Published by Order of the Legislature by Hansard Reporting Services and printed by the Queen's Printer.
Available on INTERNET at http://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/hansard-debates/
| TABLE OF CONTENTS | PAGE | |||
| GOVERNMENT NOTICES OF MOTION: | ||||
| Res. 2254, Internat'l. Ice Hockey Fed. World Hockey Championship - | ||||
| Anniv. (100th), (by Hon. A. MacIsaac) The Premier | 2515 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2516 | |||
| Res. 2255, NSAC: Class 2008 - Congrats., | ||||
| Hon. B. Taylor | 2516 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2517 | |||
| Res. 2256, LWD - Parents as Career Coaches Workshop: Participants - | ||||
| Congrats., (by Hon. K. Casey) Hon. M. Parent | 2517 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2518 | |||
| Res. 2257, EMO - Emergency Preparedness Wk. (04/05 - 10/05/08), | ||||
| Hon. D. Morse | 2518 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2518 | |||
| Res. 2258, White Lorne: Death of - Tribute, | ||||
| Hon. B. Barnet | 2519 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2519 | |||
| Res. 2259, Com. Serv. - "Kids Come First" Program.: Vols. - | ||||
| Recognize, Hon. J. Streatch | 2519 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2520 | |||
| INTRODUCTION OF BILLS: | ||||
| No. 148, Scrap Metal Dealers and Recyclers Act, | ||||
| Hon. C. Clarke | 2520 | |||
| No. 149, Nurse Practitioner Strategy Act, | ||||
| Mr. David A. Wilson (Sackville-Cobequid) | 2520 | |||
| Mr. David A. Wilson (Sackville-Cobequid) | ||||
| No. 150, Motor Vehicle Act, | ||||
| Mr. W. Gaudet | 2520 | |||
| No. 151, Tourist Accommodations Act, | ||||
| Hon. W. Dooks | 2521 | |||
| No. 152, Health Protection Act, | ||||
| Mr. David Wilson (Sackville-Cobequid) | 2521 | |||
| No. 153, Education Act, | ||||
| Mr. L. Glavine | 2521 | |||
| NOTICES OF MOTION: | ||||
| Res. 2260, Bradley, Cody/Sears, Lauren: Ice-Dancing/Figure Skating | ||||
| Comps. - Congrats., Mr. D. Dexter | 2521 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2522 | |||
| Res. 2261, McHugh, Ed - St. F.X.: Support - Congrats., | ||||
| Ms. D. Whalen | 2522 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2522 | |||
| Res. 2262, Gates, Paul: Vol. Dedication - Recognize, | ||||
| Hon. D. Morse | 2523 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2523 | |||
| Res. 2263, Hfx. Search & Rescue: Commun. Serv. - Thank, | ||||
| Ms. B. Kent | 2523 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2524 | |||
| Res. 2264, Slawter, Melvin - Preston: Commun. Serv. - Recognize, | ||||
| Mr. K. Colwell | 2524 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2525 | |||
| Res. 2265, Wolter, Mattias - NSSAF Championship, | ||||
| Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2525 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2525 | |||
| Res. 2266, Dunn, Sandra: CBC Radio - Poetry Prize, | ||||
| Mr. G. Gosse | 2526 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2526 | |||
| Res. 2267, Democracy 250: Significance - Recognize, | ||||
| Mr. W. Gaudet | 2526 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2527 | |||
| Res. 2268, Dingle Mem. Tower - Heritage Designation: Coun. Mosher - | ||||
| Efforts Support, Hon. L. Goucher | 2527 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2528 | |||
| Res. 2269, NSCAD Students - Mobius Award, | ||||
| Mr. L. Preyra | 2528 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2529 | |||
| Res. 2270, Rustic Crafters: Compassion - Thank, | ||||
| Mr. H. Theriault | 2529 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2530 | |||
| GOVERNMENT BUSINESS: | ||||
| ON SUPPLY MOTION: | ||||
| Ms. Maureen MacDonald | 2530 | |||
| Mr. K. Colwell | 2533 | |||
| HOUSE RESOLVED INTO CWH ON SUPPLY AT 9:01 A.M. | 2538 | |||
| HOUSE RECONVENED AT 1:08 P.M. | 2538 | |||
| ADJOURNMENT, House rose to meet again on Mon., May 5th at 3:00 p.m. | 2539 | |||
| NOTICES OF MOTION UNDER RULE 32(3): | ||||
| Res. 2271, Glace Bay Elem. Sch. (Grades 4 & 6): Fundraising - | ||||
| Congrats., Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay) | 2540 | |||
| Res. 2272, Parsons, Jennifer: Heroics - Praise, | ||||
| Mr. P. Dunn | 2540 | |||
| Res. 2273, Burns, Darren: Acadia Univ. Men's Hockey Prog. - | ||||
| Congrats., Hon. M. Parent | 2541 | |||
| Res. 2274, Plandowski, Darryl: NHL Contributions - Recognize, | ||||
| Hon. M. Parent | 2541 | |||
| Res. 2275, Vial, Dennis: NHL Contributions - Recognize, | ||||
| Hon. M. Parent | 2542 | |||
| Res. 2276, Morrison, Andrew: Hockey Award - Congrats., | ||||
| Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2542 | |||
| Res. 2277, Wilband, David: Hockey Award - Congrats., | ||||
| Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2543 | |||
| Res. 2278, Whynot, Peter: Hockey Award - Congrats., | ||||
| Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2543 | |||
| Res. 2279, Hersey, Chris: Hockey Award - Congrats., | ||||
| Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2543 | |||
| Res. 2280, Spafford, Neil: Hockey Award - Congrats., | ||||
| Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2544 | |||
| Res. 2281, Young, Corey: Hockey Award - Congrats., | ||||
| Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2544 | |||
| Res. 2282, Nickerson, Ryan: Hockey Award - Congrats., | ||||
| Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2545 | |||
| Res. 2283, Deveau, Capt. Reggie: Hockey Coaches Award - | ||||
| Congrats., Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2545 | |||
| Res. 2284, Mullen, James: Bridgewater HS Basketball Team - | ||||
| Championship, Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2545 | |||
| Res. 2285, Snyder, Matt: Bridgewater HS Basketball Team - | ||||
| Championship, Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2546 | |||
| Res. 2286, Harding, Alex: Bridgewater HS Basketball Team - | ||||
| Championship, Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2546 | |||
| Res. 2287, Coote, Tim: Bridgewater HS Basketball Team - | ||||
| Championship, Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2547 | |||
| Res. 2288, MacDonald, Andrew: Bridgewater HS Basketball Team - | ||||
| Championship, Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2547 | |||
| Res. 2289, Getson, Travis: Bridgewater HS Basketball Team - | ||||
| Championship, Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2547 | |||
| Res. 2290, Tufford, Dylan: Bridgewater HS Basketball Team - | ||||
| Championship, Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2548 | |||
| Res. 2291, Hubley, Jarrett: Bridgewater HS Basketball Team - | ||||
| Championship, Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2548 | |||
| Res. 2292, Wamboldt, Zach: Bridgewater HS Basketball Team - | ||||
| Championship, Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2549 | |||
| Res. 2293, Zinck, Kyle: Bridgewater HS Basketball Team - | ||||
| Championship, Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2549 | |||
| Res. 2294, Tuchendler, Jacob: Bridgewater HS Basketball Team - | ||||
| Championship, Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2549 | |||
| Res. 2295, Jordan, Mason: Bridgewater HS Basketball Team - | ||||
| Championship, Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2550 | |||
| Res. 2296, Lipsett, Blair (Asst. Coach): Bridgewater HS | ||||
| Basketball Team - Championship, Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2550 | |||
| Res. 2297, Saunders, Nick (Asst. Coach): Bridgewater HS | ||||
| Basketball Team - Championship, Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2551 | |||
| Res. 2298, Baker, Andy (Coach): Bridgewater HS Basketball Team - | ||||
| Championship, Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | 2551 | |||
| Championship, Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson | ||||
HALIFAX, FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2008
Sixtieth General Assembly
Second Session
8:00 A.M.
