May 27, 2008

HANSARD 08-38

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://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/hansard-debates/

Second Session

TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2008

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
SPEAKER'S RULING: Minister Misleading the House in Question Period
(Pt. of privilege by Ms. D. Whalen [Hansard p. 3391, 05/15/27] 4015
PRESENTING AND READING PETITIONS:
TIR - TCH (Nappan): Rebuilding - Prioritize, Mr. E. Fage 4015
TIR: Hall Rd. East - Condition Rectify, Mr. L. Glavine 4016
TIR: Guysborough - Sheet Hbr. Roads - Repair/Repave, Ms. V. Conrad 4016
GOVERNMENT NOTICES OF MOTION:
Res. 3662, Legislative Staff: Work - Applaud,
The Premier 4017
Vote - Affirmative 4017
Res. 3663, Conrod, Dr. Burton: Oral Health Care - Leadership,
Hon. C. d'Entremont 4017
Vote - Affirmative 4018
Res. 3664, Furneaux, Karen - Canoe Kayak Gold Medal,
Hon. B. Barnet 4018
Vote - Affirmative 4019
Res. 3665, Schaefer, Raphael: Financial Fitness Challenge - Congrats.,
Hon. K. Casey 4019
Vote - Affirmative 4020
Res. 3666, Riverview Adult Residential Ctr. - Pictou Co.: Serv. - Commend,
Hon. J. Streatch 4020
Vote - Affirmative 4020
Res. 3667, TIR: Insurance Bureau (Can.) - "Be Smart. Be Safe" Tour,
Hon. M. Scott 4021
Vote - Affirmative 4022
Res. 3668, Cdn. Nurses Assoc.: 100 RNs Recognition/N.S. Nurses -
Congrats., Hon. C. d'Entremont 4022
Vote - Affirmative 4022
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS:
No. 184, Provincial Soil Act, The Premier 4022
No. 185, Community Facilities Public Consultation Act, Ms. D. Whalen 4023
No. 186, Animal Protection Act, Hon. B. Taylor 4023
PUBLIC BILLS FOR SECOND READING:
No. 184, Provincial Soil Act,
The Premier 4024
Vote - Affirmative 4025
PUBLIC BILLS FOR THIRD READING:
No. 184, Provincial Soil Act, The Premier 4025
Vote - Affirmative 4026
NOTICES OF MOTION:^
Res. 3669, Austin, Rae: Death of - Tribute, Mr. D. Dexter 4026
Vote - Affirmative 4027
Res. 3670, Agric.: Farm Loan Bds. - Equity, Mr. L. Glavine 4027
Vote - Affirmative 4028
Res. 3671, Gibson, Rev. Bill - Ordination (30 Yrs.),
Mr. C. Porter 4028
Vote - Affirmative 4029
Res. 3672, White, Kenneth/Shelley/Colton/Chelsea - Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4029
Vote - Affirmative 4029
Res. 3673, Women in Bus. Conf. - C.B. Partnership: Hosting - Congrats.,
Mr. Manning MacDonald 4029
Vote - Affirmative 4030
Res. 3674, W. End Elem. Sch. Students: RCL Award of Friendship -
Congrats., Hon. M. Scott 4030
Vote - Affirmative 4031
Res. 3675, Langille, Jordan/MacIsaac, Caitlin - Lt. Gov.'s Educ. Medals,
Mr. C. Parker 4031
Vote - Affirmative 4032
Res. 3676, Ulrich, Ron - Arts Commun.: Contributions - Recognize,
Mr. S. McNeil 4032
Vote - Affirmative 4032
Res. 3677, Rogers, Mem. Crib Tournament (Cape North):
Organizers/Participants - Applaud, Mr. K. Bain 4033
Vote - Affirmative 4033
Res. 3678, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 508 - Anniv. (100th),
Mr. D. Dexter 4033
Vote - Affirmative 4034
Res. 3679, Britton, Rev. Rhonda/Cornwallis St. United Baptist Church -
Anniv. (176th) Celebration, Mr. K. Colwell 4034
Vote - Affirmative 4035
Res. 3680, Cameron, Ralph - Athletic Achievements, Mr. P. Dunn 4035
Vote - Affirmative 4036
Res. 3681, Legislative Internship Prog. - Establish, Mr. L. Preyra 4036
Vote - Affirmative 4038
Res. 3682, MacInnis, Lisa: Gov.-Gen.'s Award,
Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay) 4036
Vote - Affirmative 4037
Res. 3683, Benedict, Lewis - Birthday (100th), Mr. C. Porter 4038
Vote - Affirmative 4038
Res. 3684, Phillips, Rev. Trevor: Death of - Tribute,
Ms. M. Raymond 4038
Vote - Affirmative 4039
Res. 3685, Democracy 250 - Promote, Mr. M. Samson 4039
Vote - Affirmative 4040
Res. 3686, Baddeck & Area Minor Hockey Soc.: Exec. - Compliment,
Mr. K. Bain 4040
Vote - Affirmative 4041
Res. 3687, Norman, Coach Jeff - Celebration of School Sport Award,
Ms. V. Conrad 4041
Vote - Affirmative 4041
Res. 3688, Johnson, Capt. Mark/Officers/Members: 117 Preston/Westphal
Cadets - Congrats., Mr. K. Colwell 4041
Vote - Affirmative 4042
Res. 3689, Punke, Gerry & Monica/Hatfield, Stephen: JUVENATA! 2008 -
Congrats., Mr. P. Dunn 4042
Vote - Affirmative 4043
Res. 3690, Asthma Patient Bill of Rights - Support,
Mr. David Wilson (Sackville-Cobequid) 4043
Vote - Affirmative 4044
Res. 3691, Fraser, Cst. Gary: Dedication - Congrats.,
Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay) 4044
Vote - Affirmative 4044
Res. 3692, Fougere, Sarah: N.S. Highland Dance Team - Selection,
Hon. K. Casey 4045
Vote - Affirmative 4045
Res. 3693, Chapman, Jessica - Mt. A. Gold A Award,
Mr. W. Estabrooks 4045
Vote - Affirmative 4046
Res. 3694, Comeau, Cindy/Dixacadie - Dance Award,
Mr. W. Gaudet 4046
Vote - Affirmative 4047
Res. 3695, Kirkpatrick, Amanda - Apple Blossom Fest.: Princess Canning -
Congrats., Hon. M. Parent 4047
Vote - Affirmative 4048
Res. 3696, Devine, Ethel - Woods Hbr. Food Bank: Volunteering - Recognize,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4048
Vote - Affirmative 4048
Res. 3697, Oyster Pond Acad. Running Club: Blue Nose Marathon
Youth Run - Congrats., Hon. W. Dooks 4049
Vote - Affirmative 4049
Res. 3698, St. Theresa's CWL: Convention Hosting - Congrats.,
Mr. G. Gosse 4049
Vote - Affirmative 4050
Res. 3699, Acadia Univ. - Fundraising: Support - Acknowledge,
Hon. D. Morse 4050
Vote - Affirmative 4051
Res. 3700, Wholey, Ted: Retirement - Congrats.,
Mr. W. Estabrooks 4051
Vote - Affirmative 4052
Res. 3701, Ride the Lobster Unicycle Race: Organizers/Participants -
Congrats., Mr. L. Glavine 4052
Vote - Affirmative 4052
Res. 3702, Robarts, Katelyn: Get Well Wishes - Express,
Hon. M. Baker 4052
Vote - Affirmative 4053
Res. 3703, MacLean, John - Bridgewater Prov. Vol. of Yr.,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4053
Vote -Affirmative 4054
ORAL QUESTIONS PUT BY MEMBERS:
No. 364, Prem. - Power Rates: Tax Increase - Explain, Mr. D. Dexter 4054
No. 365, Prem. - Taxation: Small Bus. - Effects, Mr. S. McNeil 4055
No. 366, Educ.: Sch. Bds. - Funding, Mr. D. Dexter 4056
No. 367, Econ. Dev. - Gateway Council: Mandate - Details, Mr. D. Dexter 4057
No. 368, Educ. - Sch. Bds.: Removal - Position Confirm, Mr. S. McNeil 4059
No. 369, Com. Serv. - Campbell Fam.: Autism Funding - Details,
Mr. F. Corbett 4060
No. 370, Com. Serv.: Policy Changes - Publicize, Ms. M. More 4062
No. 371, Health - MacKay Fam.: Out-Of-Prov. Procedures - Funding,
Mr. M. Samson 4063
No. 372, LWD - Hfx. Bar Scene: Rules - Tighten, Mr. L. Preyra 4064
No. 373, Educ. - Sch. Bds.: Financial Concerns - Address,
Mr. L. Glavine 4066
No. 374, Health Prom. & Protection: Flavoured Tobacco Products - Address,
Ms. J. Massey 4067
No. 375, TIR: Guysborough-Sheet Hbr. - Road Needs, Ms. V. Conrad 4068
No. 376, Educ. - Glace Bay JHS: Const. - Commitment,
Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay) 4070
No. 377, TIR - Hwy. 256: Repairs - Time Frame,
Mr. C. Parker 4071
No. 378, Health - Pathologists: Nova Scotia - Retention,
Mr. David Wilson (Sackville-Cobequid) 4072
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS:
PUBLIC BILLS FOR SECOND READING:
No. 126, Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act,
Hon. M. Parent 4074
Ms. Maureen MacDonald 4076
Adjourned debate 4077
PUBLIC BILLS FOR SECOND READING:
No. 179, Halifax Regional Municipality Charter,
Hon. J. Muir 4077
Adjourned debate 4091
No. 181, Halifax Regional Municipality Act,
Hon. J. Muir 4092
Adjourned debate 4098
HOUSE RECESSED AT 4:01 P.M. 4099
HOUSE RECONVENED AT 5:42 P.M. 4099
PRESENTING REPORTS OF COMMITTEES:
Law Amendments Committee, Hon. C. Clarke 4099
Law Amendments Committee, Hon. C. Clarke 4100
HOUSE RESOLVED INTO CWH ON BILLS AT 5:44 P.M. 4101
HOUSE RECONVENED AT 5:58 P.M. 4101
CWH REPORTS 4101
PUBLIC BILLS FOR THIRD READING:
No. 79, Elections Act,
Hon. M. Baker 4102
Vote - Affirmative 4103
No. 138, Municipal Government Act,
Hon. J. Muir 4103
Mr. H. Epstein 4104
Ms. D. Whalen 4109
Hon. J. Muir 4114
Vote - Affirmative 4114
No. 156, Land Registration Act,
Hon. J. Muir 4115
Mr. M. Samson 4116
Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay) 4117
Hon. J. Muir 4118
Vote - Affirmative 4118
No. 133, Land Surveyors Act,
Hon. D. Morse 4118
Vote - Affirmative 4118
No. 168, House of Assembly Act,
Hon. L. Goucher 4119
Vote - Affirmative 4119
No. 176, Engineering Profession Act,
Hon. C. Clarke 4119
Vote - Affirmative 4119
No. 124, Justice Administration Amendment (2008) Act,
Hon. C. Clarke 4120
Mr. G. Steele 4120
Ms. D. Whalen 4120
Hon. J. Muir 4123
Vote - Affirmative 4123
No. 167, Technical Safety Act,
Hon. M. Parent 4124
Vote - Affirmative 4124
PRIVATE MEMBERS' PUBLIC BILLS FOR THIRD READING:
No. 177, Naturopathic Doctors Act,
Hon. M. Baker 4125
Vote - Affirmative 4125
No. 150, Motor Vehicle Act,
Mr. W. Gaudet 4125
Vote - Affirmative 4125
No. 29, House of Assembly Act,
Mr. L. Preyra 4125
Vote - Affirmative 4126
No. 162, Municipal Government Act,
Mr. M. Samson 4127
Vote - Affirmative 4127
No. 100, Health Services and Insurance Act,
Mr. D. Dexter 4128
Vote - Affirmative 4128
No. 170, Motor Vehicle Act,
Mr. W. Gaudet 4128
Vote - Affirmative 4128
HOUSE RECESSED AT 7:21 P.M. 4129
HOUSE RECONVENED AT 8:21 P.M. 4129
ARRIVAL OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR 4129
BILLS GIVEN ROYAL ASSENT:
Nos. 3, 29, 79, 100, 107, 117, 120, 121, 123, 124, 125, 127, 130, 131,
133, 135, 138, 144, 146, 150, 156, 157, 162, 163, 167, 168, 170,
175, 176, 177, 178, 184 4131
ADJOURNMENT, House rose to meet again at the call of the Speaker 4133
PETITIONS UNDER RULE 63(1):
Environ.: Cosmetic Landscape Pesticides - Ban, Hon. M. Parent 4134
NOTICES OF MOTION UNDER RULE 32(3):
Res. 3704, D'Entremont, Pierrette/Surette, Danica: Pida Infant & Maternity
Products - Congrats., Hon. C. d'Entremont 4135
Res. 3705, Kings Co. Veterans Club: Contribution - Commend,
Mr. L. Glavine 4136
Res. 3706, Medjuck, Ms. Shulamith: Lt.-Gov.'s Medal - Congrats.,
Hon. J. Streatch 4136
Res. 3707, Bridgetown Scotiabank - Building Healthy Future Award,
Mr. S. McNeil 4137
Res. 3708, Spinney, Pauline - Prov. Vol. of Yr., Mr. S. McNeil 4137
Res. 3709, Barker, Christopher - Prov. Vol. of Yr., Mr. S. McNeil 4138
Res. 3710, Peters, Michael/MacGregor, Alex - Bowling Award,
Mr. S. McNeil 4138
Res. 3711, FitzRandolph, Bliss - Prov. Vol. of Yr., Mr. S. McNeil 4139
Res. 3712, Pearle, Anne Marie - Prov. Vol. of Yr., Mr. S. McNeil 4139
Res. 3713, St. Mary's River Assoc.: Efforts - Congrats., Mr. S. McNeil 4140
Res. 3714, Smith, Miriam: Commercial Cable Heritage Bldg. (Hazel Hill) -
Fundraising, Hon. R. Chisholm 4140
Res. 3715, St. Mary's Educ. Ctr.: Anti-Bullying Day,
Hon. R. Chisholm 4141
Res. 3716, St. Mary's Acad.: Bathurst HS Basketball Team -
Fundraising Campaign, Hon. R. Chisholm 4141
Res. 3717, Newcombe, Fraser/Pick of the Crop: Music Success - Congrats.,
Hon. R. Chisholm 4142
Res. 3718, Muise, Ms. Chris: Yoga - Commitment Congrats.,
Hon. R. Chisholm 4143
Res. 3719, Martin, Lynn - Mulgrave Mem. Educ. Ctr.: Contribution -
Congrats., Hon. R. Chisholm 4143
Res. 3720, Chedabucto Educ. Ctr.: Peaceful Problem Solving -
Congrats., Hon. R. Chisholm 4144
Res. 3721, Fanning Mem. Educ. Ctr. - Breakfast Prog.: Staff/Vols. -
Congrats., Hon. R. Chisholm 4144
Res. 3722, Van der Linden, Ria: Reg. Science Fair - Congrats.,
Hon. R. Chisholm 4145
Res. 3723, Canso Lions Club - Anniv. (40th), Hon. R. Chisholm 4145
Res. 3724, Fitzgerald, Gerald: Curling Inspirations - Congrats.,
Hon. R. Chisholm 4146
Res. 3725, Armstrong, Shalan - Soccer Gold Medal,
Hon. J. Streatch 4147
Res. 3726, Assaff, Maggie - Soccer Gold Medal,
Hon. J. Streatch 4147
Res. 3727, Collins, Elizabeth - Soccer Gold Medal,
Hon. J. Streatch 4148
Res. 3728, Cornelius, Kelsey - Soccer Gold Medal,
Hon. J. Streatch 4148
Res. 3729, Eisnor, Kaitlyn - Soccer Gold Medal,
Hon. J. Streatch 4149
Res. 3730, Haney, Elizabeth - Soccer Gold Medal,
Hon. J. Streatch 4149
Res. 3731, Hirtle, Liz - Soccer Gold Medal,
Hon. J. Streatch 4150
Res. 3732, Levy, Star - Soccer Gold Medal,
Hon. J. Streatch 4150
Res. 3733, MacDonald, Katy - Soccer Gold Medal,
Hon. J. Streatch 4151
Res. 3734, Reeves, Courtney - Soccer Gold Medal,
Hon. J. Streatch 4151
Res. 3735, Reeves, Rosalie - Soccer Gold Medal,
Hon. J. Streatch 4152
Res. 3736, Hamm, Leanne - Soccer Gold Medal,
Hon. J. Streatch 4152
Res. 3737, Hiltz, Hencie: Death of - Tribute,
Hon. J. Streatch 4153
Res. 3738, Backman, Everett: Econ. Dev. Dept. Serv. (31 Yrs.) -
Congrats., Hon. J. Streatch 4153
Res. 3739, Jenkins, Susan - Excellence in Nursing Award,
Mr. P. Dunn 4154
