we celebrate International Volunteer Day; and

Whereas volunteers have a great impact on the community, providing support to local events and by keeping the community safe through programs such as Neighbourhood Watch; and

Whereas volunteers are also present in times of crisis, there to lend a helping hand wherever they can to whomever they can;

Therefore be it resolved that members of this House of Assembly recognize the importance of volunteers and encourage people in their community to volunteer whenever possible.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 member for Victoria-The Lakes.

RESOLUTION NO. 706

MR. KEITH BAIN: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Highland Village Museum in Iona was recently recognized by the Council of Nova Scotia Archives for outstanding achievement in the archival field and presented with the prestigious Dr. Phyllis R. Blakely Award, an award established in 1988 as a memorial to Dr. Blakely, Nova Scotia's first woman provincial archivist; and

[Page 892]

Whereas the Highland Village in May received the prestigious award for its virtual museum exhibition on Cape Breton Gaelic culture, an exhibit using archival materials to explore various aspects of Cape Breton Gaelic life; and

Whereas the museum's interactive exhibit is part of the Virtual Museum of Canada;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize the dynamic work of volunteers and supporters of the Highland Village Museum for being honoured with such a prestigious award.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 member for Pictou East.

RESOLUTION NO. 707

MR. CLARRIE MACKINNON: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Pictou County Sports Heritage Hall of Fame was founded in 1989 by two visionary citizens - Billy Dee and the late Dave Melanson - and has been operated solely by volunteers since that time; and

Whereas the Pictou County Sports Heritage Hall of Fame is one of the few sports halls of fame in North America that strives to collect an archive memorabilia and information from all sports; and

Whereas the Pictou County Sports Heritage Hall of Fame has honoured more than 400 individuals, including 24 teams, as athletes or builders, or media, and has collected over 4,000 pieces of memorabilia;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly commend Billy Dee for his continuing enthusiasm and dedication and congratulate the many volunteers who have and

[Page 893]

continue to make the Pictou County Sports Heritage Hall of Fame an institution in Pictou County.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 member for Glace Bay.

RESOLUTION NO. 708

MR. DAVID WILSON (Glace Bay): Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Winnie Hart, a 43-year-old woman from Glace Bay, graduated from the Adult Education Centre which is sponsored by the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board; and

Whereas Winnie began the program in September 2005, but in November of the same year she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had an operation the same month, returning to school after missing only four weeks of classes; and

Whereas Winnie thought it was necessary to prove to her own daughter and granddaughter the importance of an education, and during the graduation ceremony Winnie was presented with a special award on behalf of students and staff acknowledging her perseverance and leadership;

Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly congratulate Winnie Hart on obtaining her high school equivalency diploma, as well as being a wonderful role model for women of all ages.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

[3:15 p.m.]

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

[Page 894]

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 Pictou Centre.

RESOLUTION NO. 709

MR. PATRICK DUNN: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Town of Stellarton and Jim Nelson, of Jim Nelson Automotive, have teamed up to offer women a four-week seminar, free of charge, on the basics of vehicle maintenance in response to what Mr. Nelson states is the increasing trend of women taking an interest in cars and car repair; and

Whereas the program is receiving an enthusiastic endorsement from the three women enrolled in the automotive service and repair program at the Nova Scotia Community College, Pictou Campus; and

Whereas Paulette Anderson, J. C. Verge, and Amy Van Veen agree with Nelson when he maintains that women make great mechanics due to their patience and attention to detail, remembering the tremendous work done by millions of women across the continent during the Second World War;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House send their congratulations and appreciation to the Town of Stellarton, Jim Nelson, NSCC Pictou Campus, and Paulette Anderson, J. C. Verge, and Amy Van Veen for their combined efforts towards opening up new learning opportunities for women.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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.

[Page 895]

The motion is carried.

The honourable member for Hants West.

RESOLUTION NO. 710

MR. CHUCK PORTER: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas ardent hockey enthusiast Billy Cleveland lost his life in a horrific car crash on July 28th; and

Whereas Billy played an integral role in the game of hockey in Windsor-West Hants, whether it was in the minor system, attending Windsor Royal hockey games with his grandfather, or eagerly awaiting the initial season of the Avon River Rats Junior C hockey team he wanted to play for this coming hockey season; and

Whereas the River Rats Hockey Club have now dedicated their 2007-08 hockey season in Billy Cleveland's memory and, as a result, recently had their newly fashioned team logo displaying an animated river rat in full hockey gear, modified with the letters BC and the No. 6 to honour Billy;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House of Assembly remember Billy Cleveland for the tremendous zest and enthusiasm he brought to the sport of hockey, and to the River Rats for their recognition of what a tremendous attribute they are missing this hockey season as a result of Billy's tragic mishap.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 member for Preston.

RESOLUTION NO. 711

[Page 896]

MR. KEITH COLWELL: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas on August 30, 2007, the Barbara Cole Memorial Scholarship Fund was officially launched in memory of Barbara Cole, a registered nurse for almost 50 years , who spent 25 of those years as a public health nurse in the Community of Preston; and

Whereas the sole aim of the scholarship is to provide current and would-be staff of the East Preston Day Care Centre with training and continued professional development; and

Whereas the first recipient of this scholarship is Sandra Colley, a dedicated and hard- working employee of the East Preston Day Care Centre since April, 1995;

Therefore be it resolved that members of this House of Assembly recognize the accomplishments of the late Barbara Cole and her commitment to the people of Preston, and congratulate Sandra Colley on receiving this distinct honour.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

RESOLUTION NO. 712

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

Whereas Guysborough has once again hosted a Doctors Nova Scotia Provincial Triathlon championship competition; and

Whereas Guysborough has proven to be a first-class triathlon host with 90 athletes participating; and

Whereas triathlon director, Karen McNulty, was very happy with how the successful event turned out and was very grateful to the 18 volunteers;

[Page 897]

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Guysborough and the volunteers for this triathlon event.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 Minister of Human Resources.

RESOLUTION NO. 713

HON. CAROLYN BOLIVAR-GETSON: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas schools depend on community volunteers for support; and

Whereas Newcombville Elementary School has been the benefactor of many services provided by community volunteers; and

Whereas Greg Pelkey made a significant contribution toward the Newcombville

Elementary School Spring Bazaar fundraiser;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House extend thanks and congratulations to Greg Pelkey for his donation of a homemade guitar which was constructed by him and valued at over $1,600.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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.

[Page 898]

The motion is carried.

The honourable Minister of Environment and Labour.

RESOLUTION NO. 714

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

Whereas the Sheffield Mills Community Association has honoured its war veterans by erecting a unique memorial on which the veterans' names have been engraved on two millstones, indicative of the community's history of being an original site of many mills, following the time of the Acadians; and

Whereas president of the Sheffield Mills Community Association and Kings County Council member Jim Taylor, along with Bill Swetnam, Eric Jackson, Matthew Harvie, Oran Starratt, Eugene Martin and Brian Lloyd were instrumental in the planning, design and construction of the memorial with help from community members and families of the veterans; and

Whereas the members of the Sheffield Mills Community Association plan to continue by adding a commemorative plaque, flagpole and host an event to dedicate the memorial during Heritage Day celebrations;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate the outstanding efforts of these people and their valuable contribution as citizens not only to their community, but to Nova Scotia as well.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 Minister of Immigration.

RESOLUTION NO. 715

[Page 899]

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

Whereas the Terry Fox Run is an annual event to raise money for cancer research; and

Whereas the hard work of community volunteers in organizing the event ensures the success of the Terry Fox Run year after year; and

Whereas the run has shown continual growth, raising over $21,000 this year in Bedford;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize the invaluable efforts made by the 2007 Bedford Terry Fox Run committee members for another successful event.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 Minister of Health.

RESOLUTION NO. 716

HON. CHRISTOPHER D'ENTREMONT: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Canadian Idol Show chose Dwight d'Eon as one of their 22 finalists out of 10,000 competitors in a 10 city, cross-country search; and

Whereas Dwight d'Eon is an East Coast rocker who is originally from West Pubnico, a fishing village in Yarmouth County, making it all the way to the top four in the Canadian Idol Show; and

Whereas Dwight d'Eon became a household name this summer in my community and all across Canada and made us so very proud of his accomplishments;

[Page 900]

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House join me in congratulating Dwight d'Eon for his achievements on the Canadian Idol Show and wish him continued success with his music career.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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 Minister of Education.

RESOLUTION NO. 717

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

Whereas the Williams Farm of Great Village in Colchester North is a family operation run by Carl Williams, his wife, their daughter and her partner; and

Whereas the Williams Farm is well known for the superior quality of its Angus breeding stock; and

Whereas the Angus stock used on the Williams Farm carries genetics from across the country and produces calves well known for their growth potential;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate the Williams Farm for being named Maritime Angus Commercial Breeder of the Year.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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.

[Page 901]

The motion is carried.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ORAL QUESTIONS PUT BY MEMBERS

MR. SPEAKER: It is now 3:25 p.m. We will go until 4:55 p.m.

The honourable Leader of the Opposition.

IMMIGRATION - NOMINEE PROG.: AUDIT - OPENNESS ENSURE

MR. DARRELL DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, it is good to return from the Chamber of Commerce dinner. I thought for sure I would return to find that everybody in the Opposition had horns. (Interruption)

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. It is the law of this province that notwithstanding the provisions of any other Act, every officer, clerk or employee of an agency of government shall provide the Auditor General with such information and explanation as the Auditor General requires and the Auditor General shall have free access, at all times, to the files, records, books of account and other documents in whatever form, relating to the accounts of any agency of the government. So my question to the Premier is this, will the Premier ensure that his government gives the Auditor General all information about the Immigration Nominee Program?

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, any relevant documents that should be and can be, will be forwarded to the Auditor General as they should be.

MR. DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, I don't believe the Premier has the right to decide what documents are relevant and what documents are not. In 1989, the Auditor General saw all information about the new liquor warehouse and revealed that the government had chosen the most expensive bid. In 1999, the Auditor General saw all the documents about the P3 school construction and told Nova Scotians that no formal analysis had been done before government committed $250 million. With immigration to our province declining so far this year, Nova Scotians deserve the full truth about the Nominee Program. So my question for the Premier is this, how will the Premier ensure that his government is completely open with this audit?

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, as I said, the government will follow the rules and regulations in place and I am sure that appropriate documents are forwarded.

Mr. Speaker, I would want to correct one thing in my honourable colleague's question. He suggested immigration is down this year. The year has not ended and the

[Page 902]

numbers, I am sure that member and all members will be very pleased to see the growth in numbers this year.

MR. DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, past behaviour is the best indicator of the future. I know you will find this hard to believe but in 2006, this government withheld information from the audit of its revenue estimates and they made the other auditors copy other material by hand, instead of allowing for photocopies. The Auditor General, an independent public servant accountable to this House, requires the full access to information required by law but MLAs are told no such access has been offered. So my question to the Premier is this, why is the Premier's government creating obstacles for the Auditor General whose job it is to ensure due regard to economy and efficiency, in this case, with the Nominee Program? Just what is the government hiding?

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, we'll continue to follow the appropriate procedures and protocols in place, as we have always done. It is this government and the previous government since 1999, that have been more open and accountable than any previous government in our province. Generally accepted accounting principles; putting in the Ministerial Code of Conduct; ensuring that we provide the information that is relevant to the people of the province so that they can be part of the process, such as the process we put forward today; and making sure that 100 per cent of Nova Scotians have access to high-speed Internet in our province.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Liberal Party.

ATL. ACCORD PROPOSAL: LETTERS - CONTENTS

MR. STEPHEN MCNEIL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Over two months ago, my office requested documents related to the Atlantic Accord proposal presented to the federal government by our Premier, and any correspondence related to those proposals. What we received were three letters, they were signed by our Premier and sent to the Prime Minister and Minister Flaherty on April 3rd, May 29th and June 6th of this year. The problem is that the letters were completely blanked out, so my question to the Premier, what was stated in those letters?

[3:30 p.m.]

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, the only blank I see is the stare from across the way. We signed that agreement and made sure this province was protected for the full beneficiary of the offshore.

MR. MCNEIL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier did not bring home the Atlantic Accord. What he brought home, according to Bill Casey, were 20 pages of amendments to the Atlantic Accord. Nova Scotians want assurance that our Premier went to Ottawa and fought for nothing less than the Atlantic Accord that was signed on February 15, 2005.

[Page 903]

According to his own Finance Minister, Nova Scotia will have less money this year, next year and the year after - that's his Finance Minister. So my question to the Premier is, if you fought so hard for the Atlantic Accord, why won't you release these letters in full and let Nova Scotians decide for themselves.

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, the last time we negotiated the Offshore Accord, the Liberals - provincially and federally - wanted us to take less money. Well, we won't take less money. We negotiated an agreement where we're getting more money and add to that, Mr. Speaker, the Crown's share, which the previous federal Liberal Government would not give the people of this province. The people of our province deserve the Crown share and finally we have a federal government that recognizes that.

MR. MCNEIL: Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier. You had three letters between you and the Prime Minister. There were three letters between you and the Prime Minister. You have blanked them out. You will not release them so that Nova Scotians can decide for themselves. Your own Finance Minister has said, you settled for less. Tell Nova Scotians why you settled for less.

THE PREMIER: I hope that my honourable colleague will join me, Mr. Speaker, in calling on our federal MPs - Liberal, Conservative, NDP, all of them, and our Independent - calling on them to vote to make sure that Nova Scotians don't lose $1.5 billion. That's what the Liberals want to do in this province.

Shame on them, Mr. Speaker, shame on that Party. The once great Liberal Party of this province is no more, it is gone.

Mr. Speaker, we will stand up for Nova Scotians. That crew wanted to take $640 million the last time. They were willing to settle for less. We're not willing to settle for less. We're taking more.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition.

AGRIC.: HOG IND. TRANSITION PROCESS - INVOLVEMENT

MR. DARRELL DEXTER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Agriculture. The perfect storm hitting our agricultural sector in Nova Scotia continues to worsen and this government's action has done nothing to help. Today, Joe Van Vulpen, one of the largest hog producers in Cumberland County, fears his industry will soon be a memory because the province is refusing to provide additional funding to struggling farmers.

This industry, through Pork Nova Scotia, has been requesting a transition plan, but all this government has provided are reactive plans instead of a proactive long-term vision. My question for the minister is, when will he become a serious partner in the transition process for this important industry?

[Page 904]

HON. BROOKE TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, I would inform the Leader of the Opposition that the Department of Agriculture and this government, through the leadership of the Premier, have been working with the pork industry for well over a year and one-half now. This is a national crisis, quite frankly, not just a Nova Scotia problem. This government, on a per capita and per producer basis, has put more money in to the hog industry than any other province and we're working extremely hard with the individuals who are still producing pork.

There has been a number of programs - the direct payment program. We are encouraging farmers to use that for transition. We are working on a case-by-case basis with the farmer and their family, we are helping them sustain, but, yes, the industry is smaller, but Nova Scotia will have a pork industry in the future. That industry will be profitable.

MR. DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, predictably, the minister will stand and speak of past announcements but the reality is that Mr. Van Vulpen captures the issue when he says that there has been very little help for the hog industry since 1998. There's been nothing other than occasional grants to farmers and loans that only put farmers further in debt. This government has shown no leadership in transitioning our pork producers or our agricultural sector. My question to the minister is, what is stopping you, or who is stopping you from bringing forward a transition plan for our farmers?

MR. TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, I'm very proud of the pork producers who have taken the initiative, have worked with the Department of Agriculture. Many of them have moved to different models. The pork producers recognize - and I think even the NDP's agriculture critic is starting to recognize - that you can't stay in that old North American market model where the cost of production is more than you actually get for the pig. That's how it's working today and what this government has put in place is a number of programs that are working with the farmer to transition them from these models of unprofitability to something that will sustain.

Again, I want to emphasize to all members in the House, this is a national program, but this government has done more than any province in Atlantic Canada to work with our producers. In fact, just back a couple of months ago we put in place a pork transition fund in this fiscal year of $500,000. Since the year 2000 - with all respect to the Leader of the Opposition and his comment that we haven't done anything since 1998 - we've put in over $16.5 million since 2000.

MR. DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, the minister should talk to some of the pork producers. They say that without a transition plan and bridge funding for pork producers, in six months there will only be a dozen hog producers left in the province and they'll all be shipping to the United States. The pork industry was worth more than $30 million at the farm gate and more than $100 million to the province's economy. It supported 1,500 direct and indirect jobs. My question to the minister is, what does this minister plan to do to ensure pork producers and other farmers have a future in this province?

[Page 905]

MR. TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, let me tell the Leader of the Opposition, one thing this government is not going to do is act irresponsibly and expect the taxpayers of Nova Scotia to continue subsidizing non-profitable farm operations. What we are going to do is work with the farmers in the Province of Nova Scotia and we're going to do it on a case-by-case basis - $16.5 million since 2000, more than any Atlantic Province has done. More, and we will keep working to do more for our farmers.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Halifax Citadel.

IMMIGRATION: PROG. SUCCESS - STATISTICS

MR. LEONARD PREYRA: Mr. Speaker, Statistics Canada published immigration figures yesterday showing that between 2000 and 2006 immigration in all of the other Atlantic Provinces and the Prairie Provinces increased at rates far higher than Nova Scotia. Saskatchewan increased by 58 per cent; Newfoundland and Labrador by 68 per cent; New Brunswick by 101 per cent; Manitoba by 118 per cent; and P.E.I. by 171 per cent. Nova Scotia lagged at 55 per cent.

Mr. Speaker, my question to the Premier is, why does the Premier continue to insist that our immigration program is a resounding success when Nova Scotia continues to lag so far behind the other Atlantic and Prairie Provinces when it comes to attracting immigrants?

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, there are two things I took out of those numbers. Number one, we have to do a better job as a province to attract more and more new immigrants to our province. We all recognize that and we intend to do that. The programs and the policies we've put in place are attracting more immigrants to our province. The second thing I noticed in those numbers was very positive news and that was between 2001 and 2006 - and I believe the number is roughly 15 per cent of our immigrant population here in Nova Scotia came during that time period, which is a significant increase as compared to the 10 previous years. So it's proof that the policies being put in place by this government are working.

MR. PREYRA: Mr. Speaker, I think we should tell those 60 per cent or 70 per cent of those nominees who left the province and those immigrants who leave the province that the policy is in fact working.

Mr. Speaker, according to Statistics Canada, net international migration to Nova Scotia was down 23 per cent, the Premier conveniently stopped at 2006, over the first six months of 2007. Again, migration into Manitoba, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and P.E.I. went up by leaps and bounds. New Brunswick went up by 50 per cent and P.E.I. by 63 per cent. Those same statistics show that 20,000 Nova Scotians left the province in 2005 for other parts of Canada and only 15,000 moved to Nova Scotia - a net loss of 5,000 people in just one year.

[Page 906]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier, how does he propose to deal with these significant out-migration losses suffered by Nova Scotia's economy and society?

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, the member is obviously confused about the numbers. So I will refer that to the Minister of Immigration to straighten it out.

HON. LEONARD GOUCHER: Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure where the honourable member is getting all his information. I can tell you right now that in Canada last year, from 2005 to 2006, overall immigration within this country decreased 4 per cent, but I can tell you with all confidence that in this Province of Nova Scotia under this government, immigration increased 34 per cent over that number. (Applause) I can also tell you that Nova Scotia has doubled the number of foreign-born individuals living in this province; double the number for New Brunswick.

MR. PREYRA: Mr. Speaker, it's great to know - I'm reassured that the Minister of Immigration is not following the immigration statistics that have been released by Statistics Canada itself. We do know that the minister has already admitted that immigration was just not a priority before and it does not appear to be a priority now. Back in 1979, Nova Scotia's youth population peaked at almost 169,000. Since then, our population of 15-year-olds to 24-year-olds has dropped to less than 125,000 people. That's a drop of 25 per cent in one generation. I would like to ask the Premier, since the Minister of Immigration is not looking at those statistics, what long-term strategy does his government have in place to deal with this demographic time bomb?

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, there are a number of initiatives that the government is taking with respect to growing the population here in our province. Immigration is obviously key to that and we need to see the numbers grow considerably. I would like to see that number get up to the 10,000 mark which is what we see in Manitoba and I see no reason why we can't reach that target. We also have to take a look at the retention rate, going from the 40 per cent at current, getting it to the 70 per cent which we have set as a target. Beyond that, we have to grow the economy in this province and we have to not only keep our graduates here, we have to attract new ones back. Now if we listen to the Opposition - the NDP - who want to stop development in downtown Halifax, who obviously have something against various private partnerships we have, we wouldn't grow the economy in this province. This government will forge ahead and make sure that we do grow the economy in Nova Scotia.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Liberal Party.