SPEAKER
Hon. Alfie MacLeod
DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr. Wayne Gaudet
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. We will commence with the daily routine.
PRESENTING AND READING PETITIONS
PRESENTING REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
TABLING REPORTS, REGULATIONS AND OTHER PAPERS
STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS
GOVERNMENT NOTICES OF MOTION
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Deputy Premier.
HON. ANGUS MACISAAC: Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Premier, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas yesterday, May 1st, the province proclaimed International Ice Hockey Federation World Hockey Championship Month; and
Whereas proud co-hosts of this major event, along with Quebec, Nova Scotia has put out the welcome mat for these world-class teams and their coaches and supporters from around the world; and
Whereas we are especially honoured to serve as co-hosts, as this is not only the first time this prestigious event has been held in Canada, it is also the centennial of the IIHF;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate the International Ice Hockey Federation on a century of governing this much-loved sport and wish all teams best of luck in the championship in a province widely recognized as the birthplace of hockey.
Mr. Speaker, before I seek waiver of notice and passage without debate, I want to point out to the House that the honourable member for Timberlea-Prospect has recently received a picture which shows his father dressed in the Canadian uniform, as he was part of the nation team that played - and I believe the year was 1943 - so I think it's appropriate for that to be included.
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.
HON. BROOKE TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Nova Scotia Agricultural College is a forward-thinking institution of higher learning and it has had a positive impact on Nova Scotia's agriculture and aquaculture industries; and
Whereas the NSAC has 103 years of experience in educating and creating generations of leaders who go on to play significant roles in agriculture, the environment, life sciences, business and technology; and
Whereas we celebrate the NSAC and its student achievements today, Friday, May 2nd, as almost 160 students receive their diplomas and degrees;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate the class of 2008 for their accomplishments and studies during their time at the NSAC, and offer good wishes in their future endeavours.
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. 2256
HON KAREN CASEY: Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Labour and Workforce Development, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Parents as Career Coaches workshops work to provide parents with the skills they need to effectively guide their children as they move from high school to post-secondary or career; and
Whereas over 300 parents have participated in 13 Parents as Career Coaches workshops delivered in schools across Nova Scotia; and
Whereas during these workshops, parents will learn about changing trends in today's job market, how to engage in productive career discussions with their teenagers, and how to identify tools that will assist their child's interests and skills as they develop;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate those parents who have or will participate in the Parents as Career Coaches workshops and wish them luck as they help their children plan their future.
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 Natural Resources.
RESOLUTION NO. 2257
HON. DAVID MORSE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas May 4th to May 10th is Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada, a time at which the federal and provincial governments urge citizens to be as prepared as possible for emergencies or disasters, which may force individuals and families to evacuate their homes or go without electricity for long periods of time; and
Whereas one of the Emergency Management Office's key messages during Emergency Preparedness Week is to encourage all Nova Scotians to assemble an emergency kit that will allow them to cope on their own during the first 72 hours of a crisis while first responders tend to those most in need of assistance; and
Whereas there is no better way to lead than by example;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House not only promote the 72 hours message and the http://www.getprepared.ca Web site to their constituents, but also walk the talk by preparing their own emergency kit at home.
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 African Nova Scotian Affairs.
RESOLUTION NO. 2258
HON. BARRY BARNET: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas African Nova Scotian singer and educator Lorne White passed away April 14, 2008 at the age of 79; and
Whereas as an educator, he worked for several years in the Armdale school section and as a singer, the brother of world-renowned contralto Portia White, he spent 13 years as principal performer and a member of the choir on the Singalong Jubilee televison program; and
Whereas his commitment to his community, province and country saw him appointed to the federal government's consultative council on multiculturalism in 1973, and he also served on many boards and committees including the Nova Scotia Home for Coloured Children, the Nova Scotia Talent Trust and the Shelburne Youth Centre to name a few;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of the House join me in honouring the accomplishments and acknowledge the passing of Mr. Lorne White.
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. 2259
HON JUDY STREATCH: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas April 27 to May 3, 2008 marks National Volunteer Week when we recognize and celebrate the contributions of volunteers across Canada and our province; and
Whereas the Kids Come First Child Welfare Volunteer Program takes community-minded individuals in roles that directly support children and families in the HRM; and
Whereas volunteers with Halifax District Office - Child Welfare, Kids Come First program are mentors, tutors, parent support, Youth in Care Newsletter, and other special project assistants;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize the many contributions and support these volunteers provide to our communities, children and families.
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. 148 - Entitled an Act to Regulate Transactions by Scrap Metal Dealers and Recyclers. (Hon. Cecil Clarke)
Bill No. 149 - Entitled an Act to Develop and Implement a Province-wide Nurse Practitioner Strategy. (Mr. David Wilson, Sackville-Cobequid)
Bill No. 150 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 293 of the Revised Statutes of 1989. The Motor Vehicle Act. (Mr. Wayne Gaudet)
MR. SPEAKER: Ordered that these bills be read a second time on a future day.