Res. 3740, New Glasgow/Mayor MacLean: Branding Strategy - Congrats.,
Mr. P. Dunn 4154
Res. 3741, Grant-Walsh, Margie: Bowl for Kids - Congrats.,
Mr. P. Dunn 4155
Res. 3742, Michelin Employees (Pictou Co.): Safety Record - Congrats.,
Mr. P. Dunn 4155
Res. 3743, Mombourquette, Alex - Richmond Co. Home Support
Vol. of Yr., Mr. M. Samson 4156
Res. 3744, Sayer, Bob - "Mahone Bay Old School: A Life and Times":
Publication - Congrats., Hon. M. Baker 4156
Res. 3745, Curl for a Cause: Fundraising - Organizers Thank,
Hon. M. Baker 4157
Res. 3746, Coastal Country Music: CD Release - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Baker 4157
Res. 3747, Mosher, Kelsie/Kendall, Rachel: Centre Cons. Sch.
Anti-Bullying Campaign - Congrats., Hon. M. Baker 4158
Res. 3748, S. Shore Health: Dept. of Pathology & Lab. Medicine -
N.S. Blood Coordinating Prog. Award, Hon. M. Baker 4158
Res. 3749, Kinsella, John - Annapolis Royal Mayor: Retirement -
Congrats., Mr. S. McNeil 4159
Res. 3750, Torrie, Keith/Jones, Victoria/Taylor, Hilary -
Dal. Spread the Net Campaign, Ms. D. Whalen 4159
Res. 3751, V-Day Organizing Team - Congrats., Ms. D. Whalen 4160
Res. 3752, Park, Kevin/Yan, Ron/Ze-Chuan He - APENS Award,
Ms. D. Whalen 4160
Res. 3753, Sketris, Dr. Ingrid: Fellow Cdn. Acad. of Health Sciences -
Election, Ms. D. Whalen 4161
Res. 3754, Murray, Dr. Jock: Fellow Cdn. Acad. of Health Sciences -
Election, Ms. D. Whalen 4161
Res. 3755, Rockwood, Dr. Kenneth: Fellow Cdn. Acad. of Health Sciences -
Election, Ms. D. Whalen 4162
Res. 3756, Burroughs, Keith: Baddeck Sea Cadets Corps - Promotion,
Mr. K. Bain 4162
Res. 3757, Blakeney, Samara: Scripps Natl. Spelling Bee - Participation,
Mr. K. Bain 4163
Res. 3758, Stears, Seamus - Tae Kwon Do Gold Medals,
Mr. K. Bain 4163
Res. 3759, Cabot HS: Basketball Season - Applaud,
Mr. K. Bain 4164
Res. 3760, Baddeck Lions Club: Commun. Participation - Applaud,
Mr. K. Bain 4164
Res. 3761, Baddeck Nursery Sch. Assoc. Chairman/Bd. of Directors -
Congrats., Mr. K. Bain 4165
Res. 3762, Grant, Dianne: Nursing (34 Yrs.) - Congrats.,
Mr. K. Bain 4165
Res. 3763, MacNaughton, Rev. David: United Church of Can. -
Serv. (50 Yrs.), Hon. J. Muir 4166
Res. 3764, Hagen, Arnold - Truro Rotarian of the Yr.,
Hon. J. Muir 4166
Res. 3765, East. Passage RCMP Commun. Office Vols. - Commend,
Ms. B. Kent 4167
Res. 3766, East. Passage Educ. Ctr. Cheerleading Team - Reg.
Championship, Ms. B. Kent 4167
Res. 3767, East. Passage Educ. Ctr. Boys A Soccer Team - Zone
Championships, Ms. B. Kent 4168
Res. 3768, East. Passage Tigers Mini Basketball Team -
Prov. Tournament, Ms. B. Kent 4168
Res. 3769, Larkin, Cst. D. Mark: East. Passage/Cow Bay/Shearwater
Commun. Police Officer - Congrats., Ms. B. Kent 4169
Res. 3770, East. Passage Tigers Midget Boys Basketball Team - Prov.
Tournament, Ms. B. Kent 4169
Res. 3771, East. Passage Educ. Ctr.: Jr. Boys Wrestling Team - NSSAF
Championship Banner, Ms. B. Kent 4170
Res. 3772, Salsman, Ashley & Jane: Kids Help Phone - Contribution,
Ms. B. Kent 4170
Res. 3773, Dart. Lakes Girl Guides: Scotland Trip - Good Luck Wishes,
Ms. B. Kent 4171
Res. 3774, Astral Dr. Jr. HS Recycling Club - World Vision Sponsorship,
Ms. B. Kent 4171
Res. 3775, East. Passage Tigers Bantam Girls Basketball Team - Prov.
Tournament, Ms. B. Kent 4172
Res. 3776, East. Passage Educ. Ctr. (Gr. 8 Class) - Holocaust:
Creative Approach - Congrats., Ms. B. Kent 4172
Res. 3777, East. Passage Educ. Ctr. Intermediate Lacrosse Team -
Zone Championships, Ms. B. Kent 4173
Res. 3778, East. Passage Tigers Bantam Boys Basketball Team - Prov.
Tournament, Ms. B. Kent 4173
Res. 3779, Cole Hbr. HS Team Habitat for Humanity - Congrats.,
Ms. B. Kent 4174
Res. 3780, West Kings Dist. Women's Institute - Cancer Patient
Accessories, Mr. L. Glavine 4174
Res. 3781, Kingston Bible College Team: Call to Remembrance Prog. -
Congrats., Mr. L. Glavine 4175
Res. 3782, Start Making Abilities Count - Anniv. (1st),
Mr. L. Glavine 4175
Res. 3783, Samson, Chad - Anti-Bullying Prog.,
Mr. L. Glavine 4176
Res. 3784, Kingston Lionettes: Contributions - Recognize,
Mr. Glavine 4176
Res. 3785, Cromwell, Harold: Death of - Tribute,
Mr. H. Theriault 4177
Res. 3786, Nuttall, Sgt. Vanessa - Cadet Award,
Hon. M. Scott 4177
Res. 3787, River Hebert Cadet Attendance Medals:
Recipients - Congrats., Hon. M. Scott 4178
Res. 3788, Petlen, Kalei: Mar. Idol Semifinals - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Scott 4178
Res. 3789, Rich, Graham - Excellence in Teaching Award,
Hon. M. Scott 4179
Res. 3790, Rushton, Sgt. Amy - Cadet Award,
Hon. M. Scott 4179
Res. 3791, Scott, Linda - Excellence in Teaching Award,
Hon. M. Scott 4180
Res. 3792, Tenant, Madison: Vol. Efforts - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Scott 4180
Res. 3793, McLellan, Pte. Meghan - Cadet Award,
Hon. M. Scott 4181
Res. 3794, McLellan, Cpl. Brandon - Cadet Award,
Hon. M. Scott 4181
Res. 3795, MacLean, Megan: Mar. Idol Semifinals - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Scott 4182
Res. 3796, Deveaux, Danica - Acad. Achievement,
Hon. M. Scott 4182
Res. 3797, Daborn, CWO Calvin - Cadet Award,
Hon. M. Scott 4183
Res. 3798, Christie, Ardith - Excellence in Teaching Award,
Hon. M. Scott 4183
Res. 3799, Chapman, Pte. Vanessa - Cadet Award,
Hon. M. Scott 4184
Res. 3800, Calder, Daniel - Excellence in Teaching Award,
Hon. M. Scott 4184
Res. 3801, Bordertown Pontiac Buick GMC Ltd. - GM Customer
Satisfaction Award, Hon. M. Scott 4185
Res. 3802, Willigar, Paulie - Cadet Award,
Hon. M. Scott 4186
Res. 3803, Jackson, Howard - Canso Vol. Rep. Award,
Hon. R. Chisholm 4186
Res. 3804, Avery, Carmel - Guysborough Mun. Rep. Vol. Award,
Hon. R. Chisholm 4187
Res. 3805, Lundrigan, Karen - Mulgrave Rep. Vol. Award,
Hon. R. Chisholm 4187^^
Res. 3806, Credit Union Atl.: St. Margarets Bay Br. - Congrats.,
Mr. W. Estabrooks 4188
Res. 3807, Gould, Kristy - Apple Blossom Fest.: Princess Kentville -
Congrats., Hon. M. Parent 4188
Res. 3808, Larrys River Vol. FD: Members - Congrats.,
Hon. R. Chisholm 4189
Res. 3809, Horton HS - Grease: Production - Congrats.,
Hon. D. Morse 4189
Res. 3810, St. Joseph's Catholic Church Stage Prophets -
Beauty & the Beast: Production - Congrats., Hon. D. Morse 4190
Res. 3811, LeBlanc, Anne: Angel Stitches - Remercient,
Mr. W. Gaudet 4190
Res. 3812, Mulley MacDonald, Sherry - "Cape Breton - the Pride of an Island":
Publication - Congrats., Hon. C. Clarke 4191
Res. 3813, Norrie, Eleanor - Truro Rotary Club Commun. Serv. Award,
Hon. J. Muir 4191
Res. 3814, Cantabile Choir/Director: Savoy Theatre - Fundraising,
Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay) 4192
Res. 3815, Fox, Elizabeth: N.S. Recycles Contest - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Parent 4192
Res. 3816, Hiltz, Michelle: N.S. Recycles Contest - Congrats.,
Hon. M. Parent 4193
Res. 3817, Pulsifer, Katelyn - Apple Blossom Fest.:
Princess Port Williams - Congrats., Hon. M. Parent 4193
Res. 3818, Cent. Kings Rural HS - Brandon Smith Mem. Park:
Support - Congrats., Hon. M. Parent 4193
Res. 3819, Kingstec Jr. Culinary Team/Coaches - Prov. Title,
Hon. M. Parent 4194
Res. 3820, Nicholson Fam. - Prov. Vol. Family of Yr.,
Hon. M. Parent 4194
Res. 3821, Eghan, Elizabeth - Duke of Edinburgh's Award,
Ms. D. Whalen 4195
Res. 3822, Parsons, Katie - Duke of Edinburgh's Award,
Ms. D. Whalen 4195
Res. 3823, Parsons, Maggie - Duke of Edinburgh's Award,
Ms. D. Whalen 4196
Res. 3824, Baxter, Colonel Charles, Jr.: Dal. Sport Hall of Fame -
Induction, Ms. D. Whalen 4196
Res. 3825, Field, Renee - E-Publishing Award, Ms. D. Whalen 4197
Res. 3826, Conter, Karen/Tsinman, Laura - Israel's
Birthday Dinner (60th): Chairing - Recognize, Ms. D. Whalen 4197
Res. 3827, Dart. Commun. Concert - Anniv. (50th), Ms. J. Massey 4198
Res. 3828, Randell, Joe: Top 50 CEOs - Congrats., Hon. L. Goucher 4198
Res. 3829, Corbett, Darrell: Red Sox Fan (62 Yrs.) - Congrats.,
Mr. L. Glavine 4199
Res. 3830, Cock, Joel/Collier, Kathleen - Lt.-Gov.'s Educ. Medals,
Mr. C. Parker 4199
Res. 3831, Aitken, Barbara - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4200
Res. 3832, Hirtle, Gordon, Betty - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4200
Res. 3833, Vanderkooi, Brant - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4201
Res. 3834, Moore, Charles - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4201
Res. 3835, Bond, Crystal - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4202
Res. 3836, Manning, Dave - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4202
Res. 3837, Aitken, Dorothy - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4203
Res. 3838, McMullen, Garnet - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4203
Res. 3839, Searle, George - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4204
Res. 3840, Parker, Gladys - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4204
Res. 3841, Cornish, Jack - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4205
Res. 3842, Van de Riet, Jack - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4205
Res. 3843, Bond, Jean - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4206
Res. 3844, Faulkner, Jeremy - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4206
Res. 3845, Hudson, Johanna - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4207
Res. 3846, Butt, John - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4207
Res. 3847, McMullen, John - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4208
Res. 3848, Ettinger, Lois - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4208
Res. 3849, Nolter, Robert - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4209
Res. 3850, Hallahan, Tyler Michael - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4209
Res. 3851, Hannaford, Ronald - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4210
Res. 3852, Mailman, Marjorie - E. Hants Mun. Shining Star Award,
Mr. J. MacDonell 4210
Res. 3853, Rosborough, Bob: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4211
Res. 3854, Snow, Henry: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4211
Res. 3855, MacNeil, Rick: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4212
Res. 3856, MacKenzie, Donnie: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4212
Res. 3857, Raniowski, Dennis: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4213
Res. 3858, MacKinnon, Gary: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4213
Res. 3859, Burns, Wayne: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4214
Res. 3860, Decoste, Joseph: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4214
Res. 3861, Jones, Gerald: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4215
Res. 3862, McLeod, Charlie: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4215
Res. 3863, Pentz, Paul: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4216
Res. 3864, Forrest, Jim: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4216
Res. 3865, MacNeil, Jason: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4217
Res. 3866, Cameron, Stephen: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4217
Res. 3867, Chenell, Gordie: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4218
Res. 3868, Demetre, Paul: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4218
Res. 3869, Reid, Elwood: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4219
Res. 3870, Spears, Sandy: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4219
Res. 3871, MacDougall, Joey: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4220
Res. 3872, Bezanson, Jim: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4220
Res. 3873, Wilson, Howard: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4221
Res. 3874, Snair, Chad: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4221
Res. 3875, Trowell, Don: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4222
Res. 3876, Dwyer, Eric: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4222
Res. 3877, Ramscar, Larry: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4223
Res. 3878, Adamson, Bruce: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4223
Res. 3879, Reeves, Clifford: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4224
Res. 3880, MacDonald, Ken: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4224
Res. 3881, MacIntosh, Calvin: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4225
Res. 3882, Hughes, Robin: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4225
Res. 3883, Kiley, Mike: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4226
Res. 3884, Strickland, Charlie: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4226
Res. 3885, MacDougall, John: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4227