HARPER-MACDONALD ACCORD: CROWN SHARE - DETAILS

MR. STEPHEN MCNEIL: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. When the Premier brought home his new Harper-MacDonald accord, he boasted to Nova Scotians about the success in getting the Prime Minister to come to the table on the issue of Crown

[Page 907]

share, an issue that has been trumpeted by Progressive Conservative Premiers for over 20 years. However, the committee to determine the Crown share payments will make non-binding recommendations to the Prime Minister who will then decide if he wants to make the payment or not. So my question to the Premier is, why would you agree to a deal that still leaves in the hand of a man to decide whether he wants to meet this commitment or not, who doesn't believe in signed agreements?

[3:45 p.m.]

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, the facts speak for themselves. There will be federal regulations put in place within 90 days of when the report comes back. We had a provincial Liberal Government here between 1993 and 1999. We had a federal Liberal Government and they did nothing when it came to the Crown share. My honourable colleague mentions Crown share and mentions the Conservative Government. He's right, it took two Conservative Governments to make it happen.

MR. MCNEIL: Mr. Speaker, this money has been spent several times over by former Progressive Conservative Governments and Nova Scotians are still making payments. The debt of this province is over $12 billion. There is only one place for this money to go if the Prime Minister decides to act on the recommendations and that is directly on the debt. So my question to the Premier is simple. Will you apply that payment, if it arrives, directly to the debt of Nova Scotia?

THE PREMIER: Debt is an obvious priority for this government because, Mr. Speaker, through our plan approach from the first year, the debt has finally stopped growing in our province and is going down. It's going down. Added to that, my honourable colleague should be calling on the federal Liberal Leader, calling on him not to sit in his chair but to stand up for Canadians and stand up for Nova Scotians and support us on the Atlantic Accord.

MR. MCNEIL: Mr. Speaker, I wonder if he thinks about what comes out of his mouth before he says it. (Interruptions) I apologize, Mr. Speaker. Did I actually hear him say that he wants the House to call on federal Members of Parliament and colleagues to fight for the Atlantic Accord? Do you remember a guy by the name of Bill Casey who did exactly what that Premier asked him to do and the only member of that Cabinet who had the courage to stand beside him is the honourable Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. (Applause) Do not give us a lesson on the hypocrisy of your government. My question is pretty simple. Do the right thing and put the money directly on the debt.

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, it's very simple. All the member has to do is pick up the phone and call his Liberal colleagues, the MPs here in Nova Scotia and say listen, support what is going through the House of Parliament at the present time so that Nova Scotians will not lose $1.5 billion. They are willing to give up - the provincial Liberal Party and the Leader here - $1.5 billion and the Crown share. Shame, shame, shame.

[Page 908]

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Sackville-Cobequid.

HEALTH - PALLIATIVE CARE: IMPORTANCE - RECOGNIZE

MR. DAVID WILSON (Sackville-Cobequid): Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. This government continues to defy logic by not implementing well-researched strategies to improve health care. We know that 80 per cent of Nova Scotians would rather die at home, yet 70 per cent of Nova Scotians end their lives in the hospital. It's not the best strategy for Nova Scotians nor the best use of resources in our health care system. So I would like to ask the Minister of Health, when will his government recognize that palliative care is an essential part of health care in Nova Scotia?

HON. CHRISTOPHER D'ENTREMONT: Mr. Speaker, this government fully realizes the issue of palliative care and how people deserve to die at home if their wish is to do that. We have, over the last number of months, been able to work on that strategy, put people in place. We are continuing to employ, or looking for the employ of an individual to work on that strategy, to implement that strategy on behalf of all Nova Scotians.

MR. DAVID WILSON (Sackville-Cobequid): District health authorities have been calling on a provincial palliative care strategy for years, Mr. Speaker, along with many groups, especially the Palliative Care Association here in Nova Scotia. In the latest business plan for the Annapolis Valley District Health Authority it states, and I quote: "Patients are dying while waiting to see the palliative care physician and most likely in pain and suffering", and I'll table that business plan. My question to the Minister of Health is, why is this government dragging its feet when it comes to a provincial palliative care strategy for our province?

MR. D'ENTREMONT: Mr. Speaker, quite honestly, the system itself was not capable of taking on a full provincial palliative care program. We had to start with those areas that did not have a palliative care program to begin with. I know that the Minister of Energy, the member for Yarmouth, and myself, worked very hard to get a palliative care program for Yarmouth and the southwest district. I know that through the last number of years, we've implemented and added dollars to different areas of this province to make sure that we have a comparable level of care across the province. Is it enough? No, Mr. Speaker, but we are continuing with those recommendations and making sure that they're going to be implemented and making sure those dollars are available so people can die at home.

MR. DAVID WILSON (Sackville-Cobequid): The minister, Mr. Speaker, refers directly to the problem - it is sporadic throughout this province, it's not fair. Each district health authority needs to ensure that they can service those individuals who need a palliative care program. Dying shouldn't be about economics, it should be about leaving this world with dignity, and the dignity of all Nova Scotians, we need to address that. We know that a palliative care program is less expensive than dying in a hospital, so I ask the Minister of

[Page 909]

Health, when will the minister implement a province-wide strategy to help people when they need it the most - in their final days?

MR. D'ENTREMONT: Mr. Speaker, I know through the Continuing Care Strategy and through what we've been able to implement there, that we're going to continue to increase the palliative care entitlement, making sure that people are available to have nursing care in their final number of months of life, making sure they have the oxygen services they need. We will continue to expand that program as time will be (Interruption) I said a home care entitlement, Mr. Speaker. I wish the member for - I'll sit down, thank you.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Dartmouth South-Portland Valley.

COM. SERV. - INCOME ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS:

PERISHABLE FOOD REPLACEMENT - POLICY

MS. MARILYN MORE: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Community Services. Post-tropical storm Noel left thousands of Nova Scotians without power, some for several days. I was approached by social assistance clients who had lost most of their perishable food due to the power failure. Department staff told me that they wouldn't offer help because the perishable food should be good for 72 hours. So my question to the Minister of Community Services is, what is your government's official policy and practice in terms of replacing perishable food for income assistance recipients after extended power failures?

HON. JUDY STRETCH: Mr. Speaker, to my colleague across the way, I thank her for the opportunity to rise and speak to this issue. We know that in times of storm, in times of emergency, there are always challenges. We all face them, as individuals, and certainly as departments of government. We have funds available for special needs, as supervisors and caseworkers see fit, and I am sure that those fine-working staff at the Department of Community Services will ensure that the policies are kept up and that individuals are cared for as best they can be.

MS. MORE: Well, Mr. Speaker, I know what I was told by department officials, and this may be a policy, it may be a practice. I'll table a pamphlet produced by the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture entitled, Is My Food Safe ... Knowing What To Keep? I quote: "Discard any perishable foods that may have been above 4o C (40o F) for more than two hours. . ." It is unthinkable that anyone should be expected to eat perishable food when it is up to seventy hours past the point where it's safe to eat. My question to the minister: Why are staff not following the food safety guidelines of her own government in determining whether food needs to be replaced?

MS. STREATCH: Again, Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of all Nova Scotians is a collective responsibility. We will ensure that we continue to do the best that we can to ensure that individuals who require that special needs assistance get it.

[Page 910]

MS. MORE: Mr. Speaker, either the policies need to be clarified or they need to be better communicated to staff. The same brochure also says that if the fridge is kept closed, food might stay cold for four to six hours. Now it appears that this government has learned nothing from Hurricane Juan when we saw many people go hungry because help replacing food was initially denied. My question to the minister: Why is her staff quoting seventy-two hours, and will she ensure the policy on food replacement follows safe food practices?

MS. STREATCH: Mr. Speaker, there's no question that the safety and security of all Nova Scotians is of utmost concern. I would be happy to personally check out the brochure that the member is referencing, with the Minister of Agriculture, but I don't question that my staff are doing a phenomenal job across this province to ensure that their clients are being well cared for.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Liberal Party.

ENVIRON. & LBR. - STATUTORY HOLIDAYS:

POLICY - CHANGE

MR. STEPHEN MCNEIL: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. Last year the Premier took away statutory holidays from workers in Nova Scotia; he left this important matter in the hands of the businesses and corporations to decide whether or not to open on Christmas Day or Canada Day. The people of Nova Scotia have clearly stated that the Progressive Conservative Government has made a mistake with respect to statutory holidays and want this changed. So my question to the Premier is will he admit that he completely mishandled this situation?

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, I refer that to the Minister of Environment and Labour.

HON. MARK PARENT: Mr. Speaker, it's a pleasure to stand and to remind Nova Scotians once again about the bill that we brought in that gives workers who traditionally were exempted from working in those industries the opportunity to opt out as long as they give seven days notice to the employer. Enough workers aren't taking advantage of this and so it's an opportunity for me, through the Legislature, to remind people of this wonderful bill that we brought in and that all Nova Scotians should know about.

MR. MCNEIL: Mr. Speaker, my supplementary is to the Premier. I have received phone calls, letters and e-mails from Nova Scotians who are not happy with this Premier's decision to throw caution to the wind on statutory holidays. This Progressive Conservative Government has flipped its position on the issue from one extreme to the other, and the Premier must deal with this matter once and for all. So my question is to the Premier. Can he commit to changing his most recent position on statutory holidays, which is a mistake for Nova Scotians?

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, I refer that to the Minister of Environment and Labour.

[Page 911]

MR. PARENT: Mr. Speaker, the honourable leader has accused this side of being hypocritical - this is an instance of hypocrisy on his part. Whose Party was it that led the charge against Sunday shopping? It was the Liberal Party here, and here he's being entirely hypocritical. He has changed his position - he has flipped and he has flopped like a fish in a frying pan.

MR. MCNEIL: Mr. Speaker, that fairy tale must belong in the new Nova Scotia the Premier is talking about. It was this Party that fought for Sunday shopping, but we did respect the workers when it came to statutory holidays and we said we would protect them (Applause) I'm not sure why the Premier and his government have decided to pick a fight with workers in all sectors in the Province of Nova Scotia. Nova Scotians deserve their statutory holidays and they deserve a government that will listen to them when they speak - clearly this government is turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to Nova Scotians. So my question to the Premier: Don't you feel that workers should be allowed to spend Christmas Day with their families?

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, I refer that to the Minister of Environment and Labour.

HON. MARK PARENT: Mr. Speaker, the honourable member mustn't have heard my first answer because they have that right - we enshrined it in labour legislation. All they have to do is take advantage of it. So I would suggest he tell members who are speaking to him that they have that right, please use it.

[4:00 p.m.]

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Timberlea-Prospect. (Applause)

JUSTICE - MAINTENANCE ENFORCEMENT:

STATUS - EXPLAIN

MR. WILLIAM ESTABROOKS: Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank the member for Glace Bay in joining in the applause. (Laughter) My question is for the Minister of Justice. Last June, the Auditor General delivered a devastating report on the state of maintenance enforcement in this province. According to that report, total arrears as of last March 31st stood at some $106 million. That's money that's needed to support children and families in this province. The report also made clear that since taking responsibility from the courts in 1996 for maintenance enforcement, neither this government nor the previous Liberal Government, got the job done. My question to the current Minister of Justice is, why did this government allow maintenance enforcement to reach such a state of disarray?

HON. CECIL CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, I actually want to thank my honourable critic in the New Democratic Party for the question. One of the things it highlights, unfortunately, is something very regrettable, that indeed people are delinquent in their obligations and it's something we take very seriously. In responding to the Auditor General's report, the

[Page 912]

department has responded to that with regard to the staffing associated with that. Indeed, the level of enforcement around that is improving and we will continue to work on that. I want to echo, we take this very seriously and treat it very seriously and are working on the enforcement.

MR. ESTABROOKS: Mr. Speaker, three months after the AG's report on this sorry state of maintenance enforcement in the province, the government got around to appointing a full-time director - that's something that should have happened 10 years ago. At the rate this government is moving, it will take another 10 years to straighten out the mess it's allowed to develop in the maintenance enforcement program in Nova Scotia. My question to the minister is, when will he implement the remainder of the 18 - I remind him again, 18 - total recommendations made by the Auditor General for correcting the problems in the maintenance enforcement program in Nova Scotia?

MR. CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, to my honourable colleague, I just want to indicate that we did accept all 18 recommendations that were made by the Auditor General. Work is ongoing, as was indicated, a director of maintenance enforcement was hired and we have 50 very qualified Nova Scotians who are working as staff across this province at six different locations to do just that and I'll be pleased to provide the member with an update at the earliest opportunity.

MR. ESTABROOKS: Mr. Minister, having worked with many people in maintenance enforcement, I assure you they are professional but they're overworked and their caseloads are heavy. The Auditor General found close to 20,000 cases in arrears - 20,000 cases. He found that in half the files reviewed, there was no evidence of enforcement efforts for the previous 12 month period because those maintenance enforcement officers are just overworked. My question to the minister is, when will he step up enforcement in a meaningful way and ensure children and former spouses are getting the maintenance support they need and deserve to have a quality of life in Nova Scotia?

MR. CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, again to my honourable colleague, I'll be pleased to bring forward further statistics that we are making progress and reducing the outstanding amount that's there. It's very sad that the maintenance enforcement program has over 19,500 cases that staff are working on, but what I can assure the member is, those numbers are coming down and I would be pleased to present that data to him before the House.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Digby-Annapolis.

HEALTH - DIGBY GEN.: RESTORATIVE CARE UNIT -

PHYSICIAN HIRE

MR. HAROLD THERIAULT: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. A new restorative care unit at Digby General is complete. It's staff is on hand, there's just one problem - there's no doctor in the house. The benefit of the restorative care unit is

[Page 913]

then patients get recuperation time in hospital rather than being sent home prematurely, reducing the likelihood of further trips to the hospital. $1.7 million was spent on the construction of this unit, which includes 13 beds for patients recovering from stroke and orthopaedic surgery. The unit was originally scheduled to open in the Fall of 2006, but construction issues delayed its opening. Now the only hurdle left is to find a doctor to lead this brand new restorative care unit. My question to the minister is, when will a doctor be hired for the restorative care unit at the Digby General Hospital?

HON. CHRISTOPHER D'ENTREMONT: Mr. Speaker, as the member did so eloquently explain, Southwest Health was funded for a restorative care unit to serve Southwest Health and the Annapolis Valley. They were provided with $1.6 million to create those 50 restorative beds. Unfortunately, the physician moved away in June of 2007, so there is no physician coverage at this time. Southwest Health continues its efforts to create a restorative unit for patients in the district, as well as for Annapolis Valley Health. From what we understand, they have a tentative agreement in place for a physician to cover that unit.

MR. THERIAULT: The lack of a physician is holding up more than the opening of the new restorative care unit in the Digby General Hospital. Without a collaborating doctor, Southwest DHA is unable to hire nurse practitioners for the hospital, even though interviews were held more than a month ago. Nurse practitioners were promised by this government as a solution to the extreme number of closures happening in our ER. So far this year, we have had over 1,400 hours of closures at the Digby General Hospital, more than three times as many as last year. For some unknown reason, the Minister of Health thinks this number is acceptable. My question to the minister is, when will the department put Digby on their priority list for a doctor so we can open our restorative care unit and get our nurse practitioners in the ER?

MR. D'ENTREMONT: Mr. Speaker, that kind of closure is not acceptable and I have said that on a number of occasions here in the House. Physician recruitment for Digby has been successful. You wouldn't know that from what he was talking about. The Southwest Nova District Health Authority has been working hard to recruit the replacement family doctors. It has recently announced that a new family physician will be starting practice in Digby and a second candidate looks promising.

MR. THERIAULT: Mr. Speaker, we have been hearing that since July, but there are still 6,000 people in Digby without a family doctor. We have received an ER doctor who is there a very few short hours through the week because he is semi-retired. Now there is a concern that those already selected for nurse practitioner positions at the Digby General Hospital may not be available when the time finally comes that a doctor is in place. Luckily, there has been plenty of other work to keep the staff that was hired for the restorative care unit busy within the hospital, but if this government doesn't act soon, we may have to start all over again. My final question to the minister is, will the minister commit to hiring a doctor for the restorative care unit and a collaborating physician for the nurse practitioners and tell us when that doctor will be in place?

[Page 914]

MR. D'ENTREMONT: Again, Mr. Speaker, the recruitment, the success is combined with the district health authority's ability to secure locum coverage has resulted in the Digby hospital being open on a more regular basis. We will continue to work with the district health authority, with members of the community, to make sure that Digby is on top of the list and we will have those physicians available to them. We will continue to work with the district health authority to make sure that those nurse practitioners have a doctor to work with. We will do everything possible to make sure that the people of Digby-Annapolis have the doctors that they need.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Pictou West.

NAT. RES. - CLEAR-CUTTING: FORESTRY SECTOR -

PROTECT

MR. CHARLES PARKER: Mr. Speaker, my question, through you, is to the Minister of Natural Resources. I want to table some rather devastating pictures here of property that is adjacent to Bob Bancroft, in Antigonish County. Mr. Bancroft is the Eastern Regional Woodlot Owner of the Year and Mr. Bancroft has spent over three decades re-establishing the natural Acadian forest and rehabilitating the stream that runs through his property. As can be seen in the photos, the land is clear-cut and it is deeply rutted. The impact is not limited to the adjacent property owner, as Mr. Bancroft's stream is filled with silt, reversing years of very hard work.

So my question to the minister, since he praises woodlot owners like Bob Bancroft, what does he propose to do to protect Nova Scotia's forests from such devastation?

HON. DAVID MORSE: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the member opposite for his question. Indeed, Bob Bancroft did win the award for that part of the province - he is exemplary in the way he operates his woodlot. In terms of protecting the forestry sector, we will vote against the Bill that was tabled by that member in this House. That's how we'll protect the forestry sector, Mr. Speaker.

MR. PARKER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Bancroft did report the problem to the Department of Natural Resources, that the company was at fault and they were issued warnings. Here's a quote from Mr. Bancroft; he stated "The company stuck up a couple of token little silt traps, bales of hay and some filter fabric but nothing they put in lasted and nothing they put in was adequate. The company countered that they had done everything they were required to do, there was nothing more the department asked of them."

So in light of the damage illustrated in those photos that I tabled, my question to the minister is, if this damage is the result of doing all that is required, why should people like Bob Bancroft even bother trying?

[Page 915]

MR. MORSE; Mr. Speaker, thank you very much again for giving me the opportunity to respond to some of the messages from the Opposition, and particularly the Opposition Critic. I want the Opposition Critic to know that the forestry sector is very much aware of the activities and the position that has been forwarded by the Official Opposition, they are greatly concerned by them.

Mr. Speaker, I assure you that this government does not agree with the Opposition's position as tabled in the member's bill.

MR. PARKER: Mr. Speaker, it would be bad enough if this was isolated to only the property next door to Mr. Bancroft but it's not, unfortunately. I want to table some other photos here that I'll ask the Page to pick up. It is photos of some land near Kedge Park in the southwest part of the province and also in the Southwest Margaree in Cape Breton, that show real devastation here in our province.

It is happening all over Nova Scotia, so my question to the minister; what does this minister intend to do to better protect our natural environment from these very poor forestry practices.

MR. MORSE: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. The forestry industry does have some challenges, there is no question about it - in fact, the member opposite is one of them.

Mr. Speaker, in terms of their support for the industry and the major employer in Pictou West - and I'm going to table this again - this is a quote from the honourable member, "The pulp fibre industry is an important one but . . ." What does he mean "but"? This is the major employer in Pictou West and that's how he supports the forestry sector?

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Halifax Atlantic.

TCH - TOURIST ACCOMMODATIONS ACT: REPEAL -

REASONS

MS. MICHELE RAYMOND: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. Last week the minister indicated that the Tourism strongly supports repealing the Tourism Accommodations Act. There are 1,200 licensed accommodation properties in Nova Scotia and out of these 850 are small operators, they are bed and breakfasts, they are inns, they are cottages.

He may not have spoken with these businesses but I have and they do not support repealing the Act. In fact, the Bed and Breakfast Association has very recently written the minister, asking for better enforcement of the existing Act. So I ask the minister, in repealing this Act, why is he choosing to ignore the preferences of nearly two-thirds of this industry?

[Page 916]

HON. WILLIAM DOOKS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sometimes conversations can get very lively in the House and sometimes the facts can be exaggerated. But before me, I have an endorsement of the Chair of the B and B Breakfasts operators in Nova Scotia, along with a number of other chairs of different boards, that reflect the TIANS approach to repeal the Tourist Accommodations Act that has been sanctioned by TIANS, the voice of the industry. I repeat myself, the voice of the industry. As minister of the government, under the direction of our Premier, we listen to Nova Scotians and I'm proud to table this document here.

MS. RAYMOND: Mr. Speaker, that voice of the industry was speaking yesterday on CBC Radio. At that point, yesterday, December 4th, the president of the industry said they support this move because the government had not been upholding the Act and that their preference was, in fact, as shown through previous lobbying, that there would be stricter enforcement of the Act. In other words, it's second best. This government's inaction had shaken the industry's faith so badly in its ability to regulate tourist accommodations, they would prefer to see them give it up. Hardly something to brag about. My question is, was this government even ensuring dissatisfaction with the Act by failing to address complaints against infractions?