The honourable Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage.
[8:15 a.m.]
HON. WILLIAM DOOKS: Mr. Speaker, with the indulgence of the House, would I be permitted to make an introduction?
MR. SPEAKER: Please do.
MR. DOOKS: Mr. Speaker, we have very special people here today in your gallery. We have some folks from TIANS: Darlene Grant-Fiander, president of TIANS and Susan Tilley-Russell, chair of TIANS; and, of course, departmental staff from the Department of Tourism: Tina, Lang-Jongmans, John Somers, acting director of Tourism and, of course, ministerial adviser, Mike Kydd. If you would stand and enjoy the pleasure of the House. (Applause)
Bill No. 151 - Entitled an Act to Repeal Chapter 9 of the Acts of 1994-95. The Tourist Accommodations Act. (Hon. William Dooks)
Bill No. 152 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 4 of the Acts of 2004. The Health Protection Act. (Mr. David Wilson, Sackville-Cobequid)
Bill No. 153 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 1 of the Acts of 1995-96. The Education Act. (Mr. Leo Glavine)
MR. SPEAKER: Ordered that these bills be read a second time on a future day.
NOTICES OF MOTION
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition.
RESOLUTION NO. 2260
MR. DARRELL DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas 16-year-old Auburn Drive High School Grade 11 student Cody Bradley is an outstanding hockey player with the Cole Harbour Wings Midget AA hockey team; and
Whereas after hockey season ended last year Cody Bradley took up the challenge to learn the techniques and routines of figure skating and ice dancing; and
Whereas after seven months of training and intense practice to learn techniques and routines, Cody Bradley partnered with Lauren Sears to finish first at the Nova Scotia Sectionals figure skating competition and to go on to further compete at the Canadian Junior Figure Skating Championships held January 30, 2008, in Ottawa;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly commend Cody Bradley and Lauren Sears for their persistence and commitment to their sports, and extend our congratulations to Cody and Lauren for their outstanding performances in local as well as national ice dancing figure skating competitions.
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 Halifax Clayton Park.
RESOLUTION NO. 2261
MS. DIANA WHALEN: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas with active members around the world, the St. F.X. alumni are a vital part of the university community; and
Whereas the "X" ring is a proud symbol of the values and experiences shared by generations of alumni; and
Whereas Ed McHugh who graduated in 1979 is the current president of the St. F.X. Alumni Association, where his enthusiasm is focused on keeping the spirit of the "X" alive;
Therefore be it resolved that members of this House congratulate Ed McHugh and wish him success in his ongoing promotion and support of St. Francis Xavier University.
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 Natural Resources.
RESOLUTION NO. 2262
HON. DAVID MORSE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Paul Gates of New Minas, owner of Gates Insurance Agency Ltd., is a member of the Insurance Bureau of Canada and has served customers for 36 years in the insurance industry; and
Whereas Paul Gates was elected in 1986 as chairperson of the New Minas Development Corporation, but his community involvement does not end there - including Scotia Masonic Lodge, Shriners and Rotary; and
Whereas Paul assisted the RCMP in 1991 with the formation of the Kings Crime Prevention Association and has been re-elected for five terms as chairman and continues to serve as a member of the Nova Scotia Police Commission;
Therefore be it resolved that all the members of this House recognize the tremendous contribution Paul Gates has made to the insurance industry and his considerable volunteer dedication to the betterment of his community and province.
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 Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage.
RESOLUTION NO. 2263
MS. BECKY KENT: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Halifax Search and Rescue is a volunteer organization dedicated to community service, made up of a team of 175 unpaid professional searchers who are also very active in public education programs; and
Whereas Halifax Search and Rescue remains on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and in 2007 dedicated more than 18,000 volunteer hours; and
Whereas Halifax Search and Rescue is constantly advancing the science of search and rescue in a proactive fashion, and they have been successful in the acquisition of a real-time tracking package and are the founders of the Hug a Tree program;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly thank and congratulate Halifax Search and Rescue on their dedication to community service - a community-based volunteer emergency response organization which is the driving force behind hundreds of rescues in our province.
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.
MR. KEITH COLWELL: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Melvin Slawter was instrumental in initiating the East Preston Minor Hockey Association; and
Whereas Melvin was recognized by the community for successful efforts in bringing the youth together through sports; and
Whereas Melvin provided transportation for a team during the wee hours of the morning when everyone else was sleeping in bed, just to support the youth;
Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House of Assembly recognize Melvin Slawter for his years of dedication and service to the community of Preston and to the Province 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 Human Resources.
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 athletic competition is the result of training and exercise; and
Whereas Mattias Wolter participated in the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation Western Region Track and Field Regional Championships; and
Whereas Mattias won the 800, 1,500, 3,000 and 100 metre hurdles events;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Mattias Wolter on this amazing accomplishment and wish him well in the future.
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 Cape Breton Nova.
MR. GORDON GOSSE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas in April 2008, CBC Radio's 7th Annual Poetry Face-Off, featuring the lyricism of 13 of Canada's leading poets, was held during National Poetry Month; and
Whereas Whitney Pier's own Sandra Dunn placed second in this illustrious event; and
Whereas Sandra's poem entitled, The Battleground, entailed her personal battle with cancer;
Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House of Assembly congratulate Sandra Dunn on her outstanding achievement of placing second in CBC Radio's 7th Annual Poetry Face-Off and wish her all the best in her future poetic endeavours.
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
MR. WAYNE GAUDET: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas this year we celebrate 250 years of democracy in Canada, a feat which originated in our province; and
Whereas throughout this year an effort has been made to reach out to young Nova Scotians and make them aware of their democratic rights and responsibilities; and
Whereas in a time where voter apathy has reached record highs, it is important to not only reflect on the past but also how we can bring democratic renewal to future generations;
Therefore be it resolved that the Members of this House of Assembly recognize the significance of Democracy 250 and make an effort to bring the Democracy 250 message to all in their constituencies.
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.
HON. LEONARD GOUCHER: Mr. Speaker, with your leave, could I make a quick introduction?
MR. SPEAKER: Please do.
MR. GOUCHER: Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce a fellow colleague from our municipal government up the hill - HRM Councillor Linda Mosher, District 17, Armdale-Purcell's Cove. Linda, if you would rise and receive a warm welcome from the House. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Immigration.