Res. 3886, Hughes, James: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4227
Res. 3887, Bailey, John: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4228
Res. 3888, Ferguson, Weldon: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4228
Res. 3889, Harrington, Allen: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4229
Res. 3890, Massaro, Greg: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4229
Res. 3891, MacDonald Walter: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4230
Res. 3892, Ferguson, Robert: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4230
Res. 3893, Snell, Donald, Jr.: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4231
Res. 3894, Young, Daniel: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4231
Res. 3895, Halloran, Rob: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4232
Res. 3896, Major, Bob: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4232
Res. 3897, Ferguson, Lawrence: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4233
Res. 3898, Cameron, James: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4233
Res. 3899, Rosborough, June: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4234
Res. 3900, Snow, Doreen: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4234
Res. 3901, MacNeil, Betty: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4235
Res. 3902, Jardine, Marg: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4235
Res. 3903, MacDonald, Connie: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4236
Res. 3904, Sutherland, Karen: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4236
Res. 3905, Wilcox, Sheila: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4237
Res. 3906, Cameron, Margaret: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4237
Res. 3907, Thayer, Peggy-Ann: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4238
Res. 3908, MacDonald, Roxanne: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4238
Res. 3909, MacNeil, Julie: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4239
Res. 3910, Boyle, Micheline: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4239
Res. 3911, Chisholm, Joyce: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4240
Res. 3912, Fraser, Wanda Lee: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4240
Res. 3913, Harrington, Lisa: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4241
Res. 3914, Wilsack, Diane: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4241
Res. 3915, Corneil, Deane: Pictou Co. Vol. Ground Search & Rescue -
Serv. Commend, Mr. C. MacKinnon 4242
Res. 3916, Hilliard, Rick - Bible Hill Vol. of Yr.,
Hon. J. Muir 4242
Res. 3917, Lund, Ernie - Truro Vol. of Yr.,
Hon. J. Muir 4243
Res. 3918, Musquodoboit Rural HS/So. Col. Acad. - NSSAF Awards:
Recipients - Congrats., Hon. B. Taylor 4243
Res. 3919, Martock-Windsor Forks Women's Institute: Members -
Applaud, Mr. C. Porter 4244
Res. 3920, Miller-Parker, Jacqui/LeFrense, Anastasia -
"All Empowered Women": Launch - Congrats.,
Mr. C. Porter 4244
Res. 3921, Hartlin, Christie - Educ. Wk. Award, Mr. C. Porter 4245
Res. 3922, Griffiths-Cuffari, Mrs. Deborah: Entrepreneurship -
Congrats., Mr. C. Porter 4245
Res. 3923, Parker, Mitchell Graham - Lt.-Gov.'s Award,
Mr. S. McNeil 4246
Res. 3924, Kerr, Matthew Robert Reid - Lt.-Gov.'s Award,
Mr. S. McNeil 4246
Res. 3925, Hicks, Emily - Lt.-Gov.'s Award,
Mr. S. McNeil 4247
Res. 3926, Parker, Graham - Hockey Hall of Fame Award,
Mr. S. McNeil 4247
Res. 3927, Ward, Nancy Jean - Lt.-Gov.'s Award,
Mr. S. McNeil 4248
Res. 3928, Gaudet, Charla Raquel Rose - Lt.-Gov.'s Award,
Mr. S. McNeil 4248
Res. 3929, Messinger, Philip Anthony - Lt.-Gov.'s Award,
Mr. S. McNeil 4249
Res. 3930, Brown, Brad: Kings Citizen Patrol - Vol. Serv. (10 Yrs.),
Hon. D. Morse 4250
Res. 3931, Lind, John: Kings Citizen Patrol - Vol. Serv. (10 Yrs.),
Hon. D. Morse 4250
Res. 3932, Boutilier, Reid: Kings Citizen Patrol - Vol. Serv. (10 Yrs.),
Hon. D. Morse 4251
Res. 3933, Nauss, Don: Kings Citizen Patrol - Vol. Serv. (10 Yrs.),
Hon. D. Morse 4251
Res. 3934, Brown, Eric: Kings. Co. - Vol. Efforts,
Hon. D. Morse 4252
Res. 3935, Blenkhorn, Wayne: Kings Co. - Vol. Commitment,
Hon. D. Morse 4252
Res. 3936, Robinson, Payton - N.S. Recycles Contest,
Mr. M. Samson 4253
Res. 3937, L'Ardoise Holy Guardian Angels Parish: World Youth Day
(2008) - Fundraising, Mr. M. Samson 4253
Res. 3938, Boudreau, Myla: St. F.X. Women's Volleyball Team -
Success Congrats., Mr. M. Samson 4254
Res. 3939, Woodman, Robert: Grand Steward of Grand Lodge (N.S.) -
Appt., Mr. M. Samson 4254
Res. 3940, Kraitzek, Hubert: Retirement - Congrats.,
Mr. M. Samson 4255
Res. 3941, Boudreau, Candace - Hockey Championships,
Mr. M. Samson 4255
Res. 3942, MacNeil, Joseph: Can.-Wide Science Fair - Congrats.,
Mr. M. Samson 4256
Res. 3943, Johnson, Emma/Carter, Kayla: Strait Reg. Science Fair -
Congrats., Mr. M. Samson 4256
Res. 3944, MacInnes, Ashleigh - Wrestling Championships,
Mr. M. Samson 4257
Res. 3945, MacInnis, Rebecca - Wrestling Award,
Mr. M. Samson 4257
Res. 3946, Landry, Elliot - Wrestling Award,
Mr. M. Samson 4258
Res. 3947, Pink Thunder: Band Members - Congrats.,
Mr. M. Samson 4258
Res. 3948, Luong, Thai: Business - Success Wish,
Mr. M. Samson 4259
Res. 3949, Richmond Co. Mun.: Mun./Reg. of Yr. - Congrats.,
Mr. M. Samson 4259
Res. 3950, Telile Commun. Television: Arichat Opening - Congrats.,
Mr. M. Samson 4260
Res. 3951, Kehoe, Claire - St. Hyacinth's CWL 25 Yr. Pin,
Mr. M. Samson 4260
Res. 3952, Richard, Pam - St. Hyacinth's CWL Maple Leaf Award,
Mr. M. Samson 4261
Res. 3953, École Beau-Port: Centre Santé Jeunesse - Opening,
Mr. M. Samson 4261
Res. 3954, Sampson-MacLean, Collette: Rich. Co. Rec. Dir. -
Appt. Congrats., Mr. M. Samson 4262
Res. 3955, Dalton, Everett - RCL Meritorius Serv. Medal,
Mr. L. Glavine 4262
Res. 3956, Moore, Tara/MacNeil, Jennifer: Sneaker/Clothing Drive -
Congrats., Ms. D. Whalen 4263
Res. 3957, MacDonald, Jonathan - NSSAF Award,
Ms. D. Whalen 4263
Res. 3958, Rudolph, Justin - NSSAF Award,
Ms. D. Whalen 4264
Res. 3959, McFarlene, Mike - NSSAF Award,
Ms. D. Whalen 4264
Res. 3960, MacEachern, Tim - NSSAF Award,
Ms. D. Whalen 4265
Res. 3961, Cheer Elite Wolves: CheerExpo Nationals - Congrats.,
Ms. D. Whalen 4265
Res. 3962, Kowah, Maddie - NSSAF Award,
Ms. D. Whalen 4266
Res. 3963, O'Connell, Katie - NSSAF Award,
Ms. D. Whalen 4266
Res. 3964, O'Connor, Colin - NSSAF Award,
Ms. D. Whalen 4267
Res. 3965, Caskey, Chris - NSSAF Award,
Ms. D. Whalen 4267
Res. 3966, Ford, Brianna - NSSAF Award,
Ms. D. Whalen 4268
Res. 3967, Fares, Monique: Vol. Contributions - Congrats.,
Ms. D. Whalen 4268
Res. 3968, David Sue: Vol. Contributions - Congrats.,
Ms. D. Whalen 4269
Res. 3969, Hayes, Valerie: Vol. Contributions - Congrats.,
Ms. D. Whalen 4269
Res. 3970, Thornton, Clare: Vol. Contributions - Congrats.,
Ms. D. Whalen 4270
Res. 3971, Morris Matthew: Vol. Contributions - Congrats.,
Ms. D. Whalen 4270
Res. 3972, Colwell, Elizabeth: Retirement - Congrats.,
Mr. W. Gaudet 4271
Res. 3973, Digou, Ray: Commun. Commitment - Congrats.,
Mr. G. Gosse 4271
Res. 3974, Doucet, Ray - Grand Knight of Yr.,
Mr. G. Gosse 4271
Res. 3975, Gallivan, Patrick - Art Award,
Mr. G. Gosse 4272
Res. 3976, Winkie Awards: Winners - Congrats.,
Mr. C. Porter 4272
Res. 3977, Bennett, Ben/Apathy Attire: Environ. Concerns - Applaud,
Mr. C. Porter 4273
Res. 3978, Aker, Ashley/Bahri, Melissa - Athletic Achievements,
Mr. C. Porter 4273
Res. 3979, CIBC/Feed My Lambs: Commun. Initiative - Congrats.,
Mr. C. Porter 4274
Res. 3980, Davidson, Kyla: Athletic Pursuits - Recognize,
Mr. C. Porter 4274
Res. 3981, Fam. Res. Ctr. (W. Hants) - "Growing Great Kids": Initiative -
Applaud, Mr. C. Porter 4275
Res. 3982, Kirk, Janet - Acadia Distinguished Alumni Award,
Mr. C. Porter 4276
Res. 3983, Fed Pennies - Ozzy Osbourne: Opening - Congrats.,
Mr. C. Porter 4276
Res. 3984, Marsh, Audrey: Death of - Tribute, Mr. C. Porter 4277
Res. 3985, Hants West Wildlife Assoc./Pres./Members - Outdoors:
Interest - Congrats., Mr. C. Porter 4277
Res. 3986, W. Hants Mid. Sch. Wrestling Team: Performances -
Applaud, Mr. C. Porter 4278
Res. 3987, Uniacke & Dist. Vol. FD: Responses - Commend,
Mr. C. Porter 4278
Res. 3988, Armstrong, Nadine - Newspaper Photo Award,
Mr. C. Porter 4279
Res. 3989, Legge-Wood, Alysha/Harlow, Chris: Can-Wide Reg. Science
Fair - Congrats., Mr. C. Porter 4279
Res. 3990, We have a Dream: Writer/Co-Writers/Director/Actors -
Congrats., Mr. C. Porter 4280
Res. 3991, 4-H Leaders/Hants Co. Award Winners - Accomplishments:
Applaud, Mr. C. Porter 4280
Res. 3992, Grant, S.Sgt. Tom: RCMP Serv. (34 Yrs.) - Compliment,
Mr. C. Porter 4281
Res. 3993, "Easily Distracted" - Music Fest. Gold Medal,
Mr. C. Porter 4281
Res. 3994, Dr. Arthur Hines Elem.: Health Prom. Proj. - Applaud,
Mr. C. Porter 4282
Res. 3995, Conrad, H. Christopher - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire &
Emerg. Serv.: Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4282
Res. 3996, Cross, Neil - Lawrencetown Beach Vol.
Fire & Emerg. Serv.: Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4283
Res. 3997, Cull, Calvin - Lawrencetown Beach Vol.
Fire & Emerg. Serv.: Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4283
Res. 3998, Dobie, Leslie - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4284
Res. 3999, Forbes, Derek - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4284
Res. 4000, Galloway, Mark - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4284
Res. 4001, Giles, Murray - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4285
Res. 4002, Gilmore, Todd - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4285
Res. 4003, Hardy, Edwin - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4286
Res. 4004, Hart, Jason - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4286
Res. 4005, Head, Paul - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4287
Res. 4006, LeClair, Jeff - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4287
Res. 4007, London, Tracy - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4287
Res. 4008, Kennett, Malcolm - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4288
Res. 4009, MacKay, Andy - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4288
Res. 4010, Manning, Blair - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4289
Res. 4011, Richard, Mathieu - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4289
Res. 4012, Samms, Emanuel - Lawrencetown Beach Vol.
Fire & Emerg. Serv.: Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4290
Res. 4013, Sibley, David - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4290
Res. 4014, Smith, Zack - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4290
Res. 4015, Wong, Duane - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4291
Res. 4016, Villani, Aldo - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4291
Res. 4017, Cameron, Donna - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4292
Res. 4018, Cameron, Adam - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4292
Res. 4019, Boudreau, Anthony - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4293
Res. 4020, Bonnell, Glenn - Lawrencetown Beach Vol. Fire & Emerg. Serv.:
Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4293
Res. 4021, Beckett, Craig - Lawrencetown Beach Vol.
Fire & Emerg. Serv.: Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4293
Res. 4022, Aitkenhead, Jeff - Lawrencetown Beach Vol.
Fire & Emerg. Serv.: Contributions - Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4294
Res. 4023, Baker, Kyle - Ostrea Lake FD: Contributions - Applaud,
Hon. W. Dooks 4294
Res. 4024, Sweeney, Steve - Ostrea Lake FD: Contributions - Applaud,
Hon. W. Dooks 4295
Res. 4025, Bowser, Tim - Ostrea Lake FD: Contributions - Applaud,
Hon. W. Dooks 4295
Res. 4026, Skaner, Aaron - Ostrea Lake FD: Contributions - Applaud,
Hon. W. Dooks 4296
Res. 4027, Kuentzel, Mike - Ostrea Lake FD: Contributions - Applaud,
Hon. W. Dooks 4296
Res. 4028, Waye, Laurie - Ostrea Lake FD: Contributions - Applaud,
Hon. W. Dooks 4296
Res. 4029, Roberts, Martin - Ostrea Lake FD: Contributions - Applaud,
Hon. W. Dooks 4297
Res. 4030, Drinnan, Malcolm - Ostrea Lake FD: Contributions -
Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4297
Res. 4031, Dickens, James - Ostrea Lake FD: Contributions - Applaud,
Hon. W. Dooks 4298
Res. 4032, Smith, Howie - Ostrea Lake FD: Contributions - Applaud,
Hon. W. Dooks 4298
Res. 4033, Marks, Brad - Ostrea Lake FD: Contributions - Applaud,
Hon. W. Dooks 4298
Res. 4034, Lobban, Ian - Ostrea Lake FD: Contributions - Applaud,
Hon. W. Dooks 4299