MR. DOOKS: Mr. Speaker, it's obvious that the member is against the voice of the people in the industry. It is obvious she is clearly stating that and I stand firm on the record that we're supporting industry. That group over there will paint the picture any way they want, but the picture I'm painting today is the position of this government is to support the industry and the people of Nova Scotia.

MS. RAYMOND: It may, in fact, be this government's position, but it would appear that it is not the industry's position, as on record, on CBC. More clearly, the small operators have written that they are worried about the direction this department is taking. When they asked to see the consultants' report on the Tourism Accommodation Act, they were told no. So, at the very least, I would ask the minister, since he will not speak on behalf of all, will he at least publicly release the results of the survey and the consultants' report?

MR. DOOKS: Mr. Speaker (Interruptions) I can certainly inform the member I would never look towards him for advice. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.

MR. DOOKS: Mr. Speaker (Interruptions) I'm saddened today to know that critic did not attend the function last week to hear my comments and support the industry. That's what I'm telling Nova Scotia, the critic was not at the TIANS luncheon to hear the minister speak and to explain clearly the facts. Shame on that member.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Richmond.

[Page 917]

TIR - CANSO CAUSEWAY: BIRD PROBLEM - ACTION

MR. MICHEL SAMSON: Mr. Speaker, if the Premier travelled to his constituency in the last few weekends, he would have been witness to the unfortunate situation along the Canso Causeway this Fall. This time of the year brings various types of fish, which find their way along the Causeway. As a result, many types of birds, including seagulls, feed on this fish. Unfortunately, due to high winds and overhead power lines, many of these birds came to an untimely end. The result is dozens of dead birds on the roadway and along the Canso Causeway. My question to the Premier is, does the Premier or his government have any plans to address this most unfortunate situation? (Interruptions)

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, I think I'll refer that one to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.

HON. MURRAY SCOTT: Mr. Speaker, I thank the Premier for passing that to me. (Laughter) (Interruption)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.

MR. SCOTT: In all seriousness, Mr. Speaker, I am partial to seagulls. Certainly I'm concerned for their safety and concerned with the safety of highways. I will certainly take it upon the advice and I thank the honourable member for bringing it forward. I will certainly take it upon his advice and bring it back to the department. Maybe we could visit the area to look at that catastrophe that's taking place in the area to see what maybe they'll do to clean it up.

MR. SAMSON: Mr. Speaker, I would urge him not to fly too high if he's feeding on the fish along the causeway. The problem is that this is a recurring issue yet it does not appear that there's a plan in place to address it. These dead birds are not only unsightly but they also pose a distraction to drivers which the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal has already indicated that he is trying to avoid. Many cars swerve to avoid these dead birds posing a danger to the oncoming traffic. So my question again to the Premier is, what action will his government take to remove these deceased birds in a timely fashion from the Canso Causeway?

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, I'm going to refer that again to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.

MR. SCOTT: Mr. Speaker, the gull of the member to bring something like that before the House. Seagulls are a species obviously that play a very important role in the history of this province and I believe the Minister of Natural Resources, I'm sure, will have something to say about some very important issues so I'll ask him to respond. (Laughter)

[Page 918]

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Natural Resources.

HON. DAVID MORSE: Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious matter. It is true that some species of seagull may be rare, but I'm pleased to say that none of them are on the endangered species list to the best of my knowledge.

MR. SAMSON: Mr. Speaker, as you know, the Canso Causeway is the welcoming point to Cape Breton Island. People traveling to Cape Breton should not have to drive through this carnage of dead birds which has now been present for several weeks. I mentioned Cape Breton Island. Maybe this will go to the Minister of Tourism from the Premier but, again, I do ask the question, will the Premier commit to review the causes of this problem and put in place a plan to either avoid this from happening or to collect and properly dispose of these dead birds?

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, we'll put it on our list of priorities and we'll make sure that the proper attention is paid to the question.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank.

EDUC.: HS GRAD. SURVEY - MIN. RESPONSE

MR. PERCY PARIS: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education. The followup survey of high school graduates was published last week. Better than half of the 2,000 and plus respondents who left school eight years ago felt they could have benefitted from additional courses in skill development, in particular English and personal finance. However, the most common suggestions were greater course selection and better career guidance.

Mr. Speaker, through you, I would like to ask the minister how she proposes to respond to these suggestions from the class of 1998?

HON. KAREN CASEY: Mr. Speaker, I'm very familiar with that report and there were many parts of that report that were very complementary to our program but, as always within the department, we are reviewing our initiatives. We're reviewing our course selection and where there's a need, we'll provide additional courses.

MR. PARIS: Mr. Speaker, according to the report, the average annual salary of college graduates living outside the province is around $46,000. The average annual salary for college graduates living and working here in Nova Scotia is just over $32,000. That is a paycheque that is 42 per cent lower and yet, we, as a province, are crying out for qualified, skilled, highly paid tradespeople, but only 8 per cent of students took up an apprenticeship. Can the minister tell us how she is going to improve on those results?

[Page 919]

MS. CASEY: Mr. Speaker, to the member opposite and to all members of the House, one of the things that I've been able to brag about within the department - probably the most progressive moves within the Department of Education - has been to look at skilled labour, career options and hands-on programs for students who may not be university bound, but who are definitely needed in the workforce. We have Options and Opportunities within our high schools. We've extended that program to 34 high schools now, so our students will have some choices, they will be able to make informed decisions, they will go into the trades in this province and they will make a good living.

MR. PARIS: Mr. Speaker, only 2 per cent of female graduates registered as an apprentice since graduating high school. The completion rate for apprentices is less than 50 per cent. Many individuals get offered jobs before they complete their apprenticeship. That is why we are in the crisis that we are in now when it comes to the key trades. My final question to the minister is, how will she convince our young people that an apprenticeship is a valid and lucrative career choice?

MS. CASEY: Mr. Speaker, there are two programs in particular that address the concern the member has raised. One is our ongoing work with industry and business to provide apprenticeship opportunities for our young people and the second is the excellent relationship we have with the Community College. We have now an enrollment at the Community College that exceeds 10,000, these are the future workforce of our province.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Queens.

TIR: THRONE SPEECH COMMITMENTS - DETAILS

MS. VICKI CONRAD: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. In the Speech from the Throne, the Progressive Conservative Government dusted off an old promise when the Premier committed to the twinning and the modernization of Nova Scotia highways from Sydney to Yarmouth by 2020. However, past governments didn't deliver and I'm not quite so sure that this government will deliver either. Our current roads, linking our rural communities, are in shambles. Can the minister be a bit more specific with commitments and tell the residents of the South Shore when they will have safer roads and highways?

HON. MURRAY SCOTT: Mr. Speaker, I'm sure the honourable member realizes this morning, in the Chronicle Herald, there was in fact a tender for her own area of this province.

MS. CONRAD: Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to hear that yesterday because I've been doing a lot of advocacy for the roads in my riding. I want to draw the minister's attention to the section of Highway No. 103 between Broad River and Queens and the Sable River in Shelburne County, which has seen several accidents in the past few years and requires a lot of upgrading. It has been acknowledged as one of the more dangerous sections

[Page 920]

of the highway. Our federal and municipal representatives have all identified this stretch of highway as a priority. I was told by the previous minister, in a letter that I will table today, that the department planning work was in process so that when funding becomes available, work can begin. My question is, to the minister, where in the process is this preliminary planning?

MR. SCOTT: Mr. Speaker, again, the NDP are a little Johnny-come-lately but that's okay. We will explain today that as a result of a recent announcement of the federal government, I met with the federal member, the Honourable Gerald Keddy for the area. I also met with the MLA for Chester-St. Margaret's, the honourable Minister of Health, who else was there? (Interruptions) My colleague, the member for Yarmouth, the member for Eastern Shore and several other members brought this very important issue to my attention. I can tell you, we are going to give it our undivided attention with regard to that highway to make it safe.

[4:30 p.m.]

MS. CONRAD: Mr. Speaker, residents who live in the communities of Port Joli, Port Mouton and on the St. Catherines Road have called me for the past year and a half about their concerns and have also given some suggestions to make this stretch a lot safer. I have been in communications with several of the members as well with regard to this. A bypass through this area is one clear and sensible solution. Now that we know there are federal dollars available for projects like this, my question to the minister is when will the construction begin on this section of the highway? (Interruptions)

MR. SCOTT: I am getting some help here from my colleagues on the date there, Mr. Speaker, but again I want to reiterate to the House that I have met with the federal member and several of my colleagues in regard to this issue. It is very important to this government. I know how important a piece of highway that is and we will have some news on that in the near future.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Cape Breton South.

EDUC. - B.Ed. PROG.: CBU REQUEST - CONSIDER

MR. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, today my question is for the Minister of Education. On June 28, 2007, the minister announced a review committee to examine teacher education in our province. One of the committee's mandates was to examine the potential of expanding current programs to other universities. Cape Breton University has expressed its interest in offering its own Bachelor of Education program. Currently, all four universities that offer B.Ed. programs in the province are turning away students because of limited capacity issues. Cape Breton University already runs a joint program with Memorial University and has the capacity to offer the programs to students who don't want obtain their teaching degrees outside the province. Cape Breton University is also the only university on

[Page 921]

Cape Breton Island and it is ready. My question to the minister is, will the minister consider Cape Breton University's request to offer a Bachelor of Education program?

HON. KAREN CASEY: Mr. Speaker, to the member opposite, I have called for the review. That review has been completed. The report is to be delivered to my desk in the second week of December, so I can expect it anytime but during the course of that review, the team did meet with every university, including Cape Breton University. I understand that Cape Breton University presented an excellent proposal to that committee. I will not prejudge the outcome of that review or my response but I do complement them on the presentation that they made to the committee.

MR. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, my first supplementary. Enrolment figures obtained from the University of Fort Kent revealed that as many as 217 Nova Scotians were enrolled in their teaching program during the 2006-07 year. Furthermore, the University of Presque Isle had as many as 98 Nova Scotians enrolled in their program the same year. Over 300 Nova Scotians were forced to leave the province for those two universities alone, many of them from Cape Breton. Cape Breton University has expressed its desire to offer a B.Ed. Program to Nova Scotians. Currently, Cape Breton is the only region in the province that does not offer a Bachelor of Education Program. It's time that this government provide a teacher education to all regions of the province. My question to the minister is, will the minister promote regional equality and award the CBU a B.Ed. Program?

MS. CASEY: Mr. Speaker, to the member opposite, the numbers of students who have to leave this province to take a degree in education disturbs me greatly and it's one of the reasons I called for the review. I have stated publicly that I do not believe that any student in Nova Scotia who wishes to take a B.Ed. program should have to leave the province. I expect that at the end of this review, and the implementation of the recommendations, they will not have to leave this province.

MR. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, it is a well-known fact that most Cape Bretoners who are trying to get a post-graduate education can't afford to go off-Island to get that education, can't afford to go to places like Maine or, in some cases, to mainland universities because they have to stay in residence. If they had the university program in Cape Breton, they would be able to live at home and get their Bachelor of Education degree at the same time, saving a great deal of money.

Mr. Speaker, since the 2004-2005 school year, there have been approximately 600 teachers' retirements. This means that one in six teachers have retired over the past two years alone. Not only does CBU have the ability to provide teacher education so Nova Scotians are not forced to leave the province, it can also help deal with the teacher shortage the province will be facing.

Mr. Speaker, Cape Breton University already runs a joint B.Ed. program with Memorial University. As I stated before, that's simply not acceptable that a university the

[Page 922]

quality of Cape Breton University should have to do this for any time in the future. So my question to the minister, regardless of what the report states when it comes out, I would hope that the minister will give serious consideration to a Bachelor of Education program at Cape Breton University. Cape Breton University can do it, and I would expect this minister to approve it. I would ask her, through you, Mr. Speaker, to approve that degree.

MS. CASEY: Mr. Speaker, the comment that is made about the geography of this province and the location of the teacher training institutions is an issue, it's a reality, and to have all of those located in metro or close to metro is unacceptable and, as I said earlier, the program that is offered at CBU is commendable, and I will take the member's comments under advisement.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Cape Breton Nova.

COM. SERV.: HOUSING GRANTS - INCOME CUTOFFS

MR. GORDON GOSSE: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Community Services. Nova Scotia's housing stock is aging and many low-income homeowners rely on housing repair grants just to keep their homes fit to live in. The income cutoffs have been increased but they are still far too low and very needy families are still being turned away. The department even includes the child tax benefit in its calculations, which is denying too many families in need, as a result. So I ask the Minister of Community Services when will she admit that the income cutoffs are still far too low to help families in need?

HON. JUDY STREATCH: Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my honourable colleague for recognizing that we've increased the household income levels. We were pleased to do that to ensure that more Nova Scotians had access to those programs. We offer a menu of approximately 13 repair programs across this province. This year's budget was $18.4 million and we'll continue to work with Nova Scotians to ensure that this very large budget continues to be expanded upon.

MR. GOSSE: Mr. Speaker, another problem is with the amount of grants when people get them. The amount given isn't enough for families to hire a legitimate contractor, so they find someone who is willing to work for the money they can pay. The results are predictable, work is done in a haphazard way, it is left incomplete, or fails inspection altogether, then the family is left in an even worse situation and no money to fix it. My question to the minister is, why doesn't her department pay enough money for repairs so that families can hire a legitimate contractor?

MS. STREATCH: Mr. Speaker, I thank my honourable colleague for the opportunity, again, to speak about the $18.5 million budget, because we recognize that we have a very large portfolio, approximately 11,500 provincially-owned public housing units. It requires a tremendous amount of money for the upkeep on those units, as well as the other menu of repair programs.

[Page 923]

Mr. Speaker, again, we will continue to increase the budget each year and continue to do the great job that we are.

MR. GOSSE: Mr. Speaker, my office has had many calls from families in bad situations - let's just say that Mike Holmes could fill many seasons of his program fixing the housing grant repairs in the Province of Nova Scotia.

My question is to the Minister of Community Services, why doesn't her department review this program and help families to ensure the repairs are done right and don't make their situations even worse?

MS. STREATCH: Mr. Speaker, again, a large menu of programs to meet the needs of Nova Scotians who need our assistance, $18.5 million of the budget, and I will comment that there are numerous contractors across this province who do a tremendous job on behalf of their industry. I'm sure that my honourable colleague would acknowledge that those contractors are certainly experiencing challenges when it comes to getting workers and fulfilling their mandates, but this side of the House will continue to support that private sector industry and I would encourage my honourable colleagues to do the same.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Pictou West.

HEALTH - MAR. ODD FELLOWS HOME:

TAXES - ASSIST

MR. CHARLES PARKER: Mr. Speaker, my question through you is to the Minister of Health. The Maritime Odd Fellows' Home in Pictou is perhaps one of our finest nursing homes in this province. In 2003 this Progressive Conservative Government passed legislation regarding this nursing home's tax bill. The home is assessed to pay $111,406, over 10 times what it paid previous to this - over 10 times - yet Health Department officials refuse to adjust the operating budget. So my question to the Minister of Health is, why isn't his department helping this not-for-profit facility pay the taxes that his government ordered them to pay?

HON. CHRISTOPHER D'ENTREMONT: Mr. Speaker, we are aware of the issue that the Odd Fellows' Home is having in Pictou. We will continue to review to make sure dollars are available that make sense. We'll take that under advisement and look forward to getting back to the member opposite on a response.

MR. PARKER: Mr. Speaker, there are over 75 nursing homes in this province, yet this government has chosen to single out the Maritime Odd Fellows' Home. The home has no surplus funds; it's a non-profit entity and it has no way of paying for the increased taxes. The Town of Pictou certainly needs all of its tax revenue, but there has to be a realistic reflection in the home's Department of Health-approved operating budget to reflect its tax bill. So my question, again to the minister, what will he do with the nearly 50 residents if this home is forced to close because it can't pay its tax bill?

[Page 924]

MR. D'ENTREMONT: Mr. Speaker, I can assure the member opposite that that home will not be forced to close.

MR. PARKER: Well, Mr. Speaker, that's certainly reassuring to hear because there's a lot of concern there by the administration right at this present time. It seems like this nursing home has been singled out by the legislation. Its budget now is looming; they're trying to set it for next year and they don't know how they're going to pay their tax bill. The Town of Pictou fully supports the home in seeking a fair resolution. So my question again, through you, Mr. Speaker, to the minister, will he commit to sitting down with the representatives of the Maritime Odd Fellows' Home and the administration in the Town of Pictou to help find a fair solution to this very serious problem?

MR. D'ENTREMONT: Mr. Speaker, we'll continue to watch this one closely and make sure that a calculation will be made that makes sense for the ongoing running of that facility, and make sure that all residents can be secure and safe in that community.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Kings West.

AGRIC.: HOG FARMERS - SUPPORT

MR. LEO GLAVINE: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Agriculture. Last week the Minister of Agriculture was quoted as saying, "We have limited resources to go around and my government made the decision that we're not going to continue to prop up producers that won't and haven't moved to more profitable, more sustainable way (sic) of doing things." These hog farmers didn't need propping , as the minister put it, they needed a short-term funding initiative to transition out farmers, and a long-term adjustment plan to aid farmers who wanted to keep the industry alive. It's clear the Progressive Conservative Government was not prepared to correctly assist this industry. My question to the minister is, without a litany of past support, I ask why have you deserted hog farmers in Nova Scotia?

HON. BROOKE TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, as we said earlier in the House, the government, this government, has put more than $16 million into the hog industry in Nova Scotia since the year 2000. As well, I should mention to my colleagues, in addition, the Farm Loan Board has $20.6 million of loans extended to hog producers in Nova Scotia. So I would correct the honourable member and say this government, in fact, is doing a lot for pork producers in Nova Scotia.

MR. GLAVINE: Mr. Speaker, in 2005, pork industry officials provided the Progressive Conservative Government with a detailed report on how to properly transition and aid the industry with a financial plan. The Progressive Conservative Government didn't listen. They were given the Kelco report earlier this year, they didn't listen. Farmers leaving the industry need support to leave without enormous debt. Hog support, veiled through Farm Loan Board loans, must be written off. They are not listening. My question to the minister

[Page 925]

is, why have you failed to properly consult industry officials and implement the correct programs to help this important industry?

MR. TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, I'm continually reminded by my colleagues from Kings North and Kings South about the difficulties that pork producers in Nova Scotia are facing and, in fact, the member for Clare and the member for Kings West, as well as the member for East Hants, all recognize that the farming community is going through many challenges, especially the pork and beef sectors, but the government is working with the producers but we're not going to act irresponsible and, as I said earlier, we're not going to expect the taxpayers of Nova Scotia to pay the difference between the cost of production and what some of the farmers are actually getting for that product.

Mr. Speaker, it is phenomenal the losses that the pork producers are incurring but, thankfully, some of the producers are willing to rationalize, they are moving to sow barns, they are shipping weaners. We have omega-3 products, we have natural pork, we have people who are moving ahead. We're working with them through the Farm Loan Board, through existing programs, through grants and through transition funding programs. So to stand here in the House and suggest that the government isn't doing anything is absolutely, quite frankly, if I might, Mr. Speaker, misleading the House.

[4:45 p.m.]

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Agriculture may want to reconsider that last phrase.

MR. TAYLOR: Yes, Mr. Speaker, if in fact you, as Speaker of the House, have difficulty with that member misleading the House, I will withdraw that comment. (Interruption)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. The honourable member for Kings West on his final supplementary.

MR. GLAVINE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Obviously the minister hasn't taken a trip down to the Valley recently, because we are losing one farmer a week from the hog and the cattle industries here in Nova Scotia. The hog industry, the fishing industry, the forestry industry, the cattle industry, all are in jeopardy, and this Progressive Conservative Government has neglected the primary industries that employ thousands, generate hundreds of millions of dollars a year, while they sit back and put funding into failed programs. My question to the minister is, what is your government's plan to save our ailing primary industries?

MR. TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, the member for Kings West is going all over the traditional resource-based spectrum. In fact, he introduced a bill in this House that, in fact, would jeopardize the future of forestry in the Province of Nova Scotia, and many other

[Page 926]

agriculture industries. So I frankly don't know where he's coming from, but I do know that this government, this minister, this Department of Agriculture is working hard, and going to continue to work hard to help some of these farmers transition to something that is profitable. But we will not ask the taxpayers of Nova Scotia to continually subsidize non-profitable producers.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Pictou East.

ECON. DEV. - SWEATSHOP GOODS: POLICY - DETAILS

MR. CLARRIE MACKINNON: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Economic Development. In November 2006, your predecessor told the House he had staff dedicated to the development of a government procurement policy that banned sweatshop-produced goods. Since then, numerous media reports have appeared describing child labour in sweatshops and even slavery. The issue of sweatshop-produced goods has not gone away. I would like to ask the minister, when is this government's policy on sweatshop-produced goods going to be published?