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 Democracy 250 Act of Nova Scotia promotes the celebration of our history, heritage and institutions, as well as the education of young Nova Scotians and other Canadians on representative government; and
Whereas Sir Sandford Fleming commemorated the 150th Anniversary of representative government in Nova Scotia by donating his summer retreat, the Dingle, to the former City of Halifax for a public park, including a landmark memorial tower, the cornerstone of which was laid on October 2, 1908, to correspond with the 150th Anniversary of the meeting of the first Nova Scotia Assembly on October 2, 1758; and
Whereas on this, the 100th Anniversary of the start of construction of the Dingle Tower, Halifax Regional Municipality and HRM Councillor Linda Mosher made application to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada to have it designated as a national historic site;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House support the efforts of Councillor Mosher and HRM to have the Dingle Memorial Tower, a local treasure, designated a national historic site by the federal government.
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 Halifax Citadel.
RESOLUTION NO. 2269
MR. LEONARD PREYRA: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas environmental sustainability is a shared Canadian value that is practised through composting and recycling; and
Whereas the 4th Canadian Waste Resource Symposium was held in Halifax on April 14 to 16, 2008, bringing together individuals, businesses and governments involved in waste resource management; and
Whereas a study by the Resource Recovery Fund Board showed that cross contamination of garbage, recycling and compost decreases the effectiveness to public waste management;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly recognize the product design students from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, who won the Mobius Environmental Award for Innovation and Waste Reduction, with their design of waste separation bins including the Spring Garden pod for public streets, the mod pod for offices, the prog frog for the schools and the mobius pod for outdoor places.
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. 2270
MR. HAROLD THERIAULT : Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas members of Digby County's Rustic Crafters get together weekly to knit colourful, tiny dolls, and
Whereas these dolls are used as protective packing in crates filled with medical supplies being shipped to Africa; and
Whereas these tiny dolls are given to babies born with AIDS in the hope to bring a bit of comfort and happiness to the child;
Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly commend Rustic Crafters on this selfless act and thank them for being a strong, compassionate voice to Africa, on behalf 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.
[8:30 a.m.]
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Deputy Government House Leader.
MR. CHUCK PORTER: Mr. Speaker, I move that you do now leave the Chair and that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on Supply unto Her Majesty.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Halifax Needham.
MS. MAUREEN MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, it's a privilege to be able to rise in my place as the representative of Halifax Needham, to speak for a few minutes to the concerns of my constituents as well as to pay tribute to many individuals and organizations from my . . .
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. The member for Halifax Needham has the floor.
MS. MAUREEN MACDONALD: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As you know, I've had the privilege to be here for 10 years, I like to talk about my constituency whenever I have the occasion. I've been known to say, we make ships and beer in my riding and I'm probably one of the few members that can actually say that. We have a very proud working class tradition in the North End of Halifax, a great industrial base with Olands Brewery and Propeller, as well as the Halifax Shipyard. The citizens of Halifax Needham have been very good to me in the past 10 years and, as I said, it's my privilege to be here on their behalf.
Mr. Speaker, this is the time before we discuss the estimates when members have an opportunity to raise issues, from their constituency, of concern to their constituents. I want to take an opportunity to do that. In the 10 years that I've been here, I think perhaps the most distressing realization for me has been the lack of progress we've made in dealing with issues in health care. I'll have an opportunity during the Health estimates perhaps to pursue some of these issues in more detail with the Minister of Health, but I did want to raise concerns that are brought to me in my constituency office on almost a daily basis from people in my riding who are having a very difficult time gaining access into the health care system - either long waits for a nursing home bed, long waits for diagnostic services, long waits for surgeries, particularly orthopaedic surgeries.
Mr. Speaker, one of the things that I want to bring to the attention of the government is the lack of progress they have made in getting information up on the Department of Health Web site with respect to wait lists around the province. It's very distressing when somebody is told that they have a two-year wait for a procedure in the metro area and they're advised that they should look to other DHAs where wait lists may be shorter. To try to find that information is impossible, and when you go to the Department of Health's Web site the information there is not helpful in the least. I know this government has boasted that they were addressing the lack of access to information but, as so many other things this government does, it's all bluff and bluster - there's a lot of boasting, but very little concrete action to support the bravado that we hear.
This government, as my colleague in the NDP caucus, our Health Critic, said earlier, has seemed to have given up on fixing our public health care system and they have now turned to the private health care providers, hoping that they will solve the problem. But, Mr. Speaker, we all know the problem with private health care - and we see this with our American neighbours - is that it costs significantly more to deliver health care through the private sector than it does through a public health care sector. This is well researched and well documented, so it's unfortunate that our government has gone in this direction.
Mr. Speaker, one of the things we know as well is that expanding family and community health clinics takes a great deal of pressure off our emergency rooms and our emergency departments. In my constituency I have the privilege of having the North End Community Health Centre, which is the oldest community health centre in the province. This community health centre has significantly outgrown the space it's in and requires a capital
investment to expand so that it can serve the surrounding north end community and take pressure off the emergency department at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital.
Unfortunately, this clinic is only open two nights of the week and it is a clinic that certainly could provide services on a much more extensive basis if it had the space and it had the allocation of resources to get a better space and to have the staff to provide services from that space. The staff at the north end clinic, the doctors, the nurses, the social worker, all of the support staff, the receptionist, the nurse practitioner, they're excellent health care providers and they're very highly valued and respected members of our community.
Education is also a very important issue to my constituents and recently the schools on the peninsula, including schools in the North End of Halifax and Central Halifax, were reviewed as part of a process initiated by the Department of Education, asking for the 10- year capital plan from the Halifax Regional School Board. I had an opportunity to present to the board. I'm very pleased that my recommendations with respect to the schools in my particular area were supported by the board.
I had recommended there be a replacement school for Highland Park Junior High rather than building a piece onto this school. This school is a very old school, built as an elementary school, has an inadequate gymnasium and other facilities for a junior high school and I suggested to the board that merely tinkering around with a small renovation on such an old school would not be a wise use of resources and that perhaps a new junior high should be considered. The board accepted that recommendation and I was pleased for that, as well as the recommendation that a new Joseph Howe School be constructed to replace the existing Joe Howe School.
In addition, the board was looking at closing St. Joseph-Alexander McKay, an Elementary School in the area and they have actually recommended that not be reviewed at this time, which is a testament to the efforts of the parents and members of the community who represented to the board and gave a much more detailed and rich picture of that school than was the case through the consultant's report.