Res. 4035, Akers, Pearl: East. Shore Children's Christmas Wish Tree -
Applaud, Hon. W. Dooks 4299
Res. 4036, East. Shore Lobster Fishery: Exports - Applaud,
Hon. W. Dooks 4300
Res. 4037, A.D.A.P.T.: Organizers - Applaud,
Hon. W. Dooks 4300
Res. 4038, Riddle, Emily - Murphy Hockey Award,
Hon. W. Dooks 4301
Res. 4039, Mitchell, Justin: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4301
Res. 4040, Doyle, Joel: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4302
Res. 4041, Connors, Scott: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4302
Res. 4042, Campbell, Colin: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4303
Res. 4043, Siteman, Nick: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4303
Res. 4044, Densmore, Evan: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4304
Res. 4045, Turner, Nick: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4304
Res. 4046, Kienapple, Alex: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4305
Res. 4047, Armstrong, Craig: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4305
Res. 4048, MacDonald, Craig: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4306
Res. 4049, Power, Mitchell: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4306
Res. 4050, Simmons, Jeremy: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4307
Res. 4051, Finlay, Kyle: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4307
Res. 4052, Barnes, Chris: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4308
Res. 4053, Miller, Kyle: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4308
Res. 4054, Hawco, Neil: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4309
Res. 4055, Hallett, Kyle: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4309
Res. 4056, Clarke, Shawn: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4310
Res. 4057, Brandon, Joey: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4310
Res. 4058, Mercer, Robie: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4311
Res. 4059, Ross, Cory: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4311
Res. 4060, Mackeil, Trent: Musquodoboit Hbr. Crunch -
Hockey Championship, Hon. W. Dooks 4312
Res. 4061, N.S. Recycles Contest: Winners - Congrats.,
Ms. J. Massey 4312
Res. 4062, N.S. Recycles Contest: Winners - Congrats.,
Ms. J. Massey 4313
Res. 4063, N.S. Recycles Contest: Winners - Congrats.,
Ms. J. Massey 4313
Res. 4064, N.S. Recycles Contest: Winners - Congrats.,
Ms. J. Massey 4314
Res. 4065, Chisholm, Liz - Status of Women Advisory Coun. (N.S.):
Chair - Election, Ms. J. Massey 4314
Res. 4066, Haase, Martin Rudy: Environmentalism Support - Congrats.,
Ms. J. Massey 4315
Res. 4067, HIV/AIDS Awareness Wk. Display: Participants - Congrats.,
Ms. J. Massey 4315
Res. 4068, Phoenix Youth Progs.: Dedication - Commend,
Ms. J. Massey 4316
Res. 4069, Jessup, Lt. Cmdr. Pat - Order of Military Merit,
Ms. J. Massey 4316
Res. 4070, N.S. Masterworks Awards Fdn. - Artists:
Support/Celebration - Recognize, Ms. J. Massey 4317
Res. 4071, Michael Wallace Commun. Playground Proj.:
Wine Tasting Event - Thank, Ms J. Massey 4317
Res. 4072, CIBC - Healthy Bus. Award,
Ms. J. Massey 4318
Res. 4073, Gerald Walsh Assoc. Inc. - Healthy Bus. Award,
Ms. J. Massey 4318
Res. 4074, Office Interiors - Healthy Bus. Award,
Ms. J. Massey 4318
Res. 4075, Formation Const. Engineering - Health Leader Award,
Ms. J. Massey 4319
Res. 4076, Capital Health - Health Innovator Award,
Ms. J. Massey 4319
Res. 4077, Coll. of Physicians & Surgeons (N.S.) -
Health Innovator Award, Ms. J. Massey 4320
Res. 4078, Heart & Stroke Fdn. - Health Innovator Award,
Ms. J. Massey 4320
Res. 4079, Rideau - Health Innovator Award,
Ms. J. Massey 4321
Res. 4080, Workers' Comp. Bd. - Health Innovator Award,
Ms. J. Massey 4321
Res. 4081, Face of Poverty Consultation: Activities - Encourage,
Ms. J. Massey 4321
Res. 4082, Cdn. Diabetes Assn. - Awareness: Achievements - Congrats.,
Ms. J. Massey 4322
Res. 4083, Black Women Who Made A Difference in Nova Scotia:
Publication - Congrats., Ms. J. Massey 4322
Res. 4084, McAvoy, Jeremy - Eric Graves Mem. Jr. HS Male
Athlete of Yr., Ms. J. Massey 4323
Res. 4085, Access to Commun. Educ. & Employment: New Location -
Best Wishes, Ms. J. Massey 4323
Res. 4086, Stewart, Dr. Ronald - Hero of Emergency Medicine Award,
Hon. C. Clarke 4324
Res. 4087, Wiley, Wayne: Vol. Efforts - Applaud,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4324
Res. 4088, Kelley, Hannah/Dominey, Ashley: Trampoline & Tumbling
Championships - Congrats., Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4325
Res. 4089, Conklin, Chloe - Figure Skating: Commitment - Congrats.,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4325
Res. 4090, Corcoran, Cheryl & Keith: Cystic Fibrosis - Fundraising,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4325
Res. 4091, Jefferson, Joanne - Novel: Publication - Recognize,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4326
Res. 4092, Sullivan, Al - Lunenburg Mun. Prov. Vol. Award,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4326
Res. 4093, Walsh, John - Caring Canadian Award,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4327
Res. 4094, Walsh, Evelyn - Caring Canadian Award,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4327
Res. 4095, Aulenback, Robert - Salvation Army: Vol. Serv. - Congrats.,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4328
Res. 4096, Baker, Alex: Bridgewater HS Basketball Team -
Championship Title, Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4328
Res. 4097, Jobb, Stuart - Prov. Curling Championship Banner,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4329
Res. 4098, Nauss, Darla - Gymnastics Championships,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4329
Res. 4099, Semple, Meghan - Gymnastics Championships,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4330
Res. 4100, Atkinson, Jade, Gymnastics Championship,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4330
Res. 4101, Stabenow, Tatianna - Gymnastics Championship,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4330
Res. 4102, Lohnes, Courtney - Gymnastics Championship,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4331
Res. 4103, Jefferson, Malory - Gymnastics Championship,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4331
Res. 4104, Cleveland, Ashley - Gymnastics Championship,
Hon. C. Bolivar-Getson 4332
Res. 4105, C.P. Allen Learning Ctr. - Students: Efforts - Support,
Hon. L. Goucher 4332
Res. 4106, MacPherson, Aaron - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr.: Efforts -
Support, Hon. L. Goucher 4333
Res. 4107, Kryschoweic, Agatha - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr.: Efforts -
Support, Hon. L. Goucher 4333
Res. 4108, Carruthers, Alex - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr.: Efforts -
Support, Hon. L. Goucher 4334
Res. 4109, Whynachant, Alexa - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr.: Efforts -
Support, Hon. L. Goucher 4334
Res. 4110, Innes, Bradley - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr.: Efforts -
Support, Hon. L. Goucher 4335
Res. 4111, King, Brett - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr.: Efforts -
Support, Hon. L. Goucher 4335
Res. 4112, Gasior, Jane - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr. Students: Assistance -
Thank, Hon. L. Goucher 4336
Res. 4113, Hattie, Janet - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr. Students: Assistance -
Thank, Hon. L. Goucher 4336
Res. 4114, Hunter, Jeff - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr. Students: Assistance -
Thank, Hon. L. Goucher 4337
Res. 4115, Spence, Johanna - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr. Students:
Assistance - Thank, Hon. L. Goucher 4337
Res. 4116, Murphy, Judy - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr. Students: Assistance -
Thank, Hon. L. Goucher 4338
Res. 4117, Pearce, Justin - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr.: Efforts - Support,
Hon. L. Goucher 4338
Res. 4118, Williams, Kristin - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr.: Efforts - Support,
Hon. L. Goucher 4339
Res. 4119, Mazerolle, Marilyn - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr. Students:
Assistance - Thank, Hon. L. Goucher 4339
Res. 4120, McCarthy, Michael - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr. Students:
Assistance - Thank, Hon. L. Goucher 4340
Res. 4121, Branscombe, Natalie - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr.: Efforts -
Support, Hon. L. Goucher 4341
Res. 4122, Isnor, Phyllis - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr. Students: Assistance -
Thank, Hon. L. Goucher 4341
Res. 4123, Casey, Rob - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr. Students: Assistance -
Thank, Hon. L. Goucher 4342
Res. 4124, Hibbitts, Stephanie - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr. Students:
Assistance - Thank, Hon. L. Goucher 4342
Res. 4125, Issacs, Thomas - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr.: Efforts - Support,
Hon. L. Goucher 4343
Res. 4126, Goodwin, TJ - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr.: Efforts - Support,
Hon. L. Goucher 4343
Res. 4127, Rizk, Victoria - C.P. Allen Learning Ctr. Students: Assistance -
Thank, Hon. L. Goucher 4344
Res. 4128, Sobey, Rob/Lawtons Drug Stores: Top 50 CEOs (Atl. Can.) -
Congrats., Hon. L. Goucher 4344
Res. 4129, MacDonald, Colin/Clearwater Seafoods: Top 50 CEOs
(Atl. Can.) - Congrats., Hon. L. Goucher 4345
Res. 4130, Levingston, Andre - M&M BBQ: Volunteering - Thank,
Hon. L. Goucher 4345
Res. 4131, Atkinson, Courtney - M&M BBQ: Volunteering - Thank,
Hon. L. Goucher 4346
Res. 4132, Wigginton-Downey, Derrico - M&M BBQ: Volunteering -
Thank, Hon. L. Goucher 4346
Res. 4133, Wray, Katie - M&M BBQ: Volunteering - Thank,
Hon. L. Goucher 4347
Res. 4134, Woodworth, Lorrie - M&M BBQ: Volunteering - Thank,
Hon. L. Goucher 4347
Res. 4135, McGlone, Mike - M&M BBQ: Volunteering - Thank,
Hon. L. Goucher 4348
Res. 4136, Wray, Mike - M&M BBQ: Volunteering - Thank,
Hon. L. Goucher 4348
Res. 4137, Lal, Minakshi - M&M BBQ: Volunteering - Thank,
Hon. L. Goucher 4348
Res. 4138, Peacock, Nancy - M&M BBQ: Volunteering - Thank,
Hon. L. Goucher 4349
Res. 4139, Donnelly, Mary-Lou: NSTU Pres. (4 Yrs.) - Congrats.,
Mr. D. Whalen 4349
Res. 4140, So. Queens Jr. HS: Jr. Boys Table Tennis - Comp.,
Ms. V. Conrad 4350
Res. 4141, So. Queens Jr. HS: Jr. Girls Table Tennis - Comp.,
Ms. V. Conrad 4350
Res. 4142, Van Loon, Dirk/Gray, Anne - Harrison Lewis Ctr./
Small Farm Instit.: Provision - Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4351
Res. 4143, Truelove, Capt. Bill: U.S. Legion of Merit/
Can. Order of Military Merit - Congrats., Ms. V. Conrad 4351
Res. 4144, Ross, Betty & Jim - Scholarships: Donation - Thank,
Ms. V. Conrad 4352
Res. 4145, Queens Bantam A Team - Hockey Awards,
Ms. V. Conrad 4352
Res. 4146, Queens Atom B Team - Hockey Awards,
Ms. V. Conrad 4353
Res. 4147, Queens Atom A Team - Hockey Awards,
Ms. V. Conrad 4353
Res. 4148, Wareham, Hubert - Queens Co. Rep. Vol. Award,
Ms. V. Conrad 4354
Res. 4149, Spencer-Weare, Jennifer - NSSAF Award,
Ms. V. Conrad 4355
Res. 4150, Smith, Joel - NSSAF Award, Ms. V. Conrad 4355
Res. 4151, Liverpool Little Rocks Team Chandler -
Curling Championship, Ms. V. Conrad 4356
Res. 4152, McAllen, Sean - NSSAF Award,
Ms. V. Conrad 4356
Res. 4153, Anthony, Richard - Playground Equipment: Moving -
Thank, Ms. V. Conrad 4357
Res. 4154, Barkhouse, Joyce/Donat, Richard/Students:
Dr. John C. Wickwire Sch. - Book Fundraiser, Ms. V. Conrad 4357
Res. 4155, Queens PeeWee B Team - Hockey Awards,
Ms. V. Conrad 4358
Res. 4156, Queens PeeWee A Team - Hockey Awards,
Ms. V. Conrad 4358
Res. 4157, N. Queens Rural HS (Gr. 7-9 Students) -
Educ. Wk. Proj., Ms. V. Conrad 4359
Res. 4158, N. Queens Rural HS - Boys Basketball Championship:
Co-Captains - Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4359
Res. 4159, Milosevich, Mike - NSSAF Award, Ms. V. Conrad 4360
Res. 4160, Mersey Tobeatic Research Instit. - Earth Day Proj.:
Staff/Vols. - Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4360
Res. 4161, Wamboldt, Maria - NSSAF Award, Ms. V. Conrad 4361
Res. 4162, Liverpool Reg. HS: Table Tennis Comp. - Recognize,
Ms. V. Conrad 4361
Res. 4163, Dalby, Elva - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4362
Res. 4164, Wentzell, Edith - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4362
Res. 4165, S. Shore Wild Junior C Team - Hockey Awards,
Ms. V. Conrad 4363
Res. 4166, Smith, Staci - NSSAF Award, Ms. V. Conrad 4363