HON. ANGUS MACISAAC: Mr. Speaker, I will defer to your ruling. There is a bill before the House on that subject matter and I don't know if it's appropriate for me to respond to the question or whether it's something that should be saved for debate on the bill.

MR. SPEAKER: You may decide to answer in a general fashion, but we can't talk about specifics of any bill while it is before the House.

The honourable member for Pictou East.

MR. MACKINNON: Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the commentary on my bill. In 2005, the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union passed a resolution calling for a no sweatshop policy in government procurement. That was over two years ago and government staff, who had been lobbying for this change, are still waiting for a policy to be introduced by the Department of Economic Development. An anti-sweatshop procurement policy would primarily impact on uniforms and other clothing purchased by the province. So I would like to ask the minister, what's causing the delay?

MR. SPEAKER: I would remind the minister and the member for Pictou East that you cannot discuss a bill that is before the House. You can talk in generalities, but you cannot be specific.

The honourable Minister of Economic Development. (Interruptions)

MR. DAVID WILSON (Glace Bay): He's never been specific before, I don't know why he . . .

[Page 927]

MR. MACISAAC: Mr. Speaker, I want to let the honourable member for Glace Bay know that I did, indeed, hear his remarks and appreciate the fact that he has listened to me in the past.

I'm very much aware of the Rules of the House with respect to the legislation that is before the House and any comments I'm going to make will respect that tradition. I would want to share with members of the House an experience I had in visiting a garment shop in Delhi, India and I must say, when I went through that shop, I was very impressed with what I saw in terms of working conditions, the attitude of workers, the safety precautions that were taken, the ventilation that was there. I did ask the owners of the facility about the issue of child labour and about working conditions, and their response to me was one that was very encouraging. I'm not going to draw general conclusions from one specific instance, but they did say their customers are regular visitors to the facility and they need to ensure that the conditions there meet the standards of their customers.

I think, that, in the long run, is going to be the best way of getting it and good publicity that causes major purchasers to react in that way is something that all society needs to encourage.

MR. MACKINNON: Mr. Speaker, the NSGEU resolution, passed in 2005, is clear: It is in the interest of the Government of Nova Scotia to purchase goods and services from responsible manufacturers. It goes on to say: Pressure from institutional purchasers such as

governments is an effective way to combat sweatshop practices. I would like to ask the minister, when is this government going to put some pressure on sweatshops?

MR. MACISAAC: Mr. Speaker, we will do so by buying locally from firms like Stanfields and WearWell Garments.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Digby-Annapolis.

TCH - DIGBY FERRY: PROBLEM - PLAN

MR. HAROLD THERIAULT: Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. You know in Digby we are having a problem with our Digby ferry and it creates a lot of economic development for tourism. I'm just wondering, does the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage have any worries about the Digby ferry and do they plan to do anything about it? We have one year left.

HON. WILLIAM DOOKS: Mr. Speaker, to the member across the way, the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage is very concerned about tourism in Nova Scotia and very concerned about the industry that is brought to Nova Scotia through the tourism industry and the ferries.

[Page 928]

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. The time allotted for the Oral Question Period has expired.

OPPOSITION MEMBERS' BUSINESS

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Liberal House Leader.

MR. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, will you please call the order of business, Private Members' Public Bills for Second Reading.

PRIVATE MEMBERS' PUBLIC BILLS FOR SECOND READING:

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Liberal House Leader.

MR. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, would you please call Bill No. 35.

Bill No. 35 - Education Act.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Kings West.

MR. LEO GLAVINE: Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased today to rise in my place and speak on a very important bill before the Legislature. It is an area that is simply critical to many parents and their children that they get tuition support in order for them to go to one of the private schools that will enable them to overcome their learning disability. I was very pleased this summer, after meeting with the minister, that she was prepared to put in place a special education review panel. Since then, the minister's Report of Services for Students With Special Needs has come forward and now it is in the final stages of hearing from Nova Scotians about the recommendations that have been put forth.

Our bill is really an outgrowth of that report, because it was one of the recommendations in this report, Recommendation 3. The Minister of Education and the government announced the end of the Tuition Support Program effective June 30, 2010. So that is the recommendation that this bill is trying to close the loophole here, change the direction, at least, of this one recommendation.

Now over the past four years, the Tuition Support Program - and I do really want to compliment the parents who have asked through perhaps a number of MLAs to have tuition support put in place. Meetings that I have been involved with now go back almost five years. One of the outcomes of parents and MLAs challenging government on tuition support is to see that it has gone through a transition of three changes in this particular formula where only one year was supported, then it went to two years of support and finally three years of support.

[Page 929]

I believe now is the time to take a look at the tuition support for the next couple of decades. Special education teachers, a couple of the superintendents who I have talked to, realize that the public school education system - and it is one that I always speak strongly about because it does a tremendous job for the vast majority of students in Nova Scotia. But there will be, and perhaps always will be, a small number whose needs will not be met in public school education. So I feel that now is the time, through legislation or in some manner, for the minister and her government to have tuition support go forward for the next several decades and also to look at whether or not we should limit it to the current three years.

Now I say that with a significant qualification, that is I believe there will only be a few children, only a handful of children, who will need to get assistance beyond three years. I feel that the three current private schools can help children remediate, provide them with strategies that will assist their learning, overcome the learning disability, and will go back and be successful in the public education system.

However, there will always again, as I say, be a handful. In speaking recently with the principal of Bridgeway Academy, she, in fact, concurs with this view, that of the 100 students they have, there would only be a few who would need to go beyond the current three years of support.

[5:00 p.m.]

Recently at a standing committee we heard from five parents or a combination of grandparents, about the experience of their child or grandchild in the public school education when a learning disability was keeping them from being successful and achieving strongly academically, socially, emotionally and with proper adjustment in the public school. We heard stories, in fact, from these parents and grandparents that really gripped all members of the standing committee to want to do something that would enable their children to experience success.

One of the things from the standing committee that all of us came away disturbed by

I'm sure, was the fact of the torturous, really, experience in the public school education to get their child tested and to get in place a system of supports. Then those supports not meeting the need of their child or grandchild, and really having to look at going to one of the private schools in order to address their learning disability.

We heard from them that their child often had to be two or three years behind in their academic performance before they would really get the psycho-educational assessment that they needed. We also heard from a few that getting an IPP was difficult because IPPs tend to go more in the direction of children who are delayed, who have that global development delay of a couple of years, those who have mental challenges. I believe, unofficially, because I've heard on a number of occasions from different sources, that perhaps the Department of Education, in fact, has discouraged IPPs with some of our learning disabled - especially those

[Page 930]

who are gifted, very bright students, and who kind of can get along in school, but don't get the substantial learning that they do need because of that disability. So then they are without an IPP, which is one of the criteria required and there are some students then who are not able to get the tuition support.

So as we move forward, I think it was shortsighted on the review panel's decision to look at curtailing tuition support in our province. We will always have those students who will need the additional help that the private school is able to support children with the most severe learning disabilities. How critical is this support? Well, we know for many families, they could not even think about going to one of the three private schools if this was not in place. They simply would not have the financial means to be able to have their child get this placement and in many ways, you know, every child in Nova Scotia is entitled to public funding that will secure an education for their future. It currently is about $6,400 and that is transferred to that private institution to enable them to receive their education.

So it's critical from that point of view, that parents could not get the education. Also, many students with learning disabilities drop out. If there is one way in which we can support the Nunn report, it is through helping children with learning disabilities - 75 per cent of those at the correctional centre in Waterville, those in our other institutions, have learning disabilities. So with that, I will take my place.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Education.

HON. KAREN CASEY: Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to stand here as a member of the House to discuss Bill No. 35 and the calls for amendments to the Education Act that are contained in that bill. I do want to thank the member opposite for putting that bill forward. As educators, we have discussed many times the importance of providing a program that will meet the needs of all of the students across the spectrum and the group that benefit from the Tuition Support Program are no exception.

I also want to make reference to the special education review that was conducted. When the mandate for that particular review was struck, one of the things that we wanted to do was to make sure that we provided opportunity for people across the province to have an opportunity to come to speak before the committee or to give a presentation, a written presentation if they were not able to do an oral presentation, and that review was very thorough. It did cover the geography of our province and when that report and set of recommendations came into me, we also took another opportunity, Mr. Speaker, and that was to give people an opportunity to react to the report and recommendations. We garnered a lot of reaction, a lot of input, and so it has taken a bit of time to take all of those reports, reactions and comments that came out of both the consultation and the response, to put together my formal response to that. I do believe it was a good review and I do believe that the voices of all people across the province were heard.

[Page 931]

In particular, I do want to thank the parents of those students who have learning disabilities and who may have students taking advantage of the tuition support program, who did come out and who did express their concerns. I commend them for standing up for their own children and the needs of their children. I also commend them for sharing their stories with us and also for their patience because, as the member has so rightly noted, the Tuition Support Program has listened to those parents and it did begin initially as a one-year, extended to a two and then to a three, and really the extension of that program was based very much on the reaction and the response from parents, parents who believed that that program was making a difference for their children.

Mr. Speaker, I must first state that this government's goal is very simple and that is to ensure that every student in Nova Scotia, through our public education system, has appropriate programming. This includes students with a wide range of abilities and needs. In addition to that, we believe that every student is entitled to have that quality programming and that appropriate programming, in an environment where they're surrounded by their peers. This means getting that program in their local school or close to their home school community.

I will speak a little bit to one of the concerns that I have, and I know the member opposite shares with me, about where those programs are delivered and how that could deny access for some students because of geography.

In 2004-05, this government recognized that not all students were having their special needs met in the public school system. I commend the government of the day for recognizing that and taking some steps to make sure we could support and help those students. It's one thing to recognize the need, and in the short term, we put in place the Tuition Support Program. But the other thing I commend the department for, is looking at why we're not meeting the needs of those students in our public schools and what we might do in order to improve that.

So, as I've said, the Tuition Support Program was designed for students with special needs. It was designed as a short-term intervention, it was never intended to be a long-term solution. So, when we look at where we are now and what we have to do with that program, there are some significant challenges and I do want to mention those.

We know that one of the reasons that the needs of those students were not being adequately met in our public school system was because of the specific training our teachers needed in order to understand the learning disabilities of the students in their class and also to have a cadre of strategies they could use, that they could draw on, to help meet those needs. You can go back - we have a very, very dedicated teaching staff across our province and they are committed to every student in their classroom. Many of them were feeling a bit frustrated that they were not able to adequately meet all of the needs of all of those students.

[Page 932]

In order to make sure our teachers are well equipped, well trained and they understand the learning disabilities, we need to start at the university level. The programs that are offered in our teacher training institutions, and we've spoken about those earlier, those programs for teacher training need to have a component of that curriculum that focuses, in particular, on students' learning disabilities, understanding the disability and understanding how to provide programming that is appropriate to those students.

That kind of a change does not happen quickly and it does not happen overnight, but we've recognized that. We've talked to universities about that. We've talked to teacher training departments at the universities about including something in their curriculum so that teachers who graduate from those universities have had some specific training. Without that specific training, it's very challenging for teachers to take on the challenge of working with students with special needs.

Another significant part of the delivery of program to students with special needs is the class size. We know that one of the reasons why the three schools in particular - the three private schools - have the success they do has to do with the student-teacher ratio. So, again, you have to look at having teachers who have the training, who have the strategies. You have to look at a classroom environment where those students can get the one-on-one they need. Again, that is all part of putting together a program in our public school that will help meet those needs. As I said, these changes do take time. We are committed to making sure we work towards that goal.

This year, 128 students are taking advantage of the tuition support program. Each one of those students gets the $6,400 that normally would go to the board - it goes from the board, it follows the student to the private institution. That is part of the tuition that is payable to the private school. There are also, in addition to that, based on income and income needs of the families - 53 applicants made application for additional funding, supplementary funding to that, 51 of those were approved and that translated into $171,000 that the government paid to help support those families with that financial burden.

So the cost of the program is not really the issue. The cost of the program is something that is secondary to the academic needs of those students. We have three schools in our province that have been designated as schools where our young people can go on the Tuition Support Program but, again, that is limited to the geography of the metro area and the Annapolis Valley, and that is not good enough. Every student in this province, regardless of where they live, if there is a need for them to have an intervention program, it should be close to home. It should be where they can stay in their own home, where they can take advantage of that additional support.

So in my response to the special ed review, I will not be accepting recommendation No. 3, (Applause) but I will be accepting the recommendation which says that we will do a complete review of the Tuition Support Program. We have just started that, and we want to make sure that the programs we deliver are available to all students in our province, that they

[Page 933]

are free of charge, and we believe that is the goal that this government will work toward. So with respect to my response to the review, I will not be accepting recommendation No. 3.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank.

MR. PERCY PARIS: Mr. Speaker, before I go too far, I guess in my preamble I want to maybe talk a wee bit, if I may, about the term, special needs. I am a firm believer that all learners, all youth in Nova Scotia, are individuals and as such have special needs which are unique to them as individuals. For me, and I think probably for most of my colleagues, all students, all youth are special, indeed. However, for the benefit of this conversation and in the spirit of Bill No. 35, I will use special needs as it has been referenced, and I think that will add to clarity and the understanding for this conversation alone.

With respect to learning in Nova Scotia, Mr. Speaker, I want to praise the Minister of Education for establishing the task force to review special education. I also wish to acknowledge the Education Critic for the Liberal Party of Nova Scotia. I stand in my place today in support of Bill No. 35. Further, it is incumbent upon me to express, to some degree, my disappointment with parts of the task force review. The review offered no significant or meaningful alternatives to the government's current policy on limited investment in special needs education. Also, there was very poor evidence-based accountability for money that has been spent thus far.

It is also my opinion, Mr. Speaker, there was not sufficient consultation with parents, educators and other stakeholders. Despite the scope of the report, there was limited - with respect to researching new funding and new educational options in our public education system. I think one of the things that government should be exploring is, what are we going to do differently. I think it is pretty well widely accepted that the private institutions do a lot of things right and that there are some things that we do in the public school system that fail certain learners, especially those around special needs.

Parents of children with special needs often feel they have very little choice when it comes to spending their hard-earned dollars and getting funding support to send their children to academies such as Bridgeway, Churchill and Landmark East. The private academies have been established for a reason. If it wasn't for the reasons, they wouldn't exist. So they are there for a reason, and that is to fill the void that has been necessitated by the, I don't want to say the fault, but by the failure of the public school system in Nova Scotia to meet the individual needs.

The Department of Education and the school boards need to consult more with one another. They have to consult about ways of proper funding in the public school system and how can they duplicate what they do in the private academies. How they can transfer that into the public school system so all kids, all kids with special needs, can benefit from it.

[Page 934]

Parents who have children with special needs don't want to - I don't think they want to - remove their child from the public school system, I think they're forced to remove their child from the public school system because their child is falling through the cracks of the current educational system. That's at no fault to the educators but - and I think the minister certainly hit one of the nails on the head when she talked about classroom size. I think this is a huge problem in our public school system, and even in the elementary grades when we - we even have a policy to cap classes at 25. I certainly know that within the riding of Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank, which I can speak to directly, that policy is not always applied or adhered to.

Tuition support is a necessary and essential government requirement. It exists for a reason. Bill No. 35, to some degree, is about choice; it's about choice on a number of levels. Mr. Speaker, parents of children with special needs often feel that they have no choice but to send their children to private academies. If the right paperwork is in place, the province then supports such a choice. After three years, however, the province says, well you don't have our support for choice any more, you can no longer make that choice.

The parents then just go and bear the full costs of their child still attending the private school, or put their children back into a system that they know has already failed them once. So they're sort of in a Catch-22 situation; for some families the choice has been eliminated because they can't afford to bear the brunt of the costs to go into the private school. Therefore, they have to make a choice to go further in debt or put them into a system where they already know the system has failed their child.

I think that public schools, what we have to do, and I'm looking forward to the minister putting together this task force, this committee, to study the ways that they can incorporate some of those strategies and some of those ideas that the private school utilizes and how we can get more teachers in the classroom. Then we come down to an issue around space. What we are currently doing - we have this philosophy, I think probably within government, that sometimes bigger is better. We've just seen that in the construction of some new schools in recent years. I would probably argue that bigger isn't always better. I go back to years gone by when classes were much smaller and teachers could give a smaller class, those individuals better one-on-one attention, as opposed now to having the large classrooms.

One of the concerns that I have when I look at education in Nova Scotia and I look at the human resources, particularly when it comes to educators, teachers, I haven't see a huge increase in the complement of teachers who we hire today, compared to five and ten years ago. I see other costs going up but I think the numbers of teachers in the classroom has remained pretty well stable over the last number of years, which has created a huge problem in our public school systems.

So with that I want to again reiterate that we do support Bill No. 35 and I hope that while we're in support of Bill No. 35 that this government, this province will move forward with a greater - I guess a strategy that's going to be further ahead. The minister also

[Page 935]

mentioned, and I don't know the word exactly, but she said funding follows the student. It's too bad that when that funding leaves the public school system, that's less dollars those schools have and those school boards have to address the problems within the public school system. With that, I will take my seat.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Preston.

MR. KEITH COLWELL: Mr. Speaker, Bill No. 35 is a very important bill and if you look through the process of having your child with a learning disability, one that could be corrected and the public school system at present isn't equipped to handle most of these situations. I really want to thank the present government for some people in my community that have been very well served by the addition of the program to extend tuition support to some of the families that have seen a significant improvement in the young people who have attended Bridgeway and Churchill Academy and other places in the province that are geared up to especially help young people who are in need. It is a good program.

I was very disappointed with the report that came back and suggested this be eliminated for another model. This model works very, very well and does, indeed, help young people.

The only problem with the program in the past has been access. There have been so many people out there that need assistance. They're either delayed so long in the public school system getting evaluations done or identifying the problem, the problem goes on so long that it's usually too late to help the young person. By that time, they may drop out. As my colleague said in the past, the Nunn report, about 75 per cent of the young people in the correctional centres have dropped out of school. It shows that early intervention is well worth the effort. It's a lot better to spend $6,000 or $7,000 a year on a young person to give them a future in life, rather than spend hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars down the road for the property damage they cause if they're continually breaking the law and doing other things. Because they're frustrated and can't get a job because they don't have the necessary education and training they should have in order to earn a proper living. As all of us would expect as we get old enough to work and want to enter the workforce in a meaningful way.

I think early intervention in this program is very important. I'm very pleased to hear from the minister this evening that she's not going to endorse recommendation No. 3 that would have eliminated this tuition support. I think that would have been a major step backwards in this province, a major step backwards. Indeed, with the possibility of this being extended for a lot longer time and more families involved and more private schools set up to do this situation, I think it would be to the benefit of all Nova Scotians.

You take a young person, you give them an education, give them the opportunity to get a good job and work to add to our society, it's a wonderful thing, it's a wonderful gift that we can give. When you look at the cost of giving that gift, it's pretty low in comparison to

[Page 936]

the frustration the family has to go through and that individual has to go through later on in life when they can't do things their friends can do. They don't have the earning power their friends have because they don't have the education. That individual may be one of the best people in a certain area with some help that exists in our province before.

Usually these young people are very intelligent, but they have a problem with math or history or English or grammar - whatever the case may be. Each student is different, so if you can take those problems away and help them address those issues so they can continue their education and finish their education, it's very, very important. Over the past four years, the Tuition Support Program has moved from a one year to a three year program. Again, I want to commend the government for doing that. I know my colleague, Leo Glavine, has been very instrumental in pushing the province to do that and they have listened. Sometimes they don't listen, but this time they did. It's worked well for many, many families.

We truly all win as Nova Scotians when that kind of co-operation takes place. We see the results in these young people. I have a few families in my riding who have been affected positively by this program and I mean extremely positively. You can see the young people when they come and see me, they say Hi, Mr. Colwell, how are you and their families are really excited to see that the young people are doing well in school and, indeed, in some cases are excelling beyond the belief of their parents. That's a marvelous thing to have happen.

When you work towards and you raise a young child and you have all the hopes in the world for the child and if, for some reason, no fault of your own, no fault of the child, they have a disability - a minor disability, in some cases - that can cause huge problems down the road and it's not obvious. If you see somebody who has a physical disability, it's obvious, but somebody with a learning disability, it is not always obvious.

I can remember a parent calling me one time, in my area, some time ago, and explaining the wonderful thing that a young teacher had done in the community and the school she went to and identified in Grade 2, a learning difficulty that her daughter had been having, having a great deal of difficulty going to school. She hated to go to school and at Grade 2, you should enjoy going to school.

[5:30 p.m.]

The young teacher identified this. Luckily she knew enough about the situation and she took this young girl aside and taught her how to learn in a particular field, and that's all it took. It only took a few months and then that student was on track - that simple. If that intervention hadn't been made, that young girl, who is probably today in Grade 10 or Grade 11, would have been having an extremely difficult time in school and is probably today enjoying school very much, as they should do at that age, and doing the social things that young people like to do and at the same time learning the very valuable skills that they need to take a productive place in our society and in our province. I want to commend that teacher

[Page 937]

and the parents for working together with that one child. I won't name them here today, but that's the kind of intervention I like to see. That's the kind of intervention that helps us all, as Nova Scotians, to make our economy stronger and a very special place to live.