I want to say, I'm not going to name all of the parents and community leaders who presented to the board and did an exemplary job - they know who they are - but I want to say I'm very proud and very, very happy, fortunate to be a part of this community and to represent these communities here at Province House and to have worked with them around expressing the aspirations of the community for St. Joseph's-Alexander McKay School.
One school in my area will be reviewed, St. Patrick's-Alexandra, and here again I agreed with the board that this school should be reviewed, although I'm still open to being convinced that the children are getting the education there that they deserve. I'm not, at this stage, convinced that's the case. We've seen a very large number of parents in the area of that school choose to transfer their children to other schools. As I said to the board, I think in
many respects, the community has already made the decision to close that school. If that is the case, then I certainly support that decision.
My constituency here on the peninsula, like many constituencies, is under pressure with respect to gentrification. Affordable housing for fixed income families and individuals or low income families and individuals is becoming more and more difficult to acquire, both in terms of home ownership and in terms of rental accommodation. As you know, the rents here on the peninsula are quite significant in comparison to the rents elsewhere in the province.
The Hydrostone area where I live, an area I love, was once very affordable. The assessments have grown dramatically and this is happening all over the constituency. In the Brunswick and Gottingen and Agricola Street areas, affordable housing is rapidly disappearing and the rental housing that remains is under a great deal of pressure. The state of repair in a good deal of the social housing is of particular concern to me and my constituency. The co-ops and the not-for-profit housing have not had the kind of attention and investment that's required to maintain this housing stock at a suitable level.
Mr. Speaker, I would recommend that the Department of Community Services do a serious audit of its policies and the resources that it has allocated, not only to bring new social housing into housing stock in this province - new, affordable housing - but to see how they are maintaining the existing housing stock. I could take people to parts of my constituency, to many of the co-ops and the not-for-profit housing that is operated by Harbour City Homes and show you deplorable housing conditions. This is our housing, this is the public housing, this is housing that we should be investing in so that it will be in a good state of repair for many years to come.
We see the Statistics Canada report that has just come out around the census data and we know that there is growing inequality of income, significant growing inequality of income, and I see this in my constituency. It has an impact on individuals, on families and on the community as a whole. This is something that we really need to be paying attention to and to address because the result of this inequality will be growing rates of crime, growing rates of family violence and family crisis and that, in turn, will require a different kind of investment - investment in more police, more jails, more courts, more prosecutors, more sheriffs, more court recorders.
[8:45 a.m.]
Mr. Speaker, we can do better than that as a community. We need to pay attention to the growing income gap and inequality between individuals and between communities.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I know my time is about to run out, I want to say that in my constituency, we're very privileged to have a strong arts and culture community in the
constituency and many cultural strengths, like the historic Black community of Africville. I will be pursuing with the government their intention to support an ACOA report on rebuilding a replica of the Seaview African Baptist Church in the former community of Africville. I'm hoping this government will have the funds to support this very important initiative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Preston.
MR. KEITH COLWELL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's with pleasure that I stand to speak on going into supply today. I want to talk a little bit about my community and the negative effects some of the taxes are having on our residents.
We've seen the price of gas, we've talked about that here many times and how that's going to negatively affect the communities, the people in the communities and that is one element of what is happening. But you look at the cost of heating fuel and you look at the number of seniors who are in this province, and particularly in my area, I've a tremendous number of seniors in all the communities. I represent a very diverse community, which I am honoured and privileged to be able to do.
When you see a senior come in who has worked all their life to buy a home, that was the one goal they had in life, and typically now that one of the spouses has passed away, usually the male member of the family, and a wonderful lady comes forward and says look, I can't keep my home any more so therefore I may not be able to stay in my home, it's a lifelong dream that is gone, something that was built between two people and a family and it can go away that easily because they can't afford to pay the heat on a home. Not only can they not afford to pay the heat on a home, but they can't afford to maintain the home.
I want to thank the government and housing for the agreements they have for the work that they do to help maintain properties for seniors who just simply do not have income. That has been a major help in our community, and I am sure that is the case all over the province. Unfortunately, it is not enough in a lot of cases. In a lot of cases, where more work needs to be done to a home, it would be far cheaper to provide an additional grant to a senior to stay in their home rather than have then go to a nursing home where the cost is astronomical every month for the taxpayers, and also takes the pride and dignity away from the individual who has worked, again, all their lives to maintain their home and with great pride.
So I think that is a program that should be improved. It should be improved with the intention of keeping people in their homes longer, which makes them happier, makes them healthier, and also is better for our community, because a senior in the community is a tremendous asset to the community - their years of wisdom and the work and the things they have done to help grow the community are so important. So when you look at that and you see what they are faced with, it is a daunting task.
Then if you look at the property taxes that have recently been bestowed upon them by HRM, that's another very serious issue. I can recall the mayor in the newspaper article - it's only $100 a year if your assessment is $168,000. Well, almost all the houses in HRM are over $100,000 assessment now and creeping up - and some of them are way beyond that. It's a significant increase in the operation of your home. So if you have somebody who is facing high heating costs, a difficult time paying to maintain their home and do the repairs that are necessary to keep it safe, and then you are hit with the high property taxes again, which increases the stress even more, it makes it more difficult.
Then when you tie the cost of that in - not only that, but in our area the municipality sees fit now to put the full cost of supplementary funding in, so we are getting a double-digit growth in our property taxes in HRM, in the rural parts of HRM. This is going to be a significant impact on the community. Now as the cost of fuel goes up and people have to travel from where I am, and unlike the Premier says, we don't have buses we can use and nobody can afford to buy a hybrid vehicle, so it's a real serious, serious problem here.
When you look at these problems and look at the individuals who have to live with this every day, you start to realize that we have to do things in this Legislature that help people stay in their homes so they can live, they can feed themselves and they can do so many other things. You see the ads on TV where a gentleman flicks this light on and his home is gone - you pay for rent, or you pay for electricity. This is real. This is real - we see people every day in our community who have that kind of issue, not because they haven't worked hard all their lives, not because they waste money, it's because they haven't had opportunities in the past and the things available to them that are available to us today.
The way the costs are going up and taxes keep increasing and the user fees keep increasing, it is going to be the point in this province that you are going to have to probably make $100,000 a year when you retire just so you can feed yourself, heat your home and maintain your home - never mind do anything else. That's a pretty scary thought. If anyone thinks that is not going to happen, they really want to start running the numbers to see what the story is going to be.