Res. 4167, Martin, Catherine - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4364
Res. 4168, Monroe, Marilyn - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4364
Res. 4169, Connolly, Lorraine - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4365
Res. 4170, Joudrey, Marcella - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4365
Res. 4171, Hunt, Lloyd - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4366
Res. 4172, Backman, Marion - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4366
Res. 4173, Backman, Ed - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4367
Res. 4174, Alean, Freeman - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4367
Res. 4175, Pulsifer, Margie - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4368
Res. 4176, Pulsifer, Orville - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4368
Res. 4177, Stafford, Merrill - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4369
Res. 4178, Stafford, Elsie - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4369
Res. 4179, Robart, Muriel - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4370
Res. 4180, Freeman, Freda - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4370
Res. 4181, Joudrey, Margie - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4371
Res. 4182, Theakston, Freda - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4371
Res. 4183, Tomblin, Harry - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4372
Res. 4184, Hunt, Boardie - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4372
Res. 4185, Greer, Charlie - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4373
Res. 4186, Jollimore, Hazel - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4373
Res. 4187, Richard, Jessie - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4374
Res. 4188, Eisnor, Marguerite - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4374
Res. 4189, Aulenback, Evelyn - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4375
Res. 4190, Ackerman, Dauphne - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4375
Res. 4191, Ackermann, Hendrik - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4376
Res. 4192, Nixon, Phyllis - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4376
Res. 4193, Gardner, Florence - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4377
Res. 4194, Mouzar, Walter - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4377
Res. 4195, Mouzar, Hazel - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4378
Res. 4196, Gallant, Dawn - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4378
Res. 4197, Jewers, Dorothy - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4379
Res. 4198, Inness, Nina - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4379
Res. 4199, Munroe, Sheila - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4380
Res. 4200, Connolly, Eleanor - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4380
Res. 4201, Dean, Betty - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4381
Res. 4202, Gerhardt, Shirley - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4381
Res. 4203, Knox, Myra - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4382
Res. 4204, Whynacht, Marion - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4382
Res. 4205, Fisher, Tish - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4383
Res. 4206, Huskins, Brenda - RCMP Adult Acad.: Participation -
Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad 4383
Res. 4207, NSCC Office Info. Tech. Class: BBM Animal Shelter -
Fundraising, Mr. S. Belliveau 4384
Res. 4208, Ogallak, Etuk - Hockey Medal, Mr. S. Belliveau 4384
Res. 4209, Shelburne Co. Police Officers - Police Wk. (05/11-05/17/08):
Work - Recognize, Mr. S. Belliveau 4385
Res. 4210, Perry, Myrtle - Birthday (100th), Mr. S. Belliveau 4385
Res. 4211, Devine, Marcus - Hockey Award, Mr. S. Belliveau 4386
Res. 4212, Messenger, Margaret: Accomplishments - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4386
Res. 4213, Adams, Maria: Tri-Co. Reg. Science & Tech Expo - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4387
Res. 4214, Ross, Marilee: Forest Ridge Acad. - Fire Safety Prog.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4387
Res. 4215, Dennis, Mark: Atl. Can. Reg. Speed Stacking Comp. -
Congrats., Mr. S. Belliveau 4388
Res. 4216, Tour de Shore Team: Kidney Fdn. - Fundraising,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4389
Res. 4217,^Shelburne Co. Bantam A Flames - Hockey Tournament,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4389
Res. 4218, Hatfield, Shaun - Firefighters/Women's Aux.: Recognition
Service - Thank, Mr. S. Belliveau 4390
Res. 4219, Nickerson, Stephanie: Literacy N.S. Writing Contest -
Congrats., Mr. S. Belliveau 4390
Res. 4220, Goulden, Shirley - Poetry Book: Publication - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4391
Res. 4221, Perry, Rev. George: Tech. Skills - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4391
Res. 4222, Nickerson, Ryan: Hockey Accomplishments - Recognize,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4392
Res. 4223, MacKay, Robert & Betty: Vol. Efforts - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4392
Res. 4224, LaPlant, Xavier: Little Rocks Prog. - Prize,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4393
Res. 4225, Torak, TJ: Little Rocks Prog. - Prize,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4393
Res. 4226, Nickerson, Shale - Hockey Award,
Mr. S. Belliveau ~ 4394
Res. 4227, Nickerson, Justin - Hockey Award,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4394
Res. 4228, Howe, Merrie - Osprey Arts Ctr.: Performance - Recognize,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4395
Res. 4229, DeMolitor, Pat - Osprey Arts Ctr.: Performance - Recognize,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4395
Res. 4230, Shelburne Co. Women's Fishnet: Intermission Treats -
Recognize, Mr. S. Belliveau 4396
Res. 4231, MacIntosh, Shelly - Osprey Arts Ctr. - Performance
Recognize, Mr. S. Belliveau 4396
Res. 4232, Rose Bouquet Flower Shop: Osprey Arts Ctr. Arrangement -
Recognize, Mr. S. Belliveau 4397
Res. 4233, Nickerson, Marla: Player of the Game - "Mental Pausal"
Hockey Encounter, Mr. S. Belliveau 4397
Res. 4234, Smith, Stephanie: Player of the Game - "Mental Pausal"
Hockey Encounter, Mr. S. Belliveau 4398
Res. 4235, Harris, Whitney: Player of the Game - "Mental Pausal"
Hockey Encounter, Mr. S. Belliveau 4398
Res. 4236, Chetwynd, Taylor: Player of the Game - "Mental Pausal"
Hockey Encounter, Mr. S. Belliveau 4399
Res. 4237, Shelburne Rebels Jr. Girls Basketball Team: Tournament -
Congrats., Mr. S. Belliveau 4399
Res. 4238, Shelburne Rebels - Basketball Championships,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4400
Res. 4239, SHARE-SLF - Group: Formation - Thank,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4400
Res. 4240, Crowell, Zack: Barrington Mun. HS Science Fair - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4401
Res. 4241, Bower, Shianne: Barrington Mun. HS Science Fair - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4401
Res. 4242, Garron, Shelby: Barrington Mun. HS Science Fair - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4402
Res. 4243, Townsend, Shawna: Barrington Mun. HS Science Fair -
Congrats., Mr. S. Belliveau 4402
Res. 4244, Malone, Skylar: Barrington Mun. HS Science Fair - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4403
Res. 4245, Brown, Riley: Barrington Mun. HS Science Fair - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4403
Res. 4246, Nickerson, Rhylie: Barrington Mun. HS Science Fair -
Congrats., Mr. S. Belliveau 4404
Res. 4247, Newell, Ryan/Blades, Mason: Barrington Mun. HS Science Fair -
Congrats., Mr. S. Belliveau 4404
Res. 4248, Hines, Nick/Crowell, Andrew: Barrington Mun. HS Science Fair -
Congrats., Mr. S. Belliveau 4405
Res. 4249, Abbot, Susan: Recreation N.S. Prize - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4405
Res. 4250, MacKay, Robert: Barrington Mun. HS Science Fair - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4406
Res. 4251, Scott, Mary: Barrington Mun. HS Science Fair - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4406
Res. 4252, Ruiz, Peggy: Barrington Mun. HS Science Fair - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4407
Res. 4253, Atwood, Robyn: N.S. Recycles Sch. Contest - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4407
Res. 4254, Dash, Patrick: N.S. Recycles Sch. Contest - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4408
Res. 4255, Dexter, Matthew: N.S. Recycles Sch. Contest - Congrats.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4408
Res. 4256, Amirault, Warren - Food for Shelburne Co. Fundraiser:
Volunteering - Thank, Mr. S. Belliveau 4409
Res. 4257, Amirault, Wanda - Food for Shelburne Co. Fundraiser:
Volunteering - Thank, Mr. S. Belliveau 4409
Res. 4258, Swim, Paul - Food for Shelburne Co. Fundraiser:
Volunteering - Thank, Mr. S. Belliveau 4410
Res. 4259, Bower, Paul - Food for Shelburne Co. Fundraiser:
Volunteering - Thank, Mr. S. Belliveau 4410
Res. 4260, DeMolitor, Pat - Food for Shelburne Co. Fundraiser:
Volunteering - Thank, Mr. S. Belliveau 4411
Res. 4261, Ross, Marilee - Food for Shelburne Co. Fundraiser:
Volunteering - Thank, Mr. S. Belliveau 4411
Res. 4262, Townsend, Murray - Food for Shelburne Co. Fundraiser:
Volunteering - Thank, Mr. S. Belliveau 4412
Res. 4263, Howe, Merrie - Food for Shelburne Co. Fundraiser:
Volunteering - Thank, Mr. S. Belliveau 4412
Res. 4264, Williams, Linda - Woods Hbr. Food Bank: Volunteering -
Recognize, Mr. S. Belliveau 4413
Res. 4265, Brannen, Shirley - Woods Hbr. Food Bank: Volunteering -
Recognize, Mr. S. Belliveau 4413
Res. 4266, Goreham, Mildred - Woods Hbr. Food Bank: Volunteering -
Recognize, Mr. S. Belliveau 4414
Res. 4267, Scott, Walter: Island & Barrington Passage Vol. FD -
Scroll of Recognition (15Yrs.), Mr. S. Belliveau 4414
Res. 4268, Kenney, William: Barrington 7E Vol. FD -
Scroll of Recognition (15 Yrs.), Mr. S. Belliveau 4415
Res. 4269, Banks, Troy: Shag Hbr./Bear Point Vol. FD -
Scroll of Recognition (25 Yrs.), Mr. S. Belliveau 4415
Res. 4270, Banks, Ricky: Shag Hbr./Bear Point Vol. FD -
Scroll of Recognition (25 Yrs.), Mr. S. Belliveau 4416
Res. 4271, Nickerson, Richard: Barrington 7E Vol. FD -
Scroll of Recognition (25 Yrs.), Ms. S. Belliveau 4416
Res. 4272, Corning, Richard: Island & Barrington Passage Vol. FD -
Scroll of Recognition (16 Yrs.), Mr. S. Belliveau 4417
Res. 4273, Scott, Rene: Barrington 7E Vol. FD -
Scroll of Recognition (25 Yrs.), Mr. S. Belliveau 4417
Res. 4274, Kenney, Robert: Barrington 7E Vol. FD -
Scroll of Recognition (35 Yrs.), Mr. S. Belliveau 4418
Res. 4275, Thomas, Paul: Barrington 7E Vol. FD -
Scroll of Recognition (25 Yrs.), Mr. S. Belliveau 4418
Res. 4276, Cromwell, Paul: Island & Barrington Passage Vol. FD -
Scroll of Recognition (40 Yrs.), Mr. S. Belliveau 4419
Res. 4277, Swim, Michael: Island & Barrington Passage Vol. FD -
Scroll of Recognition (23 Yrs.), Mr. S. Belliveau 4420
Res. 4278, Nickerson, Morris: Island & Barrington Passage Vol. FD -
Scroll of Recognition (15 Yrs.), Mr. S. Belliveau 4420
Res. 4279, Goodwin, Wreygan - Basketball Championships,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4421
Res. 4280, D'Eon, Robin - Basketball Championships,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4421
Res. 4281, Banks, Nathaniel - Basketball Championships,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4422
Res. 4282, Townsend, Nathan - Basketball Championships,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4422
Res. 4283, Stewart, Nickolas - Hockey Skills Comp.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4423
Res. 4284, Penney, Ridge - Hockey Skills Comp.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4423
Res. 4285, Christie, Tanner - Hockey Skills Comp.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4424
Res. 4286, Smith, Tyson - Hockey Skills Comp.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4424
Res. 4287, Fehr, Trevor - Hockey Skills Comp.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4425
Res. 4288, Atwood, Taran - Hockey Skills Comp.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4425
Res. 4289, O'Connell, Tanner - Hockey Skills Comp.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4426
Res. 4290, Messenger, Tanner - Hockey Skills Comp.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4426
Res. 4291, Duggan, Riley - Hockey Skills Comp.,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4427
Res. 4292, Hines, Roman - Hockey Award,
Mr. S. Belliveau 4427