There's a very good friend of mine who came to see me this year, before program went in place, and was having an awful time getting through the process of tuition support. I talked to her about it and we talked about an appeal process and I wrote a letter on her behalf, to get this thing in place. I was very pleased to see that the government did include her grandson in this program and, indeed, did help that family very, very much. A very nice young man, a young man who can learn a lot and take a very productive place in society, but without that opportunity, that $6,400 that the province changed from the school to the special program, that's all it took.

Now it may take two or three years for the young man to get up to the grade level that he should be at, but he's made significant improvements in just a few months. It was a really bad problem with the school - he was being bullied at school, he hated to go to school, and just simply didn't like school. Now he gets up in the morning and he says to his mother and his grandmother, he says look, I can't wait to go to school. He's up, he's dressed, he's all set to go and that's a complete change.

Just from that standpoint alone, you see a young person who had a very great difficulty in the school system, being rewarded with the very valuable thing that we all enjoyed when we went to school, loving to go to school - not all of us did, but most of us did and from time to time we didn't. If you had the thought every day of coming to work every day and hating what you did and being harassed by your co-workers, you wouldn't last at it very long. You just wouldn't.

A young child has no choice. They go to school, the school did everything they could to help the situation but it just simply wasn't enough. They weren't equipped to handle the situation this young man was in, and only because of a learning difficulty, nothing else, and say that is being addressed now.

There are other people who have slipped through the cracks, who simply couldn't get qualified for this, didn't get this in place and didn't have the opportunity to get in this program that probably could have helped their children. I see the results of that in our community. You see young people turning to crime, which is very unfortunate - very nice families, very wonderful families. Maybe if they would have had this opportunity to identify difficulties they had in school, it might have given them the opportunity to take a more valuable place in society and enjoy life themselves much more.

That's what it is really all about, enjoying life, enjoying our province and adding to the economy. So again I can't - this is one of those things that the government has done right, they have done it absolutely right. The only thing they've done wrong is they haven't had enough spaces yet available in this program. The spaces have to be done and more of them

[Page 938]

for people to take advantage of it. The intervention has to be much faster, it can't take three or four or five years to get a young person into this - much sooner would be better, and hopefully the minister when she reviews this whole process and moves forward to a recommendation on this, she sees the wisdom in extending this program.

I really think the ultimate answer in this is portable funding. If you want to take your child out of one school and put him in another school, the funding should go with the student. Now that creates some problems in the school boards, but in reality if the school boards are organized properly and they do their job properly, portable funding would cure this problem. Then someone could take their child and put them in a school where it's best suited for that child and that would end 99 per cent of the problems. It would make available some of these other places for people who just haven't had the time to get the background work done and all the interventions done that are needed prior to going into this Tuition Support Program - and there are other programs. I've talked to people, too, about similar things that a school that the child is in, if it's not suited for that child for whatever reason and they move them to another school, and that has been very successful. So with those words of encouragement to the minister to move this positively forward, I'll take my seat.

MR. SPEAKER: The time has expired for debate on Bill No. 35.

MOTIONS OTHER THAN GOVERNMENT MOTIONS

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Liberal House Leader.

MR. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, would you please call Resolution No. 636.

Res. No. 636, Status of Women - Domestic Violence: Elimination - Leg./Progs. Introduce, Ms. D. Whalen

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Halifax Clayton Park.

MS. DIANA WHALEN: Mr. Speaker, this is a very important subject that we're going to talk about for the next few minutes. The resolution relates to domestic violence, and tomorrow is December 6th which is the day on which women and men across Canada remember the massacre, in Montreal, of 14 young women, and also listen and think and learn about domestic violence and what we can do to eliminate it in our society.

Mr. Speaker, a great many things have happened in the ensuing years, but we haven't done a great deal to see that this problem becomes less of an issue in our society. It's just as prevalent today as it has been in years past. The reason we want to speak about it, not only at this time of year but throughout the year, is that we as members of the Legislature should be at the forefront of seeking solutions, looking for programs that might help in our communities, funding the transition houses and the women's programs that will help to

[Page 939]

address this and provide a safety net for women who are living in violence, and basically trying to look for the best solutions that are in any other jurisdiction around the world so that women and men in our society here in Nova Scotia can live safely and not have to fear for their lives. That takes some effort and it takes some research, some commitment for funding from the government in order to see that happen.

Mr. Speaker, in the 1990s, when the Liberal Government was in power, we had a program in place that was called the Family Violence Prevention Initiative, and it did exactly that - it tried to bring together people from different departments, not unlike what is being done now with the Nunn Commission, looking for impacts, in that case the Nunn Commission for youth violence and how to help young people in conflict with the law. The Family Violence Prevention Initiative tried to bring together various departments - Education, Justice, Community Services and Health - to address the issues around domestic violence and to look for solutions that would make that problem at least be alleviated to some extent. But that program was cut not very long ago, or not very long after the Progressive Conservatives took power in 1999.

Even more recently the federal Conservatives have cut funding to the national Status of Women, closing offices here in Nova Scotia and in a number of other provinces. When the federal minister actually said that there was no need to have, anymore, a special Status of Women department, or office, because in fact we were equal and there was no difficulty and we didn't have any special obstacles to overcome, I'm glad that today here in the Legislature we can talk about that and say that there are obstacles. What I'm most concerned about, Mr. Speaker, is that every day when we pick up the newspaper here in Nova Scotia, and read our local papers, we read about women who have lost their lives in domestic violence - and the numbers just keep growing.

The resolution refers to the number of 84 women who died between 1991 and 2006 as the victims of homicide. The figures are quite clear, Mr. Speaker, that it is 37 times, I believe it is, more likely that a woman will be killed by a partner or someone she knows well, rather than by a stranger. The majority of those homicides would be exactly that - death at the hands of somebody you know well, or an intimate partner. That is just not acceptable. In a small province like ours, we should not be looking at enormous numbers like that of women who have lost their lives.

I think it is important today to mention the Silent Witness Program, which is a fairly new program here in our province but is patterned on one that exists in several other provinces and in some of the states which actually seek to identify the women who have lost their lives and to honour them in all of our communities so that we remember, and they don't become faceless, nameless statistics, but they actually come to life so people can remember they were somebody's mother, somebody's daughter, or sister, and so on, really give them the honour they deserve. I hope that that program will, again, bring attention to this issue in every community in our province as they get established and have an exhibit that will actually travel the province and raise attention to this issue.

[Page 940]

My point of rising today, Mr. Speaker, - and there is not a great deal of time for such an important issue - my point is to rise and to call on the government to do more about this issue. They stopped the family violence prevention initiative. They have supported the federal government that has gone ahead and cut the Status of Women offices, and I haven't seen any action in the four-plus years that I have been here in the Legislature. I have just seen nothing substantive that has come from this government that has been a move toward improving the situation as it relates to family violence. Transition houses and women's centres are still limping along with minimal budgets, unable to provide the kinds of services that they would like to, unable to do the outreach into the wider community that is so important.

Mr. Speaker, if we are going to make a difference in terms of family violence, we are going to have to have education, and we are going to have to have outreach workers who go to schools, who make themselves available to women who are frightened to leave their homes or frightened to be seen in an office like a government office, or a transition house. We have to help them in that transition from their homes of violence, and the only way to do that is to have people who can go out and respond to the needs of women, and that is not happening right now because we don't have enough people or the resources assigned to it.

There is a great deal of need for action on this, Mr. Speaker. A year ago, I introduced a bill called the Domestic Violence Elimination Act, which called on the government to form a committee with multiple stakeholders to review this problem and look for answers, whether it be here in our province or around the world. It's essential that they do just that, that we start to get action on this problem, and that we also introduce the domestic violence court, which we discussed just recently in one of the bills that was brought in during this session by the Liberal Party.

I am calling on the government to give this serious attention so that we can start to make a difference and stop reading about these horrendous cases every day in our communities. It is not just a city problem. It is not a problem of poverty alone. It happens in every community, in every walk of life, Mr. Speaker. I think the time has come now for us to take action. I look forward to hearing the government's response. Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act.

HON. CAROLYN BOLIVAR-GETSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not happy, I guess, to stand and speak to this subject matter, because it is a very important subject matter that we are discussing here today - it would be a happy day if we could report that violence against women has stopped. If we do look at the updated fact sheets from the Advisory Council on the Status of Women, we definitely do see a different story. One woman in 12 faces violence from an intimate partner, boyfriend, or husband, and two-thirds of the incidents of spousal violence are not reported to police.

[Page 941]

Women in Nova Scotia are about 40 times more likely to be killed by a spouse or intimate partner than they are by a stranger. Aboriginal women experience four times the violence as non-Aboriginal women and are at least three times more likely to have experienced spousal violence than non-Aboriginal women. About 88 per cent of sexual assaults in Canada do not get reported to police. In more than three-quarters of the cases reported to the Halifax Regional Police in 2005, victims of sexual offences knew the accused. In 2005, only 26 per cent of reported sexual assaults in Nova Scotia resulted in the laying of a charge against the accused, down from 56 per cent in 1993. According to data collected through the Nova Scotia Senior Abuse toll-free line, two-thirds of calls identify women as the subject of senior abuse. Mr. Speaker, there's more work to be done, but there are many dedicated people and services working to stop the violence and they are working together.

Regarding the need for legislation; look to the Department of Justice Web site to find documents supporting the need for coordinated efforts, rather than the need for new legislation. For instance, the 1995 Framework For Action Against Family Violence, and reviewed again in 2001, concluded a comprehensive strategy would improve the response of the criminal justice system to family violence. The framework recommended better procedures for responding to family violence, based on a pro-arrest, pro-charge and pro-prosecution policy. It recommended clear direction for justice workers, community agencies and the public.

Progress is being made. The 2006 report of the Nova Scotia Family Violence Tracking Project found great improvement in police response. The likelihood of being charged jumped 28 per cent, from 1995 to 2005.

[5:45 p.m.]

Police response rates have consistently improved, increasing from 83 per cent in 1995 to 89 per cent in 2005. Arrest rates have improved from 26 per cent over arrest rates in 1995 and charge rates have increased by 28 per cent over the same period. Clearly this government and its agencies take domestic abuse very seriously.

Another recommendation from the Framework for Action was training for all justice workers to help them understand family violence, their responsibility in responding to incidents and the roles and responsibilities of other justice workers and agencies. That training is now standard.

There are also more supports to help the victim navigate the court system and to protect them from harm. Efforts have been made to improve the interagency coordination among all those involved, including more resources for community-based projects and local interagency committees on family violence. Moreover, Nova Scotia's Domestic Violence Intervention Act introduced in 2003, provides for emergency protection. An independent consultant gave the Act a favourable review.

[Page 942]

The Department of Community Services funds transition houses, women's centres, men's intervention programs and sexual assault services. The Department of Health raises awareness of violence against pregnant women through a poster campaign. For help, a woman might call the police department, she may call a transition house, a woman's resource centre, sexual assault service or victims' services.

Mr. Speaker, these are important services and supports. However, the Statistics Canada report, Family violence in Canada: A Statistical profile, tells another story: a review of police records from 1995 to 2005 reveals that nearly three-quarters of spousal homicides, or attempted spousal homicides, the perpetrator had no prior arrest history for spousal abuse. For most women in abusive relationships, the first contact for help is a family member or a friend. That's why the Advisory Council publication, Making Changes: A Book for Women in Abusive Relationships, is distributed by thousands every year. Making Changes contains information, advice and a directory of services for women seeking help for themselves and their children. It is available in both English and French.

Mr. Speaker, these are a few of the resources that we have available out there and it now contains advice and information for families and friends on signs of abuse, ways to offer support and a list of dos and don'ts. The resolution mentions that the government has a role in raising awareness on women's issues and the Advisory Council on the Status of Women raises awareness about violence against women through media publications and reports, as well as many other things. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Thank you. The honourable member for Dartmouth South-Portland Valley.

MS. MARILYN MORE: Abuse of women is called many things: wife battering, wife assault, domestic violence and on and on, but whatever we call it, abuse is all about power and control. It happens across age ranges, religions, cultures, income levels, but what the abusers have in common is the mistaken belief that it is okay to hurt people, even those they love.

My colleagues have, in their earlier remarks, talked a little bit about the current situation here in Nova Scotia and about some of the current programs and services available to help women, once they are abused, and also children who are the victims of domestic violence. I want to concentrate more on what proactive steps I think the government should be taking to meet some of these challenges.

I want to mention that certain groups of women are more vulnerable and at a higher risk of abuse than others. I don't think we can ever forget these. These include senior women, women with disabilities, young women who are in common-law relationships and also Aboriginal women. Sorry, I didn't mean to leave out the African Nova Scotian women as well. Because of challenges within their communities and their cultures, sometimes they face even stronger difficulties in escaping abusive situations.

[Page 943]

As a society, we have a responsibility to set a higher standard and a higher expectation for ourselves about gender equality and about healthy relationships. Governments have to take the lead. Gender equality has to be integrated into policy planning and legislation, into program priorities, into funding and budget preparation. We don't see that priority, we see a small attempt to meet some of the needs of the women and children who actually get into these situations, but we don't see that comprehensive, overall strategy that will prevent families - women and children in particular - from falling into this situation.

The Progressive Conservative Government has actually taken two steps backward. It has been mentioned earlier that the Family Violence Prevention Initiative was cut. This was a coordinating body that brought together representatives from government and from community-based services so they could coordinate their efforts and make sure they were all going in a similar direction. It was working extremely well.

The other program cut that the Progressive Conservative Government did, was the Criminal Injuries Compensation Program. This provided financial assistance to victims of crime and the majority of those were actually women who were leaving, or had suffered under a domestic violence situation.

I want to give credit to a lot of the community-based organizations and non-profit groups that are taking a lead in this. I, too, want to mention the transition houses, the women's centres, the sexual abuse and men's intervention programs. They're doing incredible work with few resources, with a growing demand in very difficult situations.

We have to stop this cycle of family and domestic violence. This government needs to be challenged to provide more funding for the current programs, to look at the earning gap between men and women, to create more affordable housing, to look at more opportunities for higher education and training for women, particularly single mothers and others on income assistance within that program. We don't see the comprehensive quality child care system, all of these are determinants of - they actually create some of the situations where women and children cannot leave an abusive situation.

This government has had many, many opportunities to take the lead and they have failed to come forward. They need to adopt a gender budgeting approach, they need to do a gender analysis on their legislation. Public policy does not treat men and women equally and this government has not recognized that.

I do want to close by saying that the Nova Scotia NDP believe that Nova Scotian women deserve fairness, they deserve affordability, they deserve equal opportunities, equal pay for equal work and a decent standard of living and the freedom to live without fear.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Richmond.

[Page 944]

MR. MICHEL SAMSON: Mr. Speaker, I want to start off by commending my colleague, the member for Halifax Clayton Park, for bringing forward Resolution No. 636 and as the Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act said, it's not a subject that is a pleasant one for us to talk about but one that certainly needs to be discussed, especially here in the Legislature in the Province of Nova Scotia.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be the sole male to speak on this issue because it is important to recognize that this is not a subject that should only be discussed by the female members of this House but it is one that the male members of this House must not only recognize but support the efforts and support the fact that much more needs to be done. There is no doubt that society has been changing and has been recognizing that violence against women, or violence against anyone, is unacceptable. But we still have a long way to go because the statistics provided by the Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act shows us that much more remains to be done. It is extremely troubling in 2007 to hear that those types of statistics still exist.

Mr. Speaker, even in my own riding, I often have the opportunity to speak with the sergeants and corporals who come to work in Richmond for the RCMP and I often ask them what is the one biggest issue that faces you here in Richmond? Sometimes I expect to hear it's drinking and driving, it's youth crime, it's burglaries. Instead, the one biggest issue which they have to face, which they dread the most, is domestic violence. I would say that that is not unique to Richmond County, I would say that that is an issue that faces the RCMP and local police enforcement in almost every corner of Nova Scotia. That is why so much more needs to be done.

Mr. Speaker, education is one of the most important elements to changing society's attitude toward domestic violence and we need to do more to educate our children as they are going through the education system to understand that violence is unacceptable. Violence against women is even more unacceptable and we have to make sure that our children understand that growing up. We have gone a long way in many other areas, whether it is drinking and driving, drug use, everything else that we have been able to educate our children to have different mindsets than what may have existed 10 years or 20 years ago or even longer. We need to do that as well for domestic violence at the same time.

Mr. Speaker, this gives me an opportunity, as well, to speak about a very important organization in the Strait area which is the Leaside Transition House. I want to take this opportunity to publicly commend the executive director and all of the staff of the Leaside Transition House for the work that they do under very difficult circumstances but they are there to assist families. Many times it is not only women but women and children who appear at their doorstep following domestic violence. I think it's important that we continue to support the efforts of Leaside Transition House and all of the transition homes that we have throughout the province. A few years ago there were concerns about government cuts to those transition homes and we were pleased to see that that decision was reversed and we

[Page 945]

would encourage the government to continue to find ways of investing in these transition homes.

Mr. Speaker, we can only hope that one day we may be able to say we don't need transition homes but unfortunately the reality is it seems that they will be needed for much longer than we would hope.

So with those comments, Mr. Speaker, I want to again commend my colleague, the member for Halifax Clayton Park, for bringing this issue forward. I believe all of us here in the House, government included, recognize that more needs to be done. I believe there is unanimous support by all members for government to initiate new programs and new approaches to try to put an end to violence against women in this province and to domestic violence, in general, regardless of whatever race, religion or language one might be from.

So with those comments, I thank the minister and the member for Dartmouth South-Portland Valley for her comments on this as well. Hopefully together, as members of the House of Assembly, we can look forward to a day when we can see real results and those results will be in better safety and better environments for women and for all Nova Scotians in the future.

MR. SPEAKER: There is approximately a minute and a half.

The honourable Minister of Community Services.

HON. JUDY STREATCH: Mr. Speaker, I echo my colleague's comments that it is indeed unfortunate that we need to rise and speak to this issue, but I echo the comments from other colleagues who indicate that it is absolutely essential that we continue to address, to recognize and to speak to the extremely important issue of domestic violence, violence against women, violence against children, and violence against families.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the member for Richmond on his comments regarding the fact that this is not a woman issue, this is a society issue, and I want to start off by saying that. It only comes from the recognition of all members of society that we truly can make advances. I will add, in my final moments of comment as well, that no one has the right to hold up one individual, or one philosophy, over another, when it comes to equality issues like we see with this one. All members of this House would be concerned, all Parties and all individuals in this House.

[6:00 p.m.]

Mr. Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity to address that and I will take my place.

[Page 946]

MR. SPEAKER: The time has expired for debate on Resolution No. 636.

The honourable Liberal House Leader.

MR. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, that completes the Liberal Party's business for today. I would turn it back to the Government House Leader for tomorrow's business.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. CECIL CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to rise to present government business for tomorrow, Thursday. Following the daily routine and Question Period, we will go to Public Bills for Second Reading. The bills will include Bill No. 1, the Trade Union Act; Bill No. 36, the Liquor Control Act; Bill No. 63, the Oil Refineries and L.N.G. Plants Municipal Taxation Act. As well, there will be Private Members' Public Bills for Second Reading: Bill No. 6, Smoke-free Places Act; and Bill No. 51, the Education Act.

Mr. Speaker, the House hours for tomorrow, Thursday, will be from 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m.

MR. SPEAKER: The motion is that the House do now rise to meet tomorrow at 12:00 noon. Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

We have arrived at the moment of interruption. The adjournment debate has been chosen, as announced earlier, and won by the honourable member for Hants West who will debate:

"Therefore be it resolved that this House applaud the tremendous volunteer efforts of parents involved in the Windsor-West Hants Minor Hockey system and recognize their exceptional commitment to bettering the lives of hundreds of children."

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION UNDER RULE 5(5)

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Hants West.

WINDSOR-W. HANTS MINOR HOCKEY - PARENTS:

VOL. EFFORTS - APPLAUD

[Page 947]

MR. CHUCK PORTER: Mr. Speaker, it's a pleasure to rise this evening to speak to something that's near and dear to my heart, being someone who has grown up in Hants West, the Windsor-West Hants area, and played my share of hockey over the years.

AN HON. MEMBER: Go Leafs!

MR. PORTER: Go Leafs, that's right, absolutely - a big Leafs fan.

ANOTHER HON. MEMBER: The Bruins!

MR. PORTER: The Bruins - well?

The West Hants Minor Hockey Society, the association, I want to speak to a little bit this evening, Mr. Speaker. They presently consist of approximately 360 players, 22 teams. That includes the house league teams as well as the rep teams. I know there are a few players who have passed through this House over the years, who have had the opportunity to play on some of those teams, including myself and members across the way from home.