There are so many difficult things that you have to look at when it comes to this to see what we need to do to really help our seniors, and as our population gets older this problem is going to get worse, and worse and worse and worse. That addresses part of the seniors' problem that they have, but what about the working poor, the husband and wife who both work at minimum wage jobs, maybe have one or two children, trying to struggle every day? The price of fuel has made it impossible for them to travel back and forth to work. They usually have to live in a rural area where the costs are typically a little bit lower, but now that is even a problem.
So the dilemma is, you either live in a modest home in a rural area and drive to work every day or you live in an apartment in the city and you pay such high rent that you can't
afford to live there. So you are trapped. You are absolutely trapped, and then when things come along, extraordinary expenses for the family, how do you handle those? How do you make sure that those are looked after, make sure that your children are in the sporting programs that they should be in to get the opportunities they should have, the opportunities for higher education so they can get out and earn more money, perhaps, than their parents did - opportunities that all of us had in the past to help our families.
It's a difficult situation and it's going to get worse. It is going to get worse. We really have to get progressive in the way we think about taxation, the way we think about people and start caring about people, really start thinking about ways that we can improve the life of Nova Scotians.
We recently had a briefing from the Home Builders' Association. They stated that they normally keep track of what the cost of living is in Nova Scotia as compared to Alberta because that's where a lot of our youth are going, not only our youth but our qualified tradespeople. They're going to Alberta, and they've come to the conclusion it's more expensive to live in Nova Scotia now than it is in Alberta. That's a horrible thought - more expensive to live in Nova Scotia than it is to live in Alberta - and in Alberta you make more money. So no wonder people are moving to Alberta for work.
Then we look at the shortage of tradespeople in this province. Well, with great wisdom a few years ago, they took all the industrial arts materials out of the schools. They didn't need them anymore. They put computer classes in and found out that, indeed, we just can't live with computers alone. They're a very important part of our economy now but you also need people to fix your cars, to build your homes, to fix your plumbing, to do your electrical work, but there's no emphasis put on that. The Home Builders' Association also indicated to us, at the time they came in to see us, that a bricklayer in London, England, makes ?250,000 a year - a bricklayer, ?250,000 a year.
Now, I don't know if there are many doctors in this province that make that kind of money. So just imagine that, imagine if a plumber, all of a sudden in Nova Scotia, started making, well, the equivalent is probably about $700,000 a year. Imagine what your plumbing bill would be to change a washer on your tap set in your kitchen, probably about $2,000 to get that tap washer, that two cent washer, changed. That's where we're headed. We've got to train more tradespeople. We've got to help our economy grow so the tradespeople will stay in our province, work in our province and there doesn't seem to be a vision for that.
I mean everything is call centres, call centres. Friends of mine who worked in call centres said it's the worse dead-end job they've ever seen in their lives and these are highly trained people who have a very good education and simply can't get jobs because there are not jobs available here in Nova Scotia, not careers, because careers are what people need, not just jobs anymore, so we can take the young people from our universities, our high schools and our community colleges, and get them to drive the economy like generations, every
generation has done before. I don't see that happening today, not here in Nova Scotia. It's something we've got to change.
I don't see a vision from the government to make that happen. I see that they have spent a lot of money, they just seem to build a school all over the place, any time they want, but that adds to our debt. It adds to our debt, and as we add to our debt, it costs us more to service the debt. As the debt grows, so do our service costs and that's $1 billion or more a year now that we don't have to spend on services. Yet the statistics show us that 30 per cent or 40 per cent of the people who graduate from high school can't read or write. There's something wrong with that picture. So if you've got people who can't read or write in our economy, they're not going to add to our economy.
I was talking to a friend of mine who's a school teacher the other day, and they're not allowed to say that a student is in detention anymore. You're not allowed to say that. I mean that's against- I guess it demoralizes the individual who's in detention. Well, guess what, if that person is pushed through school, which happens here in Nova Scotia, and they normally would fail sometimes through the high school season, which a lot of people did in the past and it didn't demoralize them, it usually helped them a lot more and they move them forward and they're saying, well, you can't demoralize people, you know, in high school, you can't do that. I'll tell you, if you don't get a proper education and you're looking at a life of working at McDonald's at minimum wage, well, who's demoralized and who has helped that individual. That's a fact, that is a fact, and that's what's going on. It's unbelievable.
I ran a business for many, many years in manufacturing and I remember one time I sat down with some of the top educators in the province. They were telling me how wonderful our education system was and I was sitting back there listening to this and I said, well, you know, that's odd. If this is such a fantastic system, how come, when I had to hire somebody in my business, I've got to get them to write something out to see if they can read or write. Well, that's not true. I said it is true. It absolutely is true and I said I've got the proof to back it up. Well, that can't be. Well, it is true and it has been proven today. I mean it's unbelievable the inability people have that should be - with the money we invest in education ,we should have one of the best educations in the world.
They say the Third World countries don't have as good an education system as we do. I remember watching a program on education in Korea where the kids go to school six days a week, they learn more than one language, they go for longer than two or three hours a day and when they come out of the school they are well trained, they're well educated, and that's what we're facing today. If you put a well-educated workforce in place with low labour costs, your economy grows.
We're seeing our economy go to pieces now because China is coming forward. I can tell you, I have friends from China and they're well educated, well trained and hard-working people, as we are in Nova Scotia. But we don't have as good training here today, I don't feel,
as we should have, and that we need in order to make our economy grow. If we don't make our economy grow, eventually what's going to happen is we're going to be taxed so badly, we're going to be so far in debt, there's going to be a crunch in Nova Scotia. I don't know when it's going to come, but it will come, and it's unfortunate because we have such opportunities in this country with the raw materials we have and with the bright young people, who with the proper opportunities and education can really make something happen in Nova Scotia. That is not happening.
[9:00 a.m.]
If a bricklayer in London, England is making a ?0.25 million a year, think about that, imagine what that does to your economy. It's great for the bricklayer, it's fantastic, he probably has the nicest house in all London now, but it's difficult, because anytime you go to build anything, the cost of building a facility skyrockets because of the cost of labour. Then if you add the cost of materials that go up - and in our province now with the cost of fuel going up, everything that moves is going to cost more money, and everything moves. We're a society that depends on vehicles, either transport vehicles to get your groceries to the grocery store, or you have to drive to the grocery store if you live in rural areas, to pick your groceries up, or take some other form of transportation that takes groceries.