[Page 4015]

HALIFAX, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2008

Sixtieth General Assembly

Second Session

12:00 NOON

SPEAKER

Hon. Alfie MacLeod

DEPUTY SPEAKER

Mr. Wayne Gaudet

SPEAKER'S RULING: Minister Misleading the House in Question Period (Pt. of privilege by Ms. D. Whalen [Hansard p. 3391, 05/15/08]

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. Before we commence the daily routine, on Thursday, May 15th, the honourable member for Halifax Clayton Park rose on a point of privilege. Today I would like to pass on my comments on that. As I review Hansard and the information that has been supplied to us, it still appears to me to be a difference of opinion between two members, and at this point I see no point of privilege other than that. It was a disagreement between two members. We shall move on.

We will now begin the daily routine.

PRESENTING AND READING PETITIONS

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Cumberland North.

MR. ERNEST FAGE: Mr. Speaker, this petition is signed by over 300 signatures regarding the repaving of the Southampton Road. The operative clause reads:

"We the undersigned as users of the road leading from the Trans Canada Highway towards Nappan via West Amherst and Amherst Point do hereby request that this highway be given immediate priority for rebuilding and paving as the condition has deteriorated to a deplorable state."

4015

[Page 4016]

Mr. Speaker, I have affixed my signature, per requested.

MR. SPEAKER: The petition is tabled.

The honourable member for Kings West.

MR. LEO GLAVINE: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to table a petition with the operative clause:

"We the undersigned submit this petition to attest to the deplorable condition of Hall Road East (between Windermere Community Centre and Aylesford Road) and request immediate action to rectify the situation."

Mr. Speaker, there are 78 names on this petition and I have affixed my name to it.

MR. SPEAKER: The petition is tabled.

The honourable member for Queens.

MS. VICKI CONRAD: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to table the following petition with the operative clause reading:

"We the undersigned respectfully request that Premier Rodney MacDonald and MLA Ron Chisholm 'honor their promises of 2006' and take immediate action to repair and repave the many kilometers of unsafe roads in Guysborough-Sheet Harbour."

Mr. Speaker, there are 635 signatures, to which I have affixed my own. Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER: The petition is tabled.

PRESENTING REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

TABLING REPORTS, REGULATIONS AND OTHER PAPERS

STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS

GOVERNMENT NOTICES OF MOTION

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Premier.

[Page 4017]

RESOLUTION NO. 3662

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:

Whereas this historic Chamber is blessed with an effective and efficient operation staff who assures bills are prepared, research is found, the building is spotless and secure, the proceedings are monitored and recorded and coffee and meals are there, when needed, to keep members going; and

Whereas today I would like to express our thanks to these loyal staff members including Mike Laffin and Peter Theriault; our Sergeant-at-Arms; our Legislative Library staff; Hansard staff who keep very late hours; our commissionaires, pages and messengers; and

Whereas our appreciation is extended also to the very flexible Legislative Counsel Office staff, the Clerk's and Speaker's Office staff, the Committees Office staff, our Legislative Television personnel and our catering staff, as well as those who keep this beautiful historic House clean and orderly, not to mention our caucus staff;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this Legislature rise and applaud the work of this talented, very flexible group of individuals - efforts for which all members in this House are extremely grateful.

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. 3663

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 FDI World Dental Federation represents more than 100 million dentists world-wide and is dedicated to promoting optimal oral and general health for all peoples; and

[Page 4018]

Whereas Dr. Burton Conrod, a dentist practising in Sydney, Cape Breton, for over 30 years, was recently installed as president of FDI World Dental Federation; and

Whereas Dr. Conrod is the first Canadian to be president in the more than 100-year history of this prestigious organization and as such will travel around the globe partnering with organizations like the UN and the World Health Organization for the betterment of oral health care;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House join me in congratulating Dr. Burton Conrod for his continuing leadership in oral health care.

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.

[12:15 p.m.]

The honourable Minister of Health Promotion and Protection.

RESOLUTION NO. 3664

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

Whereas the Pan American canoe kayak championship brings together some of the best canoe kayakers in both North and South America for competition; and

Whereas this competition was recently held and Nova Scotia's own native daughter, Karen Furneaux, won a gold medal during the Pan Am canoe kayak championship; and

Whereas Karen adds this gold medal to her ever-growing collection of awards and demonstrates once again that Nova Scotia is a force when it comes to canoe kayaking;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House join me in congratulating Karen Furneaux on her recent win of a gold medal at the Pan Am canoe kayak championship and wish her the best in future competitions.

[Page 4019]

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. 3665

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

Whereas Acadia University student Raphael Schaefer is the Nova Scotia winner of the Financial Fitness Challenge, an on-line, interactive quiz for students that features questions and facts about budgeting, saving and investing; and

Whereas in 2008, there were 619 contestants from across the nation participating in this contest; and

Whereas 74 per cent of the students said they were interested in learning more about personal finance after completing the challenge;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Raphael and the many youth who received valuable lessons in savings and investments while they participated in the contest.

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.

[Page 4020]

The honourable Minister of Community Services.

RESOLUTION NO. 3666

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

Whereas the staff and residents of the Riverview Adult Residential Centre of Pictou County had a major evacuation of all 106 residents during the week of January 21, 2008; and

Whereas the staff of Riverview Adult Residential Centre responded to the residents' needs by providing support and supervision to residents as they were relocated on a temporary basis to various fire halls throughout Pictou County; and

Whereas the staff of Riverview Adult Residential Centre demonstrated compassion, integrity, and professionalism towards residents whose lives were disrupted by the unexpected events on January 21, 2008;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House commend the staff of Riverview ARC for their service to the residents of this home 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 Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.

HON. MURRAY SCOTT: Mr. Speaker, could I have your permission to make an introduction in the east gallery before I do the resolution?

MR. SPEAKER: Please do.

MR. SCOTT: I would like to introduce to the House some very important guests who are with us today. First of all, Mr. Bill Adams, who's the acting vice-president in the Atlantic for the Insurance Bureau of Canada, if Mr. Adams will stand. Also from Halifax today is Mr. Mark Yakabuski who is the president and CEO of the Insurance Bureau of Canada. They are

[Page 4021]

here today in Halifax to launch the Be Smart. Be Safe tour on behalf of the Insurance Bureau of Canada across the province.

They're accompanied by four university students who will be taking part in that tour. They are Brett Bedecki, Mitch Cuzner, Rebecca Fiander and Vicki Holleman. They are four students who will be taking part in that tour and I think everybody will agree that this tour is very important to this province and encourages Nova Scotians to act safe and be safe everyday, whether it's at work or play, and I would ask the House to give these very important folks a warm welcome, please. (Applause).

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.