That also includes, you know - it takes a lot to run that, about 100 administrators, coaches, volunteers and a lot of hours, Mr. Speaker. Hockey Nova Scotia has certainly encouraged some of the smaller associations in the past, to attempt to amalgamate, but West Hants felt, well, we didn't need to do this. They went out and they grew their membership. In fact, it continues to grow. Our area grows in general and families, and that helps us a lot, and it remains extremely competitive with some of the various larger organizations.

Every member of this Legislature, at one time or another, over the last week or so, has heard about the heinous brawl involving eight-year olds, near Toronto, and the parents, both in the U.S. and again in this country, in Canada, go overboard a bit when it comes to sports; hockey especially seems to be one of the more vigorous sports. They get a little excited and everybody wants to win and they go a little too far sometimes. They get aggressive, like politics, maybe, some days.

I know when I used to go to the rink as a young boy to play hockey, oftentimes that was 6:00 a.m. I remember one thing, the coach of the day, Hughie Maynard I believe at that time, one of the many, he had a philosophy and that was, it doesn't matter whether you win or lose the game, it's how you play the game and you have to have some fun doing it - a little bit of exercise, great fellowship with the team members.

We had all kinds of players. We had kids from everywhere, we even had kids who came in from East Hants to play in our area because we had such a great organization, and some from the Valley, from the Kentville and Wolfville areas came down to play and they still do that today in the junior hockey league; Junior B comes from all throughout the Valley, a number of talented players there.

[Page 948]

So true it is and it's great that so many dedicated individuals within the Windsor-West Hants Minor Hockey Association have adapted the philosophy of let's have fun, versus maybe let's have an argument and get too aggressive in the game. Of all ages, right from the youngest through to the senior leagues that we will have around today that I know some of my honourable colleagues on this side of the House play on the senior league every once in a while.

AN HON. MEMBER: Barry.

MR. PORTER: Barry, yes. I'd also like to extend my appreciation, Mr. Speaker, to some of the executive of the West Hants Minor Hockey Association by acknowledging the executive for the 2007-08 year and mention some of the responsibilities. One of those leading the way is the president, Gunn Smith and often and on most weekends you'll find Gunn at the rink sharpening skates for the kids out there during public skate and getting ready for the minor hockey.

Others are: vice-president, Marlene Lawrence; secretary, Jessie Barrett; treasurer, Sari DeMont; and director of hockey, Paul Sangster - all play a very important role. Head coach, Adam Sexton, who I have known for many years, well involved in hockey; the registrar, Vickie Greenough; Darrel Lytle - there's a name. He's been around in sport forever, not only in hockey. You'll see him all summer on the ballfield arranging the many tournaments that go on. Equipment manager, Steve Nelson and chief referee, Debbie Sanford. Fundraising is a big, big part of any minor sports these days, and the director there Jean Crawford, who I've been dealing with lately and getting ready for minor hockey day this year - going to be involved in that and sponsoring part of that and looking forward to it, actually, should be a great time.

The ice person there is John Shanks; development coordinator and former pro hockey player - and everybody will know the name - Nick Greenough, a big pro hockey player. He comes out of Hants West and spent a lot of time with the kids in our area. Mentor coach, Grant Veinot; female development coordinator, Tanya Singer; and the past-president, Randy Hussey, has put a great deal of time in.

I know all these guys are busy every weekend, not only on the road but organizing that fundraising piece when it comes to auctions and parties and so on, to get the funds that are much-needed. If I'm not mistaken, I think it's somewhere in the vicinity of about $10,000, just for an example, the Triple "A" Atom Team, $10,000 to run a team just for the winter season, a phenomenal amount of money.

The West Hants Minor Hockey Association, they've got an outstanding development program and one doesn't have to look too far to notice that Hants West Bantam Triple "A" Team is having an excellent season this year. To date this group is mainly 13- and 14-year-old boys that compete with teams from Amherst to Yarmouth and to Pictou. They occupy

[Page 949]

first place in the league standings with a record of 9, 3 and 2 this year, so they're doing very well.

We get a lot of tournaments on the provincial Pee Wee B Championship Tournament scheduled for the West Hants area in March, we look forward to that. Members of this House would be very aware that Windsor is certainly very well-known as the birthplace of hockey, there will never be an argument from this side with regard to the birthplace of hockey, absolutely.

AN HON. MEMBER: We'll challenge Kingston any day of the week. (Interruptions)

MR. PORTER: We'll challenge Kingston, Ontario, any day, that's right - yes, he shoots, he scores. To celebrate that annual birthplace of hockey each year we have a tournament, about 13 years now I think, and we tracked about 80 teams from all over the Maritimes, 13 divisions, a great deal of fun.

AN HON. MEMBER: I hear that Sackville is not much fun.

MR. PORTER: Sackville is not much fun, they're not much competition. We see them every other Friday night and we know what they can do. Our Windsor Royals no doubt in the Junior B League continue to harp away and really take that Sackville team, as well as East Hants and Pictou and a few of the others, you know. Clare doesn't offer us much there, I don't think. Antigonish, the Bull Dogs come into town every once in a while, yea, we show them what hockey is all about. First place, the honourable member says first place, well, that won't last long, the season is just getting underway and the Royals are just getting warmed up, as we know.

AN HON. MEMBER: They're starting to take their gloves off.

MR. PORTER: Well, that we won't do. Mr. Speaker, I realize that the time is growing short here so I'll wrap up. It has been a pleasure this evening to talk about the successes of the Windsor and West Hants Minor Hockey Association, pay tribute to the many tireless volunteers who do the necessary work and keep that going. We get somewhere over 400 children involved. With Minor Hockey Day approaching, January 12th, we celebrate that each year, I would encourage all members of this House . . .

AN HON. MEMBER: Moe Smith.

MR. PORTER: Moe Smith, thank you honourable member. Moe Smith is a guy from the past whose name we all know, both in baseball and in hockey in Windsor-West Hants.

Just in closing, again, I would encourage as many members to get out to that (Interruption) They are all as athletic as me, I'm afraid, yes. As many members as possible to get out to Windsor and enjoy the . . .

[Page 950]

AN HON. MEMBER: Chuck Boom Boom Porter. (Laughter)

MR. PORTER: As you can see, Mr. Speaker, I am being heckled to sit down. So, with that, I say thank you so very much, and I will take my place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member was getting lots of help there. (Laughter)

The honourable member for Cape Breton Nova.

MR. GORDON GOSSE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, it's a pleasure to rise tonight on this resolution by the member opposite applauding the tremendous volunteer efforts on behalf of parents and Windsor-West Hants minor hockey. I will generalize on parents and coaches and referees and all those who are involved in minor hockey in the Sydney Minor Hockey Association. First of all, I forget the number, there are well over 1,000 kids involved in minor hockey in my area. When I was a young lad growing up, there was no rink in the community of Whitney Pier. It was built in 1967, when the government gave thousands of rinks across this country, and enabled me to come out and play hockey. Even to this day, I still volunteer, on the weekends when I do have a chance to get home Saturdays and Sundays, I coach the bantam team, I help out, I coach. I do the defense the best that I can, and help them. My son, this year, is a goaltender, so I try to help him as much as I can, as I was a former goaltender myself.

Again, I go back to minor hockey, the volunteers, coaches, referees, parents and the children. They are the most important part of minor hockey, Mr. Speaker. Parents are called upon to wear many different hats in volunteering in minor hockey whether it's to coach, to evaluate, to fundraise, to do all of those different things to make a successful season for the children who are playing. It's not about treating players with all the different levels of skills, the most important thing is self-worth and self-esteem and making sure that these young people have fun. A lot of that is through the volunteers, the coaches.

I will go back and I will say that the President of the Sydney Minor Hockey Association, President Graham Quinn, does a fantastic job. His young fellow plays for Sydney Academy, and played last year in AAA Midget. The vice-president in that organization is Paul Canning, whose son also plays with Sydney Academy and played AAA. These are all good kids. These people have all put their time into minor hockey and volunteering. The vice-president of the organization and house divisions is Mike Moore, and there is a nice young gentleman who was away for years working. Mike Moore came back and put time into the community that he left, coaching kids and giving back to his community, giving back to those kids. I am very proud of this young man and, hopefully, there is enough work and stuff down there to keep him home, a young fellow like that who is willing to put in the time.

Then there is the vice-president, initiation of divisions, they call it, I guess, would be Mr. Ron Campbell. Then we have the registrar and the secretary, she wears two hats, Melanie

[Page 951]

Sampson, a constituent of mine from South Bar whose husband, Stewart, is a lobster fisherman. (Interruption)

I wouldn't hold that against him, my colleague, the member for Shelburne, is saying here.

He is a great guy and he is involved, and his son, Jeffrey, and Jocelyn - Jocelyn plays minor hockey for the New Waterford Jets, my colleague's, the member for Cape Breton Centre, area, and Jeffrey plays Bantam AAA. A great young hockey player. I go to their games; I have been to every divisional game this year from Bantam to Bantam A to Bantam AA to PeeWee AAA.

Then you have ice locations. Mr. Craig MacMullin. Now his son is Cory, who plays nets also, and is a great young goaltender, and hopefully will have a great future and have fun in this game. The developmental and risks part of the game in Sydney minor hockey in Sydney is Bruce Hubley, another gentleman who puts a in a lot of time.

I will talk about the treasurer, the most important part of the organization. They are the guys who are in charge of the finances for the ice rentals and making sure the tickets come in. We have a Sydney Minor Hockey Association 50/50 draw, a Glace Bay Minor Hockey Association 50/50 draw, and the Northside Minor Hockey Association 50/50 draw, and you would be surprised to realize these even splits are worth $20,000. That's the support they receive in Cape Breton for minor hockey. I think last Christmas it was worth $54,000 for the Glace Bay Minor Hockey Association, even split. My colleague, the member for Glace Bay would know the importance in that.

Again, I'll go back to the treasurer of the organization, Mr. Darren MacNeil, who is also the coach of my son's bantam hockey team. Darren wears the hat as treasurer, coach and I've been fortunate this year to accompany him on the bench and help him whenever I can when we're not here in Halifax and help him look at some of the young players like Joseph, Dylan, my son Daniel and the other Daniel on defence and Ryan MacPhee and all the other kids. They're having so much fun and winning games, but it's all about having fun, isn't it? Isn't that why parents volunteer? Isn't that why they go to the rink and they get up at 5:30 a.m. and take their kids.

Not only that, I know I've heard some laughs in that, but that's the truth. I remember a pro hockey player, and I forget at the time who it was, the person he'd like to thank would be his mother and father for taking him to the games. I'll go and speak about that issue, it's the parents - his mom and dad. To give you an example, I'm away in Halifax, I can't be home. My son is a goaltender and it's at times a tedious effort to put on the goalie gear, but who's in the dressing room with him putting on his goalie gear but his mother. And, how many other mothers are involved in doing those things?

[6:15 p.m.]

[Page 952]

So when these pro hockey players acknowledge their fortunes when they are lucky enough to get to that level, they understand the important role parents play. They understand the important role volunteers and coaches play. I can think about all the minor hockey coaches I have had myself, as a young man growing up. John Kennedy was my coach with the Art's Texaco, way back in the day, as my son says, that many years ago.

But a guy like Darren MacNeil, who gives up his time freely to become treasurer, to become coach and be a part of this - I guess it's an historic Canadian culture we have, which is parents getting involved in their children's lives. When that happens, when the kids are busy and happy and having fun, I think most of the parents in hockey look forward to equal ice time and equal treatment for their players, all of those things are what they're looking for, to see the smile on the young fellow's face after he comes off the ice and notice the red cheeks and how they're trying so hard.

I've always said, seeing youth and young people develop self-confidence, self-esteem and develop into good citizens, you can all look back to saying this is done because of the volunteers, because of the people I mentioned earlier. The more we have volunteers volunteering in that sector of minor hockey, the better it is for all our children in this province.

I think about all the guys that put time in my life in hockey, like Mr. Blick Campbell. Blick was a great hockey player and a great skater, but he always came to kids in the Pier and put in time. I think of the people at the Pier rink and the hours they put in getting the ice in the rink. I think of all those guys at Centennial Rink - I could name them all, I could be in here forever naming them all.

I think of an example of organizations trying to help other kids, putting on goaltending clinics and even these parents in the organization who work at bingo, for instance. They sell bingo cards, they work bingos, just to do everything to raise money. They do auctions. Recently the bantam AA team had an auction at Daniel's in Sydney to raise money for a trip, they're always raising money to come to Halifax, go to Newfoundland, March break hockey trips, Christmas hockey trips.

My son's coach, Darren, has put our team in a tournament at Christmas. It's $450, but where does that money come from? It comes from the volunteers in the organizations. So if you see organizations and volunteers, you see the mothers are the treasurers, the fathers are the assistant coaches or equipment managers or people in charge of all that stuff. Those are the important things. Those are the people we talk about here in this Legislature today.

It's about children remembering. I'm middle-aged now and I remember my coaches from those days when I was 12 and 13 years of age (Interruptions) I'm being modest, I guess, but to let you know, I'll not forget those guys who put time in with me. I'll not forget all those guys and I'll go on - my Charlie Racki and my baseball coaches in little league. It's

[Page 953]

about today. If we had more people that were volunteering and more parents involved in it and more rinks - I think that's a great thing.

I think it was 1967 when the federal government at that time had asked, what would the communities like the most? The response all across this country, from one end to the other, was rinks. Now you will see so many rinks named the Centennial Rink because of the federal government at that time - the communities wanted rinks. So with those rinks developed some of the hockey players we see today. The hockey players we see in the NHL today, think about how they got there, think about the volunteers. I think about that. Melanie Sampson is wearing two hats as the secretary, you know what I mean, as the registrar and now they have a Web site. It's so official today, in society, a Web site and go on to see what your team's record is, what the kids did and where the games are played - and you open up the Cape Breton Post and read their names.

Always remember one thing, and I will always remember a thing that was said to me a long time ago, Mr. Speaker, and I will finish up with that - and this is a quote that I used on all of my letterhead over the years and it was always said that, and I always said this, that "youth don't care what you know until they know that you care" and that's what it is all about, and I would like to finish up on that.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Kings West.

MR. LEO GLAVINE: Mr. Speaker, I am certainly pleased with the resolution brought forward today by the member for Hants West. I am also aware that the [Deputy] Speaker is our Volunteerism Critic and I know he is enjoying this time in which members can exchange on a very positive resolution, and that is to recognize volunteers, and in this case, the volunteers who help run the Windsor-West Hants Minor Hockey Association.

Before departing from the specifics of this particular resolution and talking about volunteers in minor hockey, minor sport in general, I must say that I have some phenomenal memories from hockey contests between western Valley teams playing against West Hants at AAA, Atom, PeeWee and Bantam levels and also as a coach of Greenwood minor hockey, having played against teams from West Hants. One of the young stars I was coaching against, at the time, who played here for the Mooseheads, was Brandon Benedict. Brandon is one of those products of the West Hants Minor Hockey system, along with many others who have gone on to star at the junior level and the university level. In fact, just last year, Acadia had at least two players from the West Hants Minor Hockey Association.

My own involvement in coaching hockey, and I think it's a good time to talk about mentors who help spur people into volunteer positions - a man who just received a tribute in Wolfville, and a little fundraiser because he is battling cancer, is Don Wells. Don was a long-time coach of Acadia Axemen and also a teacher in the physical education department.

MR. PERCY PARIS: Athletic director.

[Page 954]

MR. GLAVINE: And as athletic director, as I am reminded by the member for Fall River and all this other long title that he carries.

Anyway, when I was taking the course, when I was doing my education program at Acadia, Don Wells did something for me that, in fact, I have on two occasions thanked him for. He suggested that if you have the time to go down to the arena this year or any other sport that is in your background that you have an affinity for, you should really do that. So I was taking coaching foundations with an emphasis on hockey since Don Wells was the teacher, and I went down to the Kentville Arena, and not only did I get a chance to help out a little bit but one of the four Atom teams didn't have a coach and I decided to take that on that particular year - it was the beginning of volunteering to coach minor hockey and high school sports and high school hockey for 30 years and it's been one of the most rewarding areas that I can say associated with my professional life as a teacher.

Volunteers in minor hockey and in minor sports generally don't often get the kind of recognition, really, that they need. If you step up to be a coach today, you have to take coaching courses and you go through a number of requirements that Hockey Canada now puts in place to make sure, or as much as possible to make sure, that we have people who are there for all of the right reasons.

Of all the groups, I think parents are really the lifeblood of a strong minor hockey association. They are the ones who are there to do many, many of the requirements that a good minor hockey program can boast about, because without their efforts for fundraising, without their efforts for transportation, without their efforts to host other teams and especially associations across the province that put on big minor hockey tournaments - I mean the Sedna Tournament, the Cole Harbour Tournament, any of these could never have the success, the longevity without numerous volunteers.

If there's any moment that I'd like to give to today's proceedings, it is to recognize those parents, and especially today, ice time is very expensive. To put a child in minor hockey today, for many families, is very, very challenging. That's why, in my area, I would like to give kudos to Canadian Tire who equip a number of children in minor hockey, in the Middleton Minor Hockey Association, Greenwood Minor Hockey and Berwick Minor Hockey, children who would never play without that. So I think that's an aspect, too, that we need to be very, very cognizant of.

In my area, Greenwood Minor Hockey, Berwick Minor Hockey and the Western Valley Minor Hockey Association are the organizations that look after all of the organization and again, it's really hundreds of volunteers who make these associations work well from year to year.

The volunteers are also the ones who will shape the strength of a minor hockey program, that really, I think, its primary goal should be the development of our youth. Along

[Page 955]

with the development aspect, of course, we have the physical conditioning, the fitness component that comes from minor hockey and minor sport in general.

I think having children learn a skill, feel good about themselves and engage in teamwork- and I think when children see parents who put in that kind of time on their behalf and help shape a program, I think their influence as volunteers is extremely powerful. There is probably not a member in this House, although few are left at this stage, but there is probably not a member in this House who can't go back and say there was a minor hockey, or a minor sport coach, or a school coach who was very influential in their lives.

I think that's the value, and the real true value, that volunteers bring to the arena, to a minor hockey association and to sport in our province. We are part of Canada where sport history is extremely rich and if any Nova Scotian - and hopefully most members have been to the sports hall of fame, the Sports Heritage Centre here in the province. So with that, I would encourage people to volunteer, because very often - and I think those of us who had the opportunity to speak a little bit tonight, I would have to say that over the years, when you think you are giving so much to the team, to assisting with parents to make things work, you are actually getting much greater rewards back for the time that you put in.

MR. SPEAKER: I would like to thank all the honourable members for having taken part in tonight's late debate.

We stand adjourned until 12:00 noon tomorrow.

[The House rose at 6:29 p.m.]

[Page 956]

NOTICES OF MOTION UNDER RULE 32(3)

RESOLUTION NO. 718

By: Mr. Keith Colwell (Preston)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Preston Area Learning Skills Society was founded in 1987 as the North Preston Community School Program; and

Whereas in 1988 the Preston Area Learning Skills Society expanded to include Lake Loon, Cherry Brook and East Preston as well as changed its name to the Preston Area Learning Skills Society - PALS; and

Whereas the Preston Area Learning Skills Society celebrated their 20th Anniversary on April 19, 20007;

Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly recognize the enormous contributions made by the Preston Area Learning Skills Society and congratulate them on their 20th Anniversary.

RESOLUTION NO. 719

By: Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas this evening, December 5, 2007, the family and friends of Paula Gallant will meet in Glace Bay at the Savoy Theatre to celebrate the launching of Paula's Web site entitled Come Meet Paula at www.paulagallant.ca; and

Whereas family, friends, colleagues and students of Paula Gallant will never forget this wonderful mother and teacher; and

Whereas Magnetic Ps that symbolize Paula, Peace, Perseverance and Prosecution will be made available this evening;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate the family and friends of Paula Gallant on their continuing efforts to remember this outstanding woman.

[Page 957]

RESOLUTION NO. 720

By: Hon. Judy Streatch (Community Services)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Maureen Moore's name is synonymous with small business in the Hubbard's area; and

Whereas Mrs. Moore took a risk earlier this year by closing down her very successful used clothing store, Glad Rags, to open the new gift shop, Lola's Landing, in the Hubbards area; and

Whereas to no one's surprise, Lola's Landing is a huge success for tourists and locals alike who were looking for something a little different for their loved ones;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House applaud Maureen's entrepreneurial spirit, congratulate her on her new business and wish her much success in the future.

RESOLUTION NO. 721

By: Hon. Judy Streatch (Community Services)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Duke of Edinburgh Award is aimed at young people across Canada between the ages of 16 to 25; and

Whereas in order to achieve success, participants must complete 60 to 90 hours of community service, complete 50 hours of physical recreation, undergo a four-day adventure journey and complete a five-day residential projects program; and

Whereas Timothy O'Malley from the Head of St. Margarets Bay was one of 63 recipients who received his certificate this past October from Prince Edward;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate this young man on a job well done and wish him much success in his future endeavours.