It's time that we really look at this whole situation to see if there's something we can't do and I know there are things we can do. We have to stimulate the economy and we have to make sure that we help people and helping starts with a good education, with a tax structure that really encourages economic growth in this province, solid economic growth, not economic growth built on call centres.
We see our tourism industry, it's down compared to what it was years ago, and it's only going to get worse. We have to change the trends in these places and the only way we can do it, I feel, now - one time I thought it was just other elements in the economy, but really today, it's education. We need to improve our education in this province and we have to make sure that education is used to educate our young people to grow our economy. Thank you.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.
The motion is carried.
[9:01 a.m. The House resolved itself into a CWH on Supply with Deputy Speaker Mr. Wayne Gaudet in the Chair.]
[1:08 p.m. CWH on Supply rose and the House reconvened with Deputy Speaker Mr. Wayne Gaudet in the Chair.]
MR. SPEAKER: The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House on Supply reports:
THE CLERK: That the committee has met and made considerable progress and begs leave to sit again.
MR. SPEAKER: Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
The honourable Deputy Government House Leader.
MR. CHUCK PORTER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That concludes the government's business for today. I would move that we now adjourn until Monday, when the hours will be from 3:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. Following the daily routine, we'll go into Committee of the Whole House on Supply.
Time permitting, the government business that will be called will be Private Members' Public Bills for Second Reading: Bill Nos. 3, 81 and 129. If there is time permitting, following that, Public Bills for Second Reading for the following numbers: Bill Nos. 120, 126, 127, 130, 131, 133, 135, 138, 144 and 146.
MR. SPEAKER: Thank you. The motion before the House is for the House to rise and meet again on Monday between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
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 House rose at 1:10 p.m.]
RESOLUTION NO. 2271
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 Mrs. Patricia Clyburn's Grade 6 students and Ms. Trudy MacPherson's Grade 4 students at Glace Bay Elementary have worked very hard to raise funds to purchase materials needed in Third World countries; and
Whereas the students of these two classes willingly donated their own personal recess money, placing helping hands in the school's hallway for each student's donation; and
Whereas the students of these two classes have raised $300 and have decided to purchase seeds, chickens and medical supplies through the World Vision Association;
Therefore be it resolved that the members of the House of Assembly congratulate the Grade 4 and Grade 6 classes of Glace Bay Elementary School for their hard work, kindness and dedication to the people of Third World countries who are in desperate need of their generosity.
RESOLUTION NO. 2272
By: Mr. Patrick Dunn (Pictou Centre)
I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas 17-year- old North Nova Education Centre student Jennifer Parsons was a life-saving hero at the River Hebert Curling Club earlier this year; and
Whereas the Grade 11 student was preparing for a game against a team from Port Hawkesbury when a man, watching from the stands, collapsed into cardiac arrest; and
Whereas Parsons, trained in CPR through a lifeguarding course at the local YM-YWCA, started to work on reviving the man until emergency services were able to take over and transfer him to Halifax, where he was released from the QE II a few days later;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House send heartfelt praise to Jennifer Parsons for her quick thinking and heroics, demonstrating the depth of character in Nova Scotian youth and the opportunities they have to explore all of the talents and abilities.
RESOLUTION NO. 2273
By: Hon. Mark Parent (Environment)
I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas 2008 is the 100th Anniversary of the International Ice Hockey Federation and May has been proclaimed Hockey Month in Nova Scotia; and
Whereas Port Williams is the unofficial home of professional hockey in Kings County; and
Whereas Darren Burns makes his home in Port Williams and is the head coach of the Acadia University Axemen men's hockey team, winning CIS Coach of the Year in 2005 and making the hockey program at Acadia one of the finest in the nation;
Therefore be it resolved that members of this House recognize Darren Burns for his contributions to university athletics in Nova Scotia.
RESOLUTION NO. 2274
By: Hon. Mark Parent (Environment)
I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas 2008 is the 100th Anniversary of the International Ice Hockey Federation and May has been proclaimed Hockey Month in Nova Scotia; and
Whereas Port Williams is the unofficial home of professional hockey in Kings County; and
Whereas Darryl Plandowski makes his home in Port Williams and is in his second year as an amateur scout with the Pittsburgh Penguins, after eight years with the Buffalo Sabres;
Therefore be it resolved that members of this House recognize Darryl Plandowski for his contributions to professional hockey and the National Hockey League.
RESOLUTION NO. 2275
By: Hon. Mark Parent (Environment)
I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas 2008 is the 100thAnniversary of the International Ice Hockey Federation and May has been proclaimed Hockey Month in Nova Scotia; and
Whereas Port Williams is the unofficial home of professional hockey in Kings County; and
Whereas Dennis Vial makes his home in Port Williams after spending 242 games in the NHL with the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Ottawa Senators - Dennis was knows as an enforcer, leading teams in penalty minutes, major penalties, and fighting majors;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize Dennis Vial for his contributions to professional hockey and the National Hockey League.
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 hockey has wrapped up another season on the South Shore; and
Whereas the South Shore Mustangs just held their year-end banquet and awards night, recognizing those players who made their year a successful one; and
Whereas Andrew Morrison was awarded the coveted Most Valuable Player Award, and Andrew has also been accepted at Upper Canada College prep school in Toronto where he will play hockey along side a former teammate;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Andrew Morrison on his MVP Award and wish him well as he moves forward with his hockey career.
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 hockey has wrapped up another season on the South Shore; and
Whereas the South Shore Mustangs just held their year-end banquet and awards night, recognizing those players who made their year a successful one; and
Whereas David Wilband was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate David Wilband on his Rookie of the Year Award and wish him well with his future in hockey.
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 hockey has wrapped up another season on the South Shore; and
Whereas the South Shore Mustangs just held their year-end banquet and awards night, recognizing those players who made their year a successful one; and
Whereas Peter Whynot was awarded the Most Improved Award;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Peter Whynot on his Most Improved Award and wish him well with his future in hockey.
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 hockey has wrapped up another season on the South Shore; and
Whereas the South Shore Mustangs just held their year-end banquet and awards night, recognizing those players who made their year a successful one; and
Whereas Chris Hersey was awarded the Defensive Player of the Year Award;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Chris Hersey on his Defensive Player of the Year Award and wish him well with his future in hockey.