RESOLUTION NO. 3667

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

Whereas driver distraction is a leading cause of vehicle collisions on our roads; and

Whereas the Insurance Bureau of Canada is launching the 2008 National Injury Prevention Program, Be Smart. Be Safe; and

Whereas the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal is improving road safety through initiatives such as prohibiting hand-held cellphone use and text messaging while driving;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House encourage drivers to reduce distractions and support the Insurance Bureau of Canada's Be Smart. Be Safe tour.

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. 3668

[Page 4022]

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 Nurses Association, in honour of its centennial, is recognizing 100 registered nurses from across the country for their outstanding contributions to their profession and to Canada; and

Whereas the association is celebrating registered nurses whose diverse personal and professional contributions have made an outstanding and significant impact on the nursing profession; and

Whereas seven RNs from Nova Scotia are among those named the top 100 nurses in Canada and one - Patsy Smith of Halifax Regional Municipality - is named A Nurse to Know;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House applaud the exceptional contributions to nursing and to Canada of Donna Denney, Nursing Policy Advisor, Nova Scotia Department of Health; Theresa Anne Fillatre, Geralyn Hirsch, Christina McNamara, Judy Simpson and Patsy Smith, all of Halifax; Barbara Oke of Dartmouth; and Maureen Topley of Truro.

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. 184 - Entitled an Act to Declare Queens Soil to be the Provincial Soil of Nova Scotia. (Hon. Rodney MacDonald, Premier, as a private member.)

Bill No. 185 - Entitled an Act to Require Public Consultation Respecting Expenditures on Community Facilities. (Ms. Diana Whalen)

Bill No. 186 - Entitled an Act to Protect Animals and to Aid Animals that are in Distress. (Hon. Brooke Taylor)

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

[Page 4023]

The honourable Premier on an introduction.

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, in your gallery, we have some very special guests with us here this afternoon, most of whom are from my own home area in the Whycocomagh-Waycobah community, and it has to deal directly with the bill and I will speak to that when I do speak to the bill.

Mr. Speaker, first of all we have Chief Morley Googoo. We have students from the Waycobah First Nation School - Whitney Gould, Vicki GooGoo, Tara Julian, Evan Toney, Willy Muese, Josh Poulette, and their teacher, Andrew Smith. Also with the group are Debbie Waycott, with the Canon Envirothon and the Nova Scotia Forestry Association; Dr. Taumey Mahendrappa; and Chris Pitt, Natural Resources Canada, Atlantic Region, Fredericton. I would ask that our guests stand to receive the warm welcome of the House. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. CECIL CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the consent of the House if it would be the will of the House to have Bill No. 184 considered for second reading.

MR. SPEAKER: Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

[The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. CECIL CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, would you please call the order of business, Public Bills for Second Reading.

PUBLIC BILLS FOR SECOND READING

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. CECIL CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, would you please call Bill No. 184.

Bill No. 184 - Provincial Soil Act.]

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Premier.

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, I will take just a moment to give a brief outline of this bill. About a year ago, a very keen group of students brought to my attention what is a very important issue for them, what is a very important issue for their teachers, and a very important issue for many others.

[Page 4024]

Our province has acknowledged several symbols over the years that are intrinsic to this province - the mayflower, the wild blueberry, and the red spruce, along with many others. This bill will add another to our list, the Queens soil. Now, many of you have never heard about the various types of soil in our province - I, indeed, had not heard of many of the types of soil that we have, including this particular one, until I was educated by a group of students from Waycobah.

The Canon Envirothon is an annual competition where winning teams compete for recognition and scholarships by demonstrating their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management. The teams, made up of five high school students from participating American states and Canadian provinces, exercise their training and problem-solving skills in a competition centred on four universal testing categories: soils, land use, aquatic ecology, forestry and wildlife - and a current environmental issue.

A keen group of students of Waycobah High School, whom I introduced in this House when I introduced the bill shortly after, were part of that competition. Some of those students are still in school - some are at Cape Breton University, others at community college - and some of them have planned to go and further study the environmental sciences.

Under the leadership of a voluntary adviser, teams usually meet from late Fall until Spring developing their knowledge of the ecology and natural resource management and practising their environmental problem-solving skills in preparation for competition.

Debbie Waycott, who is joining us here, executive director of the Nova Scotia Forestry Association and the local coordinator for the Canadian Envirothon, assisted students in gathering information on Queen's soil to form the basis of their project. After a lot of research they came to realize just how prominent and unique Queen's soil is throughout our province. They also noticed that Nova Scotia was lacking in provincial soil, which was something the Canadian Society for Soil Science acknowledged, and sent a letter to the province back in 1995, so they have had strong feelings on this as well.

At the meeting, they made a very convincing case and I think it speaks to the leadership that we have in our youth. They took the initiative to point something out which perhaps should be something that's obvious - we are rich in natural resources in Nova Scotia, we are rich in agriculture and forestry and Queen's soil impacts both the forestry sector and the agriculture sector, among many, many other sectors, and can be found from one end of this province to the other.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I move second reading.

MR. SPEAKER: If there are no further speakers, we will entertain the question.

The motion is for second reading of Bill No. 184. Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

[Page 4025]

The motion is carried. (Applause)

Ordered that this bill be referred to the Committee on Law Amendments.

The honourable Government House Leader.

[12:30 p.m.]

HON. CECIL CLARKE: Again, I'd like to seek the indulgence of the House and unanimous consent to forego the Law Amendments Committee and Committee of the Whole House and ask for consent to go to third reading of Bill No. 184.

MR. SPEAKER: Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

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

The motion is carried.

[MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. CECIL CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, would you please call the order of business, Public Bills for Third Reading.

PUBLIC BILLS FOR THIRD READING

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. CECIL CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, would you please call Bill No. 184.

Bill No. 184 - Provincial Soil Act.]

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Premier.

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, I should have said to our guests as well, pjila'si, I should have stated for the community. With that, I just want to acknowledge the members of the Opposition here today - for our guests - who have moved this bill forward. It speaks to their commitment to the House and the proceedings. I acknowledge that and move third reading.

MR. SPEAKER: The motion is for third reading of Bill No. 184. Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

[Page 4026]

Ordered that this bill do pass. Ordered that the title be as read by the Clerk. Ordered that the bill be engrossed. (Applause)

NOTICES OF MOTION

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

RESOLUTION NO. 3669

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

Whereas Gilbert Walter "Rae" Austin was a dedicated employee of the federal government's Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation in Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto and Thunder Bay when CMHC played a vital role in meeting the housing needs of a rapidly growing population; and

Whereas returning to Nova Scotia in the 1970s with his family, Rae Austin held the position of Deputy Minister of Housing for this province when land banks and significant new suburban developments were undertaken so that Nova Scotia families had affordable housing choices; and

Whereas Rae Austin continued his contribution to Nova Scotia as a self-employed developer, as a federal and provincial candidate, and as a well-known and admired citizen of Cole Harbour . . .

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. The chatter is getting a little loud and it's very hard to hear the member. Order, please.

MR. DEXTER: Whereas Rae Austin continued his contribution to Nova Scotia as a self-employed developer, as a federal and provincial candidate, and as a well-known and admired citizen of Cole Harbour and the wider Dartmouth community;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly send our condolences to his wife, Joan (O'Neill) Austin, and the entire Austin family on the passing of Gilbert Walter "Rae" Austin on May 22, 2008.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

[Page 4027]

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. 3670

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

Whereas farming is one of the few professions that has an effect on the basic needs of the entire population; and

Whereas many hog farmers have already transitioned into other areas of production or left the industry completely; and

Whereas the approximately 20 hog farmers left in Nova Scotia are concerned for not only the future of their farm, but their homes and well-being of their families;

Therefore be it resolved that members of this House of Assembly ask government to announce that no hog farmer with Farm Loan Board loans would lose their family home that may be tied as equity to the farm.

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.

MR. CHUCK PORTER: Mr. Speaker, may I be permitted to do an introduction.

MR. SPEAKER: Please do.

MR. CHUCK PORTER: Thank you. In the gallery this afternoon we have a long-time friend of the Kings Hants Progressive Conservative Party and a good Tory in the province.

[Page 4028]

He is from Nine Mile River, Mr. Scott Walters. Welcome Scott. I would ask everyone to give him a hand this afternoon. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Hants West.

RESOLUTION NO. 3671

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

Whereas Windsor United Church Minister Rev. Bill Gibson is celebrating his 30th year this month with the United Church of Canada since being ordained in 1978; and

Whereas Rev. Gibson, his wife, Elizabeth and their family came to Windsor nearly 13 years ago, in 1995, and have been actively involved in the community ever since; and

Whereas whether he is involved in putting out fires, assisting with crisis intervention teams, helping the library or simply playing tennis to relax, Bill's commitment to his church, his family and the Windsor-West Hants community is one of genuine care and concern;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House of Assembly recognize the instrumental role played by Rev. Bill Gibson in Windsor-West Hants and congratulate him on his 30-year ordination with the United Church of Canada this month.

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 East.

RESOLUTION NO. 3672

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

Whereas volunteering can be a real family affair; and

[Page 4029]

Whereas Kenneth, Shelley, Colton and Chelsea White of Kennetcook took on a huge task of renovating the Green Hall Community Centre; and

Whereas on May 9, 2008, on a Volunteer Awards Night, the White family was recognized by the Municipality of East Hants with a Shining Star Award for their community-minded efforts;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Kenneth, Shelley, Colton and Chelsea White on their Shining Star Award and thank them for their collective decision to take part in improving 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.

The honourable member for Cape Breton South.

RESOLUTION NO. 3673

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

Whereas on May 29th and May 30th, the Cape Breton Partnership will host a women in business conference and awards dinner at the Inverary Inn Resort; and

Whereas the conference, Women in Business - Celebrating Success, will be used as an opportunity to educate, motivate and celebrate Cape Breton women involved in the business community; and

Whereas a highlight of the conference will be the first ever Women in Business Awards, an event which will be hosted by Jessica Holmes, a star of the TV show Air Farce;

Therefore be it resolved that members of this House of Assembly congratulate the Cape Breton Partnership on recognizing the many businesswomen of Cape Breton through this conference and awards dinner.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

[Page 4030]

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 Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.

RESOLUTION NO. 3674

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

Whereas students of the West End Elementary School in Springhill have embarked upon a heritage project to preserve the stories of the men and women of Canada's military who served in World War II and the Korean Conflict; and

Whereas they have also included the stories of many women who became war brides as a result of following their heroic men of the Canadian Armed Forces back to Canada to begin a new life in a new country; and

Whereas under the direction of Springhill teachers Linda Scott and Dan Calder, interviews of these heroic men and women were recorded on DVD and resulted in an award of friendship being presented by the Royal Canadian Legion of Canada, the highest award the Legion presents to civilian groups, copies of which were recently presented to General Rick Hillier, Chief of Defence Staff;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of the Nova Scotia Legislature congratulate the elementary students of West End Memorial School in Springhill and their teachers for preserving this part of our history for future generations to enjoy and extend a special thanks to the veterans and war brides who took part in this project where they offered their personal stories and experiences.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

[Page 4031]

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable member for Pictou West.

RESOLUTION NO. 3675

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

Whereas Caitlin MacIsaac and Jordan Langille are the 2008 Pictou Academy recipients of the Lieutenant Governor's Education Medal; and

Whereas this prestigious award is presented to outstanding students who have distinguished themselves academically; and

Whereas as well as academic achievement, this medal is awarded to students who have demonstrated qualities of leadership and service in the school and community;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Jordan Langille and Caitlin MacIsaac of Pictou Academy and wish them continued success and exciting futures.

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 Leader of the Liberal Party.

RESOLUTION NO. 3676

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

Whereas Neptune Theatre in Halifax has been staging world-class productions for 45 years; and

[Page 4032]

Whereas Ron Ulrich, the theatre's artistic director for nearly a decade, has contributed greatly to the success of the theatre's productions with such hits as Beauty and the Beast, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Cabaret, Cats, The Sound of Music, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and countless others; and

Whereas Mr. Ulrich will be leaving Neptune Theatre this summer to take on a larger artistic director's role with a theatre in Hamilton, Ontario, with his grand finale being Neptune's rendition of the hit musical The Producers;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of the House of Assembly recognize the many contributions of Ron Ulrich has made to the arts community of this province and wish him the best of luck as he continues his 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 member for Victoria-The Lakes.

RESOLUTION NO. 3677

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

Whereas cribbage, or the game of crib, was created by English poet Sir John Suckling in the early 17th Century as a derivation of the game noddy; and

Whereas crib is one of the most popular games played anywhere; and

Whereas Allison Fraser and Nicole Beaudry were the recent first place champions of the 2008 Lindsay Rogers Memorial Crib Tournament held at the Cabot Fire Hall in Cape North;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House applaud the local organizers of this exciting tournament while also praising Allison and Nicole for their card smarts, and extending our congratulations to the 2nd place team, Stanley and Billy Buchanan, and the 3rd

[Page 4033]

place finishers, Bobby Fitzgerald and Graham MacLeod, in the 2008 Lindsay Rogers Memorial Crib Tournament.