[Page 958]

RESOLUTION NO. 722

By: Hon. Judy Streatch (Community Services)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas for the past 15 years husband and wife team, Rob and Sandra Pattison, have served up soup and sandwiches four nights a week in various parts of the Halifax Regional Municipality; and

Whereas for most of those years they traveled around the city in a converted school bus which served as the base for their soup kitchen on wheels; and

Whereas Rob and Sandra got the idea to start the rolling soup kitchen after answering their calling to support their community;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate and thank Rob and Sandra Pattison for all their hard work and wish them much happiness in the future.

RESOLUTION NO. 723

By: Mr. Harold Theriault (Digby-Annapolis)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Discover the Wines of Nova Scotia Festival has been named the Signature Event of the Year at the annual conference of the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia annual conference; and

Whereas this is quite an accomplishment considering the fact that this is only the second year that this event has been held; and

Whereas this year's festival was a complete success with more than 10,000 people attending 35 venues throughout Nova Scotia;

Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly congratulate the organizers of the Discover the Wines of Nova Scotia Festival and wish the festival success in years to come.

[Page 959]

RESOLUTION NO. 724

By: Mr. Leo Glavine (Kings West)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Firth Hepburn of Aylesford, Kings County, exemplifies why people say volunteers are the heart of the community; and

Whereas throughout the years, Firth has been presented with such prestigious awards as the Golden Jubilee Medal and the 2007 Provincial Volunteer Award, and has generously given of his time to organizations such as Scouts Canada, his church, and his local volunteer fire department; and

Whereas it is people like Firth Hepburn who make the smaller communities of Nova Scotia strong and make them an excellent place to raise a family;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of the House of Assembly recognize the impact that volunteers have on our communities and thank Firth Hepburn for generously giving of his time for so many years.

RESOLUTION NO. 725

By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Terry Fox Run is an annual event to raise money for cancer research; and

Whereas the hard work of community volunteers in organizing the event ensures the success of the Terry Fox Run year after year; and

Whereas the run has shown continual growth raising over $21,000 this year in Bedford;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize the invaluable efforts made by committee member Anita Smith to the 2007 Bedford Terry Fox Run.

[Page 960]

RESOLUTION NO. 726

By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Terry Fox Run is an event to raise money for cancer research and symbolic continuation of Terry's dream to find a cure for cancer; and

Whereas the hard work of dedicated community volunteers in organizing the event ensures the success of the Terry Fox Run year after year; and

Whereas the 2007 Bedford Terry Fox Run raised over $20,000 thanks to the commitment of the volunteers and community;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize the invaluable efforts made by all volunteers of the Terry Fox Run and applaud Quentin Hill for his contribution to the Bedford Terry Fox Run.

RESOLUTION NO. 727

By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Terry Fox Run is an event to raise money for cancer research and symbolic continuation of Terry's dream to find a cure for cancer; and

Whereas the hard work of dedicated community volunteers in organizing the event ensures the success of the Terry Fox Run year after year; and

Whereas the 2007 Bedford Terry Fox Run raised over $20,000 thanks to the commitment of the volunteers and community;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize the invaluable efforts made by all volunteers of the Terry Fox Run and applaud Marlene Kenley for her contribution to the Bedford Terry Fox Run.

[Page 961]

RESOLUTION NO. 728

By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Terry Fox Run is an event to raise money for cancer research and symbolic continuation of Terry's dream to find a cure for cancer; and

Whereas the hard work of dedicated community volunteers in organizing the event ensures the success of the Terry Fox Run year after year; and

Whereas the 2007 Bedford Terry Fox Run raised over $20,000 thanks to the commitment of the volunteers and community;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize the invaluable efforts made by all volunteers of the Terry Fox Run and applaud Lynn Jesty for her contribution to the Bedford Terry Fox Run.

RESOLUTION NO. 729

By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Terry Fox Run is an event to raise money for cancer research and symbolic continuation of Terry's dream to find a cure for cancer; and

Whereas the hard work of dedicated community volunteers in organizing the event ensures the success of the Terry Fox Run year after year; and

Whereas the 2007 Bedford Terry Fox Run raised over $20,000 thanks to the commitment of the volunteers and community;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize the invaluable efforts made by all volunteers of the Terry Fox Run and applaud Les Smith for his contribution to the Bedford Terry Fox Run.

[Page 962]

RESOLUTION NO. 730

By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Terry Fox Run is an annual event to raise money for cancer research; and

Whereas the hard work of community volunteers in organizing the event ensures the success of the Terry Fox Run year after year; and

Whereas the run has shown continual growth raising over $21,000 this year in Bedford;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize the invaluable efforts made by committee member Eva Kelades to the 2007 Bedford Terry Fox Run.

RESOLUTION NO. 731

By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Terry Fox Run is an annual event to raise money for cancer research; and

Whereas the hard work of community volunteers in organizing the event ensures the success of the Terry Fox Run year after year; and

Whereas the run has shown continual growth raising over $21,000 this year in Bedford;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize the invaluable efforts made by committee member Esther Theriault to the 2007 Bedford Terry Fox Run.

RESOLUTION NO. 732

By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

[Page 963]

Whereas the Terry Fox Run is an annual event to raise money for cancer research; and

Whereas the hard work of community volunteers in organizing the event ensures the success of the Terry Fox Run year after year; and

Whereas the run has shown continual growth raising over $21,000 this year in Bedford;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize the invaluable efforts made by committee member Dorothy Giffin to the 2007 Bedford Terry Fox Run.

RESOLUTION NO. 733

By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Terry Fox Run is an annual event to raise money for cancer research; and

Whereas the hard work of community volunteers in organizing the event ensures the success of the Terry Fox Run year after year; and

Whereas the run has shown continual growth raising over $21,000 this year in Bedford;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize the invaluable efforts made by committee member Don Lowther to the 2007 Bedford Terry Fox Run.

RESOLUTION NO. 734

By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Terry Fox Run is an annual event to raise money for cancer research; and

Whereas the hard work of community volunteers in organizing the event ensures the success of the Terry Fox Run year after year; and

[Page 964]

Whereas the run has shown continual growth raising over $21,000 this year in Bedford;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize the invaluable efforts made by committee member Del Kenley to the 2007 Bedford Terry Fox Run.

RESOLUTION NO. 735

By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Terry Fox Run is an annual event to raise money for cancer research; and

Whereas the hard work of community volunteers in organizing the event ensures the success of the Terry Fox Run year after year; and

Whereas the run has shown continual growth raising over $21,000 this year in Bedford;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize the invaluable efforts made by committee member Chuck Kelades to the 2007 Bedford Terry Fox Run.

RESOLUTION NO. 736

By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Terry Fox Run is an annual event to raise money for cancer research; and

Whereas the hard work of community volunteers in organizing the event ensures the success of the Terry Fox Run year after year; and

Whereas the run has shown continual growth raising over $21,000 this year in Bedford;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize the invaluable efforts made by committee member Bob Kerr to the 2007 Bedford Terry Fox Run.

[Page 965]

RESOLUTION NO. 737

By: Hon. Murray Scott (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Danica Deveaux, a 16 year old student in Oxford, participated in the 2007 Sackville Music Festival in Sackville, New Brunswick, for her sixth consecutive year; and

Whereas Danica came home from this year's festival with six first place envelopes in her pocket, one for each of the songs that she performed, one sung in German; and

Whereas Danica is currently studying for her Grade 7 Voice through the Royal Conservatory of Music and after graduating from Oxford Regional High School, she plans on earning her Bachelor of Music with a major in voice through Mount Allison University, then it's a Bachelor of Education and on to a career in teaching music;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate Danica Deveaux on these outstanding achievements and we wish her all the best in the future.

RESOLUTION NO. 738

By: Hon. Murray Scott (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Brian Ells was honoured on October 22, 2007, for his 35 years of dedicated service to the province of Nova Scotia; and

Whereas Brian Ells worked for the Department of Natural Resources based out of Parrsboro for 35 years; and

Whereas the Government of Nova Scotia recognized their workers for their achievements made in support of business, objectives, high quality client service and dedication to public service, recognizing the accomplishment of employee's contributions to a supportive work environment and supports the attraction and retention of committed and engaged employees;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate Brian Ells on his 35 years of service and we wish him all the best in all future endeavours.

[Page 966]

RESOLUTION NO. 739

By: Hon. Murray Scott (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Rob Blake, a Grade 10 student at Oxford Regional High School, participated in the Nova Scotia Skills Competition at NSCC Akerley Campus in April, 2007; and

Whereas Rob brought home the Silver Medal for his skills in the outdoor power and recreation equipment component of the competition; and

Whereas the Nova Scotia Skills competitions are held to encourage Nova Scotia's youth to explore and choose skilled careers in Trades & Technologies;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate Rob Blake on this outstanding achievement and we wish continued success in the future.

RESOLUTION NO. 740

By: Hon. Murray Scott (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Amy Carmichael, a student at West End Memorial School in Springhill, was one of three Grade 4 students whose Remembrance Day project was chosen to be presented at their Remembrance Day program; and

Whereas family, friends, teachers, students and local dignitaries gathered at the school to pay their respects to the soldiers who fought for our freedom and those who continue to do so; and

Whereas Amy Carmichael showed her respect for the veterans through her project that was presented during the ceremony;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate Amy Carmichael on having her Remembrance Day project chosen to be presented at this very important ceremony and we wish her continued success in all future endeavours.

[Page 967]

RESOLUTION NO. 741

By: Hon. Murray Scott (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Cpl. Shannon Fretter, originally from Springhill, Cumberland County, was recognized in a special presentation that recognized leadership and professionalism in the face of tragedy; and

Whereas the commendation, signed by General Chief of Defence Staff R. J. Hillier, tells a harrowing story and how things could have been much worse had not Cpl. Fretter taken charge; and

Whereas on September 4, 2006, Canadian troops positioned South of the Arghandab River were strafed by a United States Air Force A-10 aircraft resulting in over 30 Canadian casualties, Corporal Fretter, a medic attached to the 1st Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group, took control of the scene and immediately established a triage area where she effectively assessed, prioritized and directed first aid response to the mass casualties, capitalizing on the skills of those arriving on the scene, these actions of Corporal Fretter in the face of an overwhelming and horrific event saved the lives of countless Canadian soldiers;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate Cpl. Shannon Fretter on her outstanding act of bravery and leadership and we wish her all the best in all future endeavours.

RESOLUTION NO. 742

By: Hon. Murray Scott (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas David Alexander Fairbanks was honoured on October 22, 2007, for his 30 years of dedicated service to the province of Nova Scotia; and

Whereas David Alexander Fairbanks, employed by the Public Prosecution Services for 30 years, has been a very dedicated and committed professional; and

Whereas the Government of Nova Scotia recognized their workers for their achievements made in support of business, objectives, high quality client service and dedication to public service, recognizing the accomplishment of employees whose

[Page 968]

contribution to a supportive work environment and supports the attraction and retention of committed and engaged employees;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate David Fairbanks on his 30 years of service and we wish him all the best in all future endeavours.

RESOLUTION NO. 743

By: Hon. Murray Scott (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Clarence Falconer was honoured on October 22, 2007, for his 35 years of dedicated service to the Province of Nova Scotia; and

Whereas Clarence Falconer provided a very dedicated and professional service for the Department of Justice for 35 years; and

Whereas the Government of Nova Scotia recognized their workers for their achievements made in support of business, objectives, high quality client service and dedication to public service, recognizing the contribution of employees to a supportive work environment and supports the attraction and retention of committed and engaged employees;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate Clarence Falconer on his 35 years of service and we wish him all the best in all future endeavours.

RESOLUTION NO. 744

By: Hon. Murray Scott (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Sidney Falkenham, 17 year old Grade 11 student at Parrsboro Regional High School, was crowned Old Home Week Queen for 2007, in a ceremony on July 12, 2007; and

Whereas Sidney was also named Miss Congeniality, which is quite an honour in itself in the pageant; and

Whereas the Old Home Week Queen's pageant has been in existence from 1961 and is a big part of the festivities of the community;

[Page 969]

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate Sidney Falkenham on being crowned Old Home Week Queen and Miss Congeniality and we wish her all the best in the future.

RESOLUTION NO. 745

By: Hon. Murray Scott (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Springhill Army Cadet Edward Ferguson has every right to be considered one of Canada's straightest shooters as he took home a gold medal to 1859 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps from the National Cadet Marksmanship; and

Whereas the Championship held May 7 to 11 at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario, where Edward placed first in the junior category scoring two 100 per cent targets along the way; and

Whereas these cadets earn their way to the National Championship through a rigorous series of tournament matches at the local, regional and provincial levels;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate Edward Ferguson on this outstanding achievement and we wish him continued success in the future.

RESOLUTION NO. 746

By: Hon. Murray Scott (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Allison Forshner, a student at West End Memorial School in Springhill, was one of three Grade 6 students whose Remembrance Day project was chosen to be presented at their Remembrance Day Program; and

Whereas family, friends, teachers, students and local dignitaries gathered at the school to pay their respect to the soldiers who fought for our freedom and those who continue to do so; and

Whereas Allison Forshner showed his respect for the veterans with his project that was presenting during the ceremony;

[Page 970]

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate Allison Forshner on having his Remembrance Day project chosen to be presented at this very important ceremony and we wish him continued success in all future endeavours.

RESOLUTION NO. 747

By: Hon. Murray Scott (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Kelsea Gillis of Parrsboro has been selected and presented with the Cumberland Health Care Career Bursary Award; and

Whereas Kelsea Gillis will be entering her first year of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Dalhousie University; and

Whereas under the terms and conditions of the program, which is open to Cumberland County students only, the successful applicants receive a bursary of up to $4,000 per year to support their studies and all recipients sign an agreement for a "return for service" equal to the number of years for which they receive a bursary and that commitment could include working at any of the CHA's five health care sites around the county;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate Kelsea Gillis on receiving the Cumberland Health Care Career Bursary Award and we wish her all the best in her studies.

RESOLUTION NO. 748

By: Hon. Murray Scott (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Cathy Bragg-Gillmore was honoured on October 22nd, 2007, for her many years of dedicated service to the Province of Nova Scotia; and

Whereas Cathy Bragg-Gillmore has worked for the Department of Health for 25 years; and

Whereas the Government of Nova Scotia recognized their workers for their achievements made in support of business, objectives, high quality client service and dedication to public service, recognizing the accomplishment of employees to a supportive

[Page 971]

work environment and supports the attraction and retention of committed and engaged employees;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate Cathy Bragg-Gillmore on her 25 years of service and we wish her all the best in all future endeavours.

RESOLUTION NO. 749

By: Hon. Murray Scott (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Stacey Glennie of River Hebert District High School was the proud recipient of the Lieutenant Governor Medal for 2006/2007; and

Whereas the Lieutenant Governor's Award was instituted and is administered by the Department of Education, Province of Nova Scotia, which is awarded to one boy and one girl in each school who has commendable performance in the courses in which they are enrolled and who has demonstrated qualities of leadership and service in the school and community; and

Whereas open to all Grade 11 high school students and first year vocational school program, students were nominated by their school and the students nominated are certainly worthy recipients of this award;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate Stacey Glennie on receiving the Lieutenant Governor's Medal and we wish her all the best in all future endeavours.

RESOLUTION NO. 750

By: Hon. Murray Scott (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Kirsten Gogan of Springhill participated in the Knights of Columbus Nova Scotia Free Throw Championships in Truro in May, 2007, and

Whereas Kirsten, along with 150 other students between the ages of 10 and 14, participated in the annual event; and

Whereas Kirsten came home with a bronze medal for scoring 16 out of 25;

[Page 972]

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate Kirsten Gogan on receiving the bronze medal for the Knights of Columbus, Nova Scotia Free Throw Championships and we wish her continued success in the future.

RESOLUTION NO. 751

By: Hon. Murray Scott (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Nova Scotians realize the dedication and hard work of their volunteer firefighters and were honoured to gather together to recognize their efforts; and

Whereas on November 24th, friends, family and firefighters gathered together in Westchester to honour the years of service of those members who give so unselfishly of their time and efforts to help ensure the safety of their community and surrounding areas; and

Whereas Deborah Hall was recognized on that evening for 15 years of dedicated service to the Westchester Fire Department;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate Deborah Hall for her 15 years of dedicated service to the department, her community and to the province of Nova Scotia.

RESOLUTION NO. 752

By: Hon. Murray Scott (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas The 689 Handley Page Air Cadets Squadron from Parrsboro impressed a lot of people during their annual ceremonial review in May, 2007; and

Whereas while this squadron is not large in numbers, it is very large in spirit when you learn of the activities that they have participated in since 2006 and the programs that they had planned for the summer of 2007; and

Whereas members of this outstanding Air Cadets Corp are Roberta Lattie, Cody Hunter, Malcolm Campbell, Andrew McCulley, Bo Lattie, Clifford Bennett, Jordon Wilner;

[Page 973]

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate The 689 Handley Page Air Cadets on their outstanding achievements and we wish them continued success in the future.

RESOLUTION NO. 753

By: Mr. Michel Samson (Richmond)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Dr. Ransom Myers dedicated his career to the study of marine life in Nova Scotia and throughout the world; and

Whereas at the forefront of his work was the evidence he and a coworker published, demonstrating that 90 per cent of the world's large fish population has vanished completely; and

Whereas on November 29, 2007, The Discovery Centre posthumously inducted Dr. Ransom Myers into the Nova Scotia Science and Technology Hall of Fame at the 2007 Discovery Awards;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House of Assembly remember the accomplishments and dedication that Dr. Ransom Myers exemplified throughout his career.

RESOLUTION NO. 754

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Anna Crites of Shelburne County, a special Olympian athlete who attended the Winter games in Shearwater on March 2-4, 2007; and

Whereas Anna and the curling team played five games and won all five games proceeding to the gold medal game; and

Whereas the curling team won the gold medal on Sunday, March 3rd, and will represent Nova Scotia at the Canadian National Games in Quebec City, 2008;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Anna for her great sportsmanship and dedication to the game as a team player. Good luck and continued success in your athletic future.

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RESOLUTION NO. 755

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the White Point Golf Club hosted its annual two man Invitational Golf Tournament during the Father's Day weekend June 16-17, 2007; and

Whereas Aaron Nickerson of River Hills Golf and Country Club was presented with the championship trophy; and

Whereas Aaron and his partner, Ryan Dixon, had the total winning score of 124 for both days and in the best ball format on Saturday, Aaron shot a score of 65, which ties the competitive course record set by Richard Dumeah many years ago in a club championship;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Aaron Nickerson for his win at the While Point Invitational Golf Tournament and best wishes for future athletic competitions.

RESOLUTION NO. 756

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Andrew Kicks of Shelburne County, a special Olympian athlete who attended the Winter games in Shearwater on March 2-4, 2007; and

Whereas Anna and the curling team played five games and won all five games proceeding to the gold medal game; and

Whereas the curling team won the gold medal on Sunday, March 3rd, and will represent Nova Scotia at the Canadian National Games in Quebec City, 2008;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Andrew Kicks for his great sportsmanship and dedication to the game as a team player. Good luck and continued success in your athletic future.

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RESOLUTION NO. 757

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Adam Wolkins, a former resident of Shelburne County, won the National NJCAA Championship Ring at the national meet in Arkansas City with a throw of 67.43 metres; and

Whereas Adam attends Cowley County Community Junior College and with Adam's help his school won the Division VI regionals for the first time, having finished third in prior years; and

Whereas when Adam graduates from college he will choose a university with a strong track and field program;

Therefore be it resolved that th is House of Assembly congratulate Adam on winning the National NJCAA Championship ring in Arkansas City. Best wishes during the tryouts for the Canadian track and field team for the 2008 Olympics and continued success in javelin-throwing competitions.

RESOLUTION NO. 758

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Aaron Nickerson ranked fifth at the Nova Scotia Men's Amateur Championships in North Sydney at Seaview Golf Club in June 2007; and

Whereas Aaron, a resident of Clark's Harbour, has played at River Hills since 1984 and is the Manger of Silver Roe Seafoods on Cape Sable Island; and

Whereas Aaron has registered for the Canadian Men's Amateur Championship in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, August 10-17, 2007;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Aaron Nickerson on his golfing win, ranking fifth at the Nova Scotia Men's Amateur Championships in North Sydney and wish him continued success in future golfing competitions.

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RESOLUTION NO. 759

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Charity Atwood of Newellton, Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, a Grade 12 student of 2007, volunteered her entire year at Barrington Municipal High School; and

Whereas Charity has worked very hard to make the 2007 Barrington Municipal High School prom a success; and

Whereas the one-night affair is only possible by much fundraising, planning and volunteering;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Charity Atwood on her hard work and dedication to ensure the prom night at Barrington Municipal High School was flattering and very successful. Charity is greatly appreciated by students and staff at BMHS.