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 hockey has wrapped up another season on the South Shore; and
Whereas the South Shore Mustangs just held their year-end banquet and awards night, recognizing those players who made their year a successful one; and
Whereas Neil Spafford was awarded the Unsung Hero Award for his grit and determination;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Neil Spafford on his Unsung Hero Award and wish him well with his future in hockey.
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 hockey has wrapped up another season on the South Shore; and
Whereas the South Shore Mustangs just held their year-end banquet and awards night, recognizing those players who made their year a successful one; and
Whereas Corey Young was awarded the Offensive Player of the Year Award;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Corey Young on his Offensive Player of the Year Award and wish him well with his future in hockey.
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 hockey has wrapped up another season on the South Shore; and
Whereas the South Shore Mustangs just held their year-end banquet and awards night, recognizing those players who made their year a successful one; and
Whereas Ryan Nickerson was awarded the Offensive Player of the Year Award;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Ryan Nickerson on his Offensive Player of the Year Award and wish him well with his future in hockey.
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 hockey has wrapped up another season on the South Shore; and
Whereas the South Shore Mustangs just held their year-end banquet and awards night, recognizing those players who made their year a successful one; and
Whereas Reggie Deveau was awarded the Coaches Award for his leadership as team captain;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Captain Reggie Deveau on his Coaches Award and wish him well with his future in hockey.
RESOLUTION NO. 2284
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 the sport of basketball is a team effort built on dedication, determination and skill; and
Whereas this team represented their school with pride; and
Whereas the Bridgewater High School boys basketball team won the Division 2 Nova Scotia Athletic Association boy's basketball championship title in Cape Breton;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate James Mullen of the Bridgewater High School basketball team on winning the title.
RESOLUTION NO. 2285
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 the sport of basketball is a team effort built on dedication, determination and skill; and
Whereas this team represented their school with pride; and
Whereas the Bridgewater High School boys basketball team won the Division 2 Nova Scotia Athletic Association boy's basketball championship title in Cape Breton;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Matt Snyder of the Bridgewater High School basketball team on winning the title.
RESOLUTION NO. 2286
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 the sport of basketball is a team effort built on dedication, determination and skill; and
Whereas this team represented their school with pride; and
Whereas the Bridgewater High School boys basketball team won the Division 2 Nova Scotia Athletic Association boy's basketball championship title in Cape Breton;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Alex Harding of the Bridgewater High School basketball team on winning the title.
RESOLUTION NO. 2287
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 the sport of basketball is a team effort built on dedication, determination and skill; and
Whereas this team represented their school with pride; and
Whereas the Bridgewater High School boys basketball team won the Division 2 Nova Scotia Athletic Association boy's basketball championship title in Cape Breton;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Tim Coote of the Bridgewater High School basketball team on winning the title.
RESOLUTION NO. 2288
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 the sport of basketball is a team effort built on dedication, determination and skill; and
Whereas this team represented their school with pride; and
Whereas the Bridgewater High School boys basketball team won the Division 2 Nova Scotia Athletic Association boy's basketball championship title in Cape Breton;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Andrew MacDonald of the Bridgewater High School basketball team on winning the title.
RESOLUTION NO. 2289
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 the sport of basketball is a team effort built on dedication, determination and skill; and
Whereas this team represented their school with pride; and
Whereas the Bridgewater High School boys basketball team won the Division 2 Nova Scotia Athletic Association boy's basketball championship title in Cape Breton;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Travis Getson of the Bridgewater High School basketball team on winning the title.
RESOLUTION NO. 2290
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 the sport of basketball is a team effort built on dedication, determination and skill; and
Whereas this team represented their school with pride; and
Whereas the Bridgewater High School boys basketball team won the Division 2 Nova Scotia Athletic Association boy's basketball championship title in Cape Breton;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Dylan Tufford of the Bridgewater High School basketball team on winning the title.
RESOLUTION NO. 2291
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 the sport of basketball is a team effort built on dedication, determination and skill; and
Whereas this team represented their school with pride; and
Whereas the Bridgewater High School boys basketball team won the Division 2 Nova Scotia Athletic Association boy's basketball championship title in Cape Breton;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Jarrett Hubley of the Bridgewater High School basketball team on winning the title.
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 the sport of basketball is a team effort built on dedication, determination and skill; and
Whereas this team represented their school with pride; and
Whereas the Bridgewater High School boys basketball team won the Division 2 Nova Scotia Athletic Association boy's basketball championship title in Cape Breton;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Zach Wamboldt of the Bridgewater High School basketball team on winning the title.
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 the sport of basketball is a team effort built on dedication, determination and skill; and
Whereas this team represented their school with pride; and
Whereas the Bridgewater High School boys basketball team won the Division 2 Nova Scotia Athletic Association boy's basketball championship title in Cape Breton;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Kyle Zinck of the Bridgewater High School basketball team on winning the title.
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 the sport of basketball is a team effort built on dedication, determination and skill; and
Whereas this team represented their school with pride; and
Whereas the Bridgewater High School boys basketball team won the Division 2 Nova Scotia Athletic Association boy's basketball championship title in Cape Breton;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Jacob Tuchendler of the Bridgewater High School basketball team on winning the title.
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 the sport of basketball is a team effort built on dedication, determination and skill; and
Whereas this team represented their school with pride; and
Whereas the Bridgewater High School boys basketball team won the Division 2 Nova Scotia Athletic Association boy's basketball championship title in Cape Breton;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Mason Jordan, team manager of the Bridgewater High School basketball team, on winning the title.
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 the sport of basketball is a team effort built on dedication, determination and skill; and
Whereas this team represented their school with pride; and
Whereas the Bridgewater High School boys basketball team won the Division 2 Nova Scotia Athletic Association boy's basketball championship title in Cape Breton;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Blair Lipsett, assistant coach of the Bridgewater High School basketball team, on winning the title.
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 the sport of basketball is a team effort built on dedication, determination and skill; and
Whereas this team represented their school with pride; and
Whereas the Bridgewater High School boys basketball team won the Division 2 Nova Scotia Athletic Association boy's basketball championship title in Cape Breton;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Nick Saunders, assistant coach of the Bridgewater High School basketball team, on winning the title.
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 the sport of basketball is a team effort built on dedication, determination and skill; and
Whereas this team represented their school with pride; and
Whereas the Bridgewater High School boys basketball team won the Division 2 Nova Scotia Athletic Association boy's basketball championship title in Cape Breton;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Andy Baker, coach of the Bridgewater High School basketball team, on winning the title.