RESOLUTION NO. 760

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Brian Cheshire was the winner of the two-day Largest Shark Competition at the Lockeport Sea Derby held on Sunday, August 12, 2007, in Shelburne County; and

Whereas Brian caught the winning male blue shark aboard the Roseway Venture, weighting in at 254.34 pounds; and

Whereas the shark meat was sold at the Halifax Fix Market where all the proceeds were donated to charity;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Brian Cheshire on his catching the largest shark during Lockeport's annual Sea Derby's Largest Shark Competition. Best wishes on future sports fishing competitions.

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RESOLUTION NO. 761

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Bob Byrne of Barrington, Shelburne County, has been teaching and volunteering at Barrington Municipal High School for more than 25 years; and

Whereas Bob has volunteered unlimited number of hours for the senior boy's hockey team and the Safe Grad Programs; and

Whereas Bob is the first person to volunteer the use of his vehicle and to give his time whenever something has to be moved or picked up;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Bob on his volunteering efforts and his 25-plus years of teaching service to Barrington Municipal High School. Bob is thoughtful and considerate of others, never failing to share his daffodil patch with the office staff. Bob is greatly appreciated at Barrington Municipal High School.

RESOLUTION NO. 762

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Barrington Municipal High School Barons Girls' Hockey Team brings home the provincial silver medals on March 23-25, 2007; and

Whereas the Barons won their first games by beating Memorial High School 6-4 and also winning over Northumberland High School 3-2 in the second game; and

Whereas the Barons defeated Millwood High School 5-4 and Middleton High School 3-0. The Barons, in good spirits, cheerfully celebrated their loss to Auburn High School as the season came to an end;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate the Barrington Municipal High School Barons Girls' Hockey Team on their achievements and wish each player continued success in their athletic futures.

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RESOLUTION NO. 763

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Clark's Harbour Foggies won the 6th Annual Rookie Grand Slam Tournament at Fall River, Halifax County, on August 10-12, 2007; and

Whereas their first game was against the LWF Hurricanes with a score of 16-5. The second game was against Hammonds Plains Golden Jays for a win of 17-7 and the Foggies played the Bridgewater Bulldogs with a win of 13-5; and

Whereas in the semi-finals the Foggies played the Sackville Blue Jays and won 4-2. The championship game was against the Hammonds Plains Greyhounds for a win of 7-6;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate the Clark's Harbour Foggies for winning the 6th Annual Rookie Grand Slam Tournament at Fall River and for their excellent sportsmanship and teamwork. Best wishes for future athletic success.

RESOLUTION NO. 764

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Shelburne County resident Charlene Nickerson of North West Harbour received a plaque from Shelburne Emergency Health Services on February 23, 2007; and

Whereas Charlene heroically called 911 when her mother suddenly became very ill in December 2006; and

Whereas Charlene, with meekness and maturity, gave all required information to the paramedics;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Charlene Nickerson for her bravery and quick thinking while dealing with a serious situation. Charlene has clearly demonstrated a remarkable act of kindness which has resulted in a precious life-saving deed.

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RESOLUTION NO. 765

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Clark's Harbour Cardinals baseball team beat the Gateways with a score of 5 to 2 on July 16th in Yarmouth; and

Whereas the winning pitcher was Nick Penny, where he also pitched a no-hitter in the last inning; and

Whereas Shane Devine had a three-run home run for the Clark's Harbour team;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate the Clark's Harbour Cardinals on their teamwork and sportsmanship, and best wishes for the team's athletic future endeavours.

RESOLUTION NO. 766

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Chelsea Goulden of Shelburne County returned from the National Junior Five- Pin Bowling Competition in Winnipeg with a bronze medal; and

Whereas Chelsea, who also plays basketball and soccer, has been bowling since the age of six, and she has recorded a lifetime high score of 386 in last year's competitions; and

Whereas Chelsea had an average of more than 221 in 24 games at the nationals - her best score during the competition was 301;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Chelsea on her hard work and dedication at the bowling competition in Winnipeg, and wish her continued success in future competitions.

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RESOLUTION NO. 767

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Charity Atwood of Newellton, Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, a Grade 12 student in 2007, volunteered her entire year at Barrington Municipal High School; and

Whereas Charity has worked very hard to make the 2007 Barrington Municipal High School prom a success; and

Whereas the one-night affair is only possible by much fundraising, planning, and volunteering;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Charity Atwood on her hard work and dedication to ensure the prom night at Barrington Municipal High School was flattering and very successful - Charity is greatly appreciated by students and staff at BMHS.

RESOLUTION NO. 768

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Cordelia Perry of Port Saxon, Shelburne County, graduated from Shelburne Regional High School in 1988; she had no solid future career plans; and

Whereas Cordelia spent a year in Kabul, Afghanistan, with the United States Army as an educational specialist, often working seven days a week helping U.S. and other coalition soldiers with their education; and

Whereas Cordelia returned home to Shelburne County with plans to go to university in the Fall, in Halifax, to finish her master's degree in education;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Cordelia on her hard work and dedication as an educational specialist in Afghanistan, and best wishes for future accomplishments in hopes of a fulfilling and rewarding career.

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RESOLUTION NO. 769

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the vessel, Coastal Raider, and Captain Toby Perry along with crew members, Richard Hiltz and Chris Perry, took on water and sank off Ingomar on Sunday, July 15, 2007; and

Whereas the three fishermen were found floating in a life raft nearly 21 hours before being rescued 9:30 on Monday, July 16, 2007; and

Whereas more than 20 fishing boats from Ingomar left the harbour in search of the Coastal Raider - the vessel, Joyce and Boys, with Captain Corey Crowell, Bill Kean and Todd Smith noticed a flare through the thick fog;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly thank all those who made an effort to reply to the Coastal Raider's mayday call - strength, courage and solidarity was witnessed in full as community gathered to pluck the three lost men from the sea and safely returned them to their friends and family on that foggy Monday, July 16th, morning.

RESOLUTION NO. 770

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Ashley Stuart of Lockeport Regional High School was the second prize winner of the Roseway Literacy Prize on Thursday, June 14, 2007, by the Arts Council for the Junior Division; and

Whereas Ashley submitted her poem - My Crush - winning the Roseway Literacy Prize which is named in honour of Roseway Publishing of Pleasant Point, Lockeport; and

Whereas the ceremony took place in Mike Thorbourne's Grade 8 English class of Lockeport High and was presented by Susan Hoover and Peter Healy who formed the winning committee;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Ashley for her accomplishment in winning the Roseway Literacy Prize, and best wishes for future writing endeavours.

[Page 982]

RESOLUTION NO. 771

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the EHS Symposium has been held in the western region of the province for the last seven years; and

Whereas paramedics Crystal Larkin, Peter Nickerson, Lilly Snook, Ryan Smith, Erin Doane, Arthur Doane, Paula Sutherland, and Jeanette Diggdon helped colleagues with providing a forum of educational opportunities; and

Whereas these paramedics have raised over $24,000 for children in the area and beyond;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate the hard work and dedication so the Emergency Health Services Symposium can continue strengthening education for Nova Scotians of all ages, and for praiseworthy fundraising which has provided surpassing support towards a brighter future.

RESOLUTION NO. 772

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Debra Lawson of Oak Park, Shelburne County, is recognized as the Volunteer of the Year by the 7E Barrington Fire Department; and

Whereas Debra has contributed her time and talents by donating a crocheted afghan for fundraising purposes - she participates in car show fundraising events, training activities and medical first responder training; and

Whereas Debra has been a member of the 7E Barrington Fire Department for the past five years;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Debra Lawson for her hard work and dedication as she serves the community and the Barrington Volunteer Fire Department.

[Page 983]

RESOLUTION NO. 773

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas students at Evelyn Richardson Memorial Elementary School took part in a project named Adopt-a-Stream Program in 2007; and

Whereas the Grade 6 students focused on a portion of the Barrington River Watershed and the Shag Harbour Brook; and

Whereas the students studied insects, bird life, salinity, flow of water and water PH levels;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate the Evelyn Richardson Memorial Elementary School students for their involvement in Adopt- a- Stream project and for participating in an opportunity to explore and respect the environment.

RESOLUTION NO. 774

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Edward Nickerson of the Shag Harbour/Bear Point Volunteer Fire Department received recognition from the Office of the Fire Marshal for 25 years of service; and

Whereas on October 5, 2007, they were awarded the Fire Service Long-Service Medal at a special ceremony in Truro, Nova Scotia; and

Whereas Mark Parent, the Minister of Environment and Labour, presented the award;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Edward Nickerson on his Fire Service Long- Service Medal and for faithfully serving the Shag Harbour/Bear Point Volunteer Fire Department and surrounding communities in their times of need.

[Page 984]

RESOLUTION NO. 775

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Donnie Mahaney of Barrington, Shelburne County, was able to defeat an American dory rowing team during a competition in Gloucester, Massachusetts, on June 16, 2007; and

Whereas Donnie and his partner, Wylie Blades, have been rowing with the Queen of Hearts Dory Club for many years, beating the American team by a mere one- second lead; and

Whereas Donnie and Wylie both share the love of the physically demanding sport, bringing home the gold trophy two years in a row, and Donnie, being the grandson of the late famous dory builder, Sidney Mahaney, brought home the gold trophy in 2005;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Donnie Mahaney for his determination and perseverance to win the International Championship Dory Competition.

RESOLUTION NO. 776

By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Donna Atkinson of Newellton, Shelburne County, represented the Municipality of Barrington at the Provincial Volunteer Dinner in Halifax on April 10, 2007; and

Whereas Donna was nominated by the Western Shelburne County Health Care Charitable Foundation; and

Whereas Donna volunteers for the Roseway Hospital Charitable Foundation, various health care committees, school programs, church committees, the Clark's Harbour Heritage Centre, and she is also dedicated to humanitarian work;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Donna for her commitment and dedication to her volunteer work - she is a true gem and ambassador for her community.

[Page 985]

RESOLUTION NO. 777

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Grand Pré Winery; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 778

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Forest Products Association of Nova Scotia; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

[Page 986]

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 779

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Dalhousie University; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 780

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Colchester Regional Development Agency; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community

[Page 987]

and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 781

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Coastal Communities Network; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 782

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Nova Scotia Community Business Development Corporations; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

[Page 988]

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 783

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including BioNova; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 784

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Destination Bluenose Coast; and

[Page 989]

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 785

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Black Business Initiative; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 786

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

[Page 990]

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 787

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Antigonish Regional Development Authority; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

[Page 991]

RESOLUTION NO. 788

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Acadia University; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 789

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Halifax Regional Municipality; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

[Page 992]

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 790

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Halifax Farmers' Market; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 791

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including The Hawk 101.5; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community

[Page 993]

and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 792

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including HB Studios; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 793

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Isle Madame Confections Inc.; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

[Page 994]

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 794

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including MedMira; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 795

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Oak Island Resort; and

[Page 995]

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 796

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Strait Area Chamber of Commerce; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 797

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

[Page 996]

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Taste of Nova Scotia; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 798

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including WearWell Garments; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

[Page 997]

RESOLUTION NO. 799

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including ZedEvents; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 800

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including xwave; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

[Page 998]

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 801

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including AG Research; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 802

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Lakewind Sound Studio; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community

[Page 999]

and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 803

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 804

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Icon Communications and Research; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

[Page 1000]

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 805

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Polysteel Atlantic Limited; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 806

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Cape Breton University; and

[Page 1001]

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 807

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Sydney Area Chamber of Commerce; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 808

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

[Page 1002]

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Techlink; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 809

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Coastal Community Radio Co-op Ltd. ; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

[Page 1003]

RESOLUTION NO. 810

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Maritime Environmental Training Institute; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 811

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Sydney Downtown Development Association; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

[Page 1004]

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 812

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Destination Cape Breton Association; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 813

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Advanced Glazings; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community

[Page 1005]

and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 814

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including St. Francis Xavier University; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 815

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including XFM Radio; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

[Page 1006]

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 816

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including MacIsaac Kilt Makers; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 817

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Ross Screenprint; and

[Page 1007]

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 818

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Antigonish Area Partnership; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 819

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

[Page 1008]

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Casket Printing and Publishing Ltd; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 820

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including AA Munro Insurance; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

[Page 1009]

RESOLUTION NO. 821

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Bergengren Credit Union; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 822

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Highland Place Group; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

[Page 1010]

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 823

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Strait-Highlands Regional Development Authority; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 824

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Antigonish Farmers' Mutual; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community

[Page 1011]

and collaboration potential is extensive, our health care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 825

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Keane Canada; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 826

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Queen Street Studios; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

[Page 1012]

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 827

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Nautel; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 828

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Modern Media; and

[Page 1013]

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 829

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Southwest Properties; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 830

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

[Page 1014]

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Propeller Brewing Company; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 831

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Sampling Technologies Inc.; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

[Page 1015]

RESOLUTION NO. 832

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Neptune Theatre; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 833

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including The People Bank; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

[Page 1016]

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 834

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Nova Scotia; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 835

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Archway Search Consultants; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community

[Page 1017]

and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 836

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the East Coast School of Languages; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 837

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Farnell Packaging Limited; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

[Page 1018]

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 838

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including the Nova Scotia Community College; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 839

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Laurentian Energy; and

[Page 1019]

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 840

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including Protocase; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 841

By: Hon. Rodney MacDonald (The Premier)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

[Page 1020]

Whereas in May and October, 66 additional private sector organizations joined the province to promote Nova Scotia and its attributes wherever they do business by signing our Nova Scotia "Come to life" charter, including ImmediaC Interactive; and

Whereas Nova Scotia "Come to life" is now represented by 89 organizations - from cutting-edge universities, a forward-thinking community college system, industry leaders, and innovative Nova Scotia businesses and associations; and

Whereas President and CEO of MedMira, Hermes Chan, explained why they chose Nova Scotia by saying, ". . . the answer is simple: our scientific and academic community and collaboration potential is extensive, our health- care expertise and capabilities are second to none, and our government is extremely active and very supportive of its industry.";

Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs welcome and thank our newest charter members for acting as ambassadors to the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 842

By: Ms. Joan Massey (Dartmouth East)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas on February 21, 2007, I had the pleasure of attending the Nova Scotia Recycles Contest Awards banquet; and

Whereas this is an annual initiative to promote participation in recycling and composting programs; and

Whereas Tanis Bird was a runner-up in the T-shirt design category;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Tanis Bird on being named runner-up in the Nova Scotia Recycles T-shirt design category and for doing her part in helping to make Nova Scotia a leader in waste reduction.

RESOLUTION NO. 843

By: Hon. Carolyn Bolivar-Getson (Human Resources)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Moira Frier of Hebbville Academy was selected as the Female Athlete of the Year for 2006-07; and

[Page 1021]

Whereas this award is presented to a student who has excelled at various sports during the school year; and

Whereas Moira's dedication and team spirit was evident at Hebbville Academy and was a positive role model for female athletes;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Moira Frier on being selected the Female Athlete of the Year at Hebbville Academy.

RESOLUTION NO. 844

By: Hon. Carolyn Bolivar-Getson (Human Resources)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas staying physically active is essential to a healthy lifestyle; and

Whereas soccer is a sport that requires physical endurance; and

Whereas Hebbville Academy's Junior A soccer team recognized Emma Quigley for her tenacity, confidence and knowledge of the game;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Emma Quigley on being recognized by her coaches for her involvement in the game of soccer.

RESOLUTION NO. 845

By: Hon. Carolyn Bolivar-Getson (Human Resources)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas staying physically active is essential to a healthy lifestyle; and

Whereas soccer is a sport that requires physical endurance; and

Whereas Hebbville Academy's Junior A soccer team recognized Geneva Hayward for her persistence and determination in developing her skills on the field;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Geneva Hayward on being recognized by her coaches for her involvement in the game of soccer.

[Page 1022]

RESOLUTION NO. 846

By: Hon. Carolyn Bolivar-Getson (Human Resources)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas graduation ceremonies recognize the efforts of all graduates; and

Whereas graduates who excel are given special recognition; and

Whereas Bridgewater High School student Chelsea Hillier was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Medal;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Bridgewater student Chelsea Hillier for her very successful year and for receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Medal.

RESOLUTION NO. 847

By: Hon. Carolyn Bolivar-Getson (Human Resources)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Mitch Baker of Hebbville Academy was selected as the Male Athlete of the Year for 2006-07; and

Whereas this award is presented to a student who has excelled at various sports during the school year; and

Whereas Mitch's dedication and team spirit was evident at Hebbville Academy and was a positive role model for male athletes;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Mitch Baker on being selected the Male Athlete of the Year at Hebbville Academy.

RESOLUTION NO. 848

By: Hon. Carolyn Bolivar-Getson (Human Resources)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

[Page 1023]

Whereas high schools take pride in the achievements of all their students; and

Whereas many students receive special recognition at their year-end graduation; and

Whereas Fiona Cushing-Allen of Bridgewater High School received the $27,000 Garfield Weston Merit Scholarship;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Bridgewater High School graduate Fiona Cushing-Allen for her success in being awarded the $27,000 Garfield Weston Merit Scholarship.

RESOLUTION NO. 849

By: Hon. Carolyn Bolivar-Getson (Human Resources)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas excelling in sports takes dedication and hard work; and

Whereas Kelsey Getson from Hebbville Academy demonstrated this on the Hebbville Academy Girls A Basketball Team; and

Whereas Kelsey was chosen as the Most Versatile Player on the girls' basketball team because of her ability to play any position at any time in a game and did a great job;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Kelsey Getson on her basketball achievement and wish her well in the future.

RESOLUTION NO. 850

By: Hon. Carolyn Bolivar-Getson (Human Resources)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas high school graduation is a significant event for all graduates; and

Whereas many students are recognized for their achievements in a variety of categories; and

Whereas Lauren Anthony of Bridgewater High School was the 2007 valedictorian;

[Page 1024]

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Valedictorian Lauren Anthony for her excellent address to her class and for being awarded the Governor General's Academic Award.

RESOLUTION NO. 851

By: Hon. Carolyn Bolivar-Getson (Human Resources)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas being a team player gives you great satisfaction when you know that you have done your best and gave your all; and

Whereas being acknowledged for all your hard work also gives great satisfaction; and

Whereas Geneva Hayward of Hebbville Academy was awarded with the MVP on the Hebbville Academy Girls A Basketball Team;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Geneva Hayward for all her hard work and dedication to the girls basketball team.

RESOLUTION NO. 852

By: Hon. Carolyn Bolivar-Getson (Human Resources)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas being a team player gives you great satisfaction; and

Whereas being acknowledged by your coaches for all your hard work also gives great satisfaction; and

Whereas Katherine Dorey of Hebbville Academy was awarded with the Most Improved Player on the Hebbville Academy Girls A Basketball Team;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Katherine Dorey for all her hard work and dedication to the girls basketball team.

[Page 1025]

RESOLUTION NO. 853

By: Hon. Carolyn Bolivar-Getson (Human Resources)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas staying physically active is essential to a healthy lifestyle; and

Whereas soccer is a sport that requires physical endurance; and

Whereas Hebbville Academy's Junior A soccer team recognized Kelsey Getson (Smiley) for her positive attitude and presence at each game; her dedication, desire, determination and leadership role was an asset to her younger teammates;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Kelsey Getson on being recognized by her coaches for her involvement in the game of soccer.

RESOLUTION NO. 854

By: Mr. Stephen McNeil (Leader of the Liberal Party)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Club 400, The Order of Active Living, is an incentive program that rewards you for getting physically active and is part of the Annapolis County Active Living Strategy; and

Whereas when participants log 25, 50, 100, 200, 300 or 400 hours of physical activity, they are rewarded with things such as free passes to local recreation facilities, official Club 400 T-shirts or sports and outdoor equipment; and

Whereas at the Fall 2007 Recreation Nova Scotia Conference Awards Ceremony, the Town of Annapolis Royal, in partnership with municipal units within Annapolis County, received the Mayflower Community Achievement Award for Club 400, Annapolis County Active Living Strategy Project;

Therefore be it resolved that members of this House of Assembly applaud the efforts of the Town of Annapolis Royal in encouraging healthy living in its residents through the Club 400 program.

[Page 1026]

RESOLUTION NO. 855

By: Mr. Stephen McNeil (Leader of the Liberal Party)

I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas for 25 years, Alice Housing has been a place of refuge for women and children experiencing domestic violence, providing a safe environment and quality programs to the families under their care; and

Whereas the Excellence in Provision of Basic Necessities Award is given by the Donner Foundation to recognize excellence in social service provision by Canadian non-profit organizations by encouraging best practices and greater accountability; and

Whereas this is the second time in three years that Alice Housing has won the Excellence in Provision of Basic Necessities Award;

Therefore be it resolved that members of this House of Assembly recognize the efforts of Alice Housing and thank them for helping to make victims of domestic abuse feel safe and cared for.