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 Leader of the Official Opposition.

RESOLUTION NO. 3678

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

Whereas a Canadian founder of the Amalgamated Transit Union, Magnus Sinclair, said "We were held together in desperation, realizing things couldn't be worse or, if they were, we wouldn't be alive"; and

Whereas the ATU won decent working conditions, safety for drivers and passengers and many other gains on behalf of the transit workers; and

Whereas Robin West of the Halifax Local now heads the Canadian section of the ATU, the union that is today focused on safety, better funding of transit and better transportation infrastructure;

Therefore be it resolved that on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of Local 508 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, this house recognize the past achievements and future contributions of these dedicated workers.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

[Page 4034]

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. 3679

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

Whereas Cornwallis Street United Baptist Church has been a foundation for spiritual and community life in Halifax for 176 years; and

Whereas on May 25, 2008, Reverend Rhonda Britton and the members of the Cornwallis United Baptist Church celebrated the 176th Anniversary of the mother church at the African United Baptist Association; and

Whereas Reverend Rhonda Britton preached on the theme of the anniversary, Great is Thy Faithfulness, to an overwhelming crowd;

Therefore be it resolved that members of this House of Assembly extend congratulations to Reverend Rhonda Britton and the members of the Cornwallis United Baptist Church on celebrating their 176th Anniversary of the Cornwallis United Baptist Church.

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 Centre.

RESOLUTION NO. 3680

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

[Page 4035]

Whereas Nova Scotia can be proud of their sports heroes and legends; and

Whereas Trenton resident Ralph Cameron established himself as a multi-talented player, leading his senior softball and hockey teams to numerous local, provincial and Maritime titles; and

Whereas Ralph played for many years when senior hockey stood supreme in Nova Scotia, playing with the former NHL'ers like Boston Bruins great Fleming MacKell, who coached the New Glasgow Rangers Senior Hockey Team, leading them to the prestigious Allan Cup semi-finals;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House applaud a local sports legend, Ralph Cameron, an outstanding athlete and individual, like many other Nova Scotia athletes who have exemplified superiority during their playing days.

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.

[12:45 p.m.]

The honourable member for Halifax Citadel.

RESOLUTION NO. 3681

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

Whereas 2008 marks the 250th Anniversary of the birth of parliamentary democracy in Canada; and

Whereas the Democracy 250 initiative seeks to educate Canadians, particularly young Canadians, on our parliamentary system and seeks to do so through the development, dissemination and utilization of educational tools and resources; and

Whereas many Nova Scotian university and community college students wish to complement their academic understanding of the political process by working with elected

[Page 4036]

representatives and members of the House of Assembly would benefit from mentoring these highly skilled researchers;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly accept the principle that a Legislative Internship Program be established for the Nova Scotia Legislature and that the House request that the Speaker and the Clerk work with all Parties to determine how such a program can best be effected.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

I hear several Noes.

The notice is tabled.

The honourable member for Glace Bay.

RESOLUTION NO. 3682

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 Lisa MacInnis, a resident of Glace Bay, has attended Cape Breton University for the past three years; and

Whereas Lisa is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science program and has received the Governor General's silver medal for achieving the highest academic standing on the courses listed for her degree; and

Whereas Lisa, the daughter of Gordon and Helen MacInnis of Glace Bay, plans to continue her education at Dalhousie University, working towards a degree in dentistry;

Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly congratulate Lisa MacInnis on receiving the award and wish her success as she continues her education.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

[Page 4037]

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

The motion is carried.

We are going to go back to the honourable member for Halifax Citadel and he's going to reread the operative clause of that last resolution.

The honourable member for Halifax Citadel.

MR. LEONARD PREYRA: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The operative clause reads: Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly accept the principle that a Legislative Internship Program be established for the Nova Scotia Legislature and that the House requests that the Speaker and the Clerk work with all Parties to determine how such a program can best be effected.

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. 3683

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

Whereas of Canada's 31.6 million people, the last census indicated that only 4,635 were living at the age of 100 and of those 4,635, more than 160 of those centenarians were residing right here in Nova Scotia; and

Whereas Lewis Benedict, a resident of Dykeland Lodge in Windsor, recently joined Canada's centenarian list after recently celebrating his 100th birthday with approximately 115 guests from across North America; and

Whereas Lewis' brothers and sisters - Dorothy Smith, Gordon Benedict, Gladys MacBurnie and Muriel Moore - joined with Lewis to help him celebrate his special day;

[Page 4038]

Therefore be it resolved that MLAs in this House of Assembly congratulate Lewis on his 100th birthday and wish him many more years of health and prosperity.

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 Atlantic.

RESOLUTION NO. 3684

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

Whereas the Reverend Trevor Phillips was born in Jamaica in 1941, passing away in Halifax in March, 2008; and

Whereas Reverend Phillips ministered at Mount Zion United Church, Rose Hall in Jamaica before arriving with his wife, Olive, in Halifax in 1969, where he later taught at Cunard and B.C. Silver Junior High Schools and provided pastoral care in Parkhill, Long Pond and Sambro areas;

Whereas a community leader, minister, educator, human rights' activist, Reverend Trevor Phillips tirelessly worked to promote multiculturalism and human rights' issues as a member of the Black Educators Association and the Halifax District School Board;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly extend its sympathy to the family and parishioners of the Reverend Trevor Phillips and recognize his contributions in the areas of education, ministry and multiculturalism in 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.

[Page 4039]

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable member for Richmond.

RESOLUTION NO. 3685

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

Whereas the 2008 U.S. Presidential Race has sparked the interest of hundreds of millions of people throughout the world; and

Whereas throughout the campaign there has been great success in getting people involved in the political process, people who have had little to no interest in the past; and

Whereas this being the 250th Anniversary of democracy in Nova Scotia and in Canada, it is important that we too get people excited about the political process and increase our voter turnout;

Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly put forward an effort to promote Democracy 250 and encourage participation in our political process.

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. 3686

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 Baddeck and Area Minor Hockey Society is an active group of parents and individuals wanting the best for their youthful participants; and

[Page 4040]

Whereas the Baddeck and Area Minor Hockey Society is led by President Andy Whitty, Vice-President Ron Lagace, Treasurer Erin Bradley, Secretary Cynthia Ingraham and directors wanting the very best for youth in Baddeck and area; and

Whereas the Baddeck area has produced a number of excellent hockey players and teams, including the Baddeck Pee-Wee "B" Bobcats who captured provincial honours this year;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House compliment the executive of the Baddeck and Area Minor Hockey Society for their interest and keen community involvement.

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 Queens.

RESOLUTION NO. 3687

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

Whereas school sports programs are celebrated in Nova Scotia every year by the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation at the Celebration of School Sport; and

Whereas these volunteer teacher and community coaches, under the direction of the school principal, provide leadership in 19 different sports offered by the Nova Scotia School Athletic

Federation; and

Whereas these volunteer teachers and community coaches are true examples of good sportsmanship, they demonstrate respect for others and they are our best teacher-coaches;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly recognize Jeff Norman for receiving the Coach Celebration of School Sport Award for 2007-08 for South Queens Junior High School.

[Page 4041]

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. 3688

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 June 7, 2008, the 117 Preston-Westphal Royal Canadian Army Cadets will hold their 12th Annual Ceremonial Review; and

Whereas the 117 Preston-Westphal Royal Canadian Army Cadets currently have 65 boys and girls, three officers, one civilian instructor and one volunteer on staff; and

Whereas the 117 Preston-Westphal RCA Cadets provide excellent training for young men and women from the surrounding areas of East Preston, North Preston, Cherry Brook and Lake Echo;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Captain Mark Johnson, Commanding Officer, and all the officers and members of the 117 Preston-Westphal RCA Cadets for their hard work and dedication to the cadet movement.

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.

[Page 4042]

The honourable member for Pictou Centre.

RESOLUTION NO. 3689

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

Whereas one of the most impressive choral projects ever organized and hosted outside of a major city unfolded in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, this past weekend; and

Whereas Gerry Punke, Monica George Punke, parents and friends of the Pictou District Honour Choir, an organization with an outstanding record of service to youth and the community and excellence in performance; and

Whereas JUVENATA! 2008 brought together over 200 highly skilled singers from as far away as Edmonton, Alberta, all under the direction of an internationally acclaimed composer and conductor, Stephen Hatfield, from St. John's, Newfoundland;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House applaud Gerry and Monica Punke, their organization, and Stephen Hatfield for their expertise in hosting a celebration of youth and song which was witnessed by several hundred people on Sunday, May 25th, at the Nova Scotia Community College in Stellarton.

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 Sackville-Cobequid.

RESOLUTION NO. 3690

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

Whereas asthma is one of the most prevalent diseases in Nova Scotia, with at least 8 per cent of the general population and almost 17 per cent of children affected; and

[Page 4043]

Whereas the optimal treatment of asthmatics continues to be a problem throughout Canada; and

Whereas the Asthma Society of Canada has recently released the Asthma Patient Bill of Rights to ensure that asthmatics and their care givers understand their rights;

Therefore be it resolved that the Nova Scotia Legislature offer its support for the Asthma Patient Bill of Rights and the rights of asthmatics throughout 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 member for Glace Bay.

RESOLUTION NO. 3691

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 Constable Gary Fraser, a 17-year veteran of the Cape Breton Regional Municipal Police Service, and an eight-year member of the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board, is the 2008 recipient of the Nova Scotia School Boards Association's Education Week Partner Award; and

Whereas the award recognizes partner representatives who make significant contributions to the lives of young people and enable each of the education partners to recognize a member who has contributed significantly to student achievement; and

Whereas Nova Scotia School Boards Association President Elliott Payzant says Constable Fraser deserves this year's award because he is a true partner for peace and has worked with students and the community members as a testament to how committed he is to the people of Cape Breton;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House of Assembly congratulate Constable Gary Fraser for his hard work and dedication as a peacemaker for the people of Cape Breton, both young and old.

[Page 4044]

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. 3692

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

Whereas Team Nova Scotia will proudly represent our province at the Canadian Highland Dance National Competitions in Victoria, B.C., in July 2008; and

Whereas Sarah Fougere, age 8, from Colchester County will represent Nova Scotia in the Premier 9 and Under category; and

Whereas Sarah is the youngest member of Team Nova Scotia and only the second dancer from Colchester County to ever represent our province at this Canadian championship;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Sarah for being selected as a member of Nova Scotia's Highland Dance Team and wish her and her 17 teammates success at the national competition.

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.

[Page 4045]

The honourable member for Timberlea-Prospect.

RESOLUTION NO. 3693

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

Whereas Mount Allison University has awarded its prestigious Gold A Awards to graduating students this year; and

Whereas Sir John A. Macdonald High School graduate Jessica Chapman of St. Margarets Bay was one of the four Gold A winners; and

Whereas Jessica, a psychology honour student, served on the Students' Administrative Council, worked with Habitat for Humanity, and demonstrated outstanding contributions to the university community at Mount Allison;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Jessica Chapman on her Gold A Award from Mount Allison, with best wishes in her future endeavours.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

[1:00 p.m.]

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.

RESOLUTION NO. 3694

MR. WAYNE GAUDET: M. le Président, j'avise que je proposerai à un date ultérieure, l'adoption de la résolution suivante:

Attendu que le Prix Grand-Pré a été crée en 1987 pour honorer le travail des artistes acadiens de la Nouvelle-Écosse dans les domaines de arts du spectacle et du cinéma, des beaux arts et de l'artisanat ainsi que la littérature; et

[Page 4046]

Attendu que la troupe de danse Dixacadie a mérité le Prix Grand-Pré 2007; et

Attendu que ce groupe, tout en se distinguant par son talent artistique contribue à faire la promotion de la culture acadienne et de la Nouvelle-Écosse;

Qu'il soit résolu que cette assemblée exprime ses félicitations et transmet ses meilleurs voeux de succès à la directrice Cindy Comeau et aux membres de la troupe de danse Dixacadie pour avoir gagner le Prix Grand-Pré 2007.

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

Whereas le Prix Grand-Pré award was created in 1987 to recognize the work of Acadian Nova Scotians in performing arts and film, visual arts and crafts; and

Whereas the Acadian dance troupe Dixacadie was awarded le Prix Grand-Pré 2007; and

Whereas this group has distinguished itself by its artistic talent and helps to promote our Acadian heritage and rich cultural background of this province;

Therefore be it resolved that members of this House of Assembly congratulate the instructor Cindy Comeau and members of the dance troupe Dixacadie for winning the 2007 Prix Grand-Pré 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 Minister of Labour and Workforce Development.

RESOLUTION NO. 3695

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

[Page 4047]

Whereas each year the Annapolis Valley celebrates Spring with the picturesque beauty of apple trees blooming; and

Whereas the 76th Apple Blossom Festival has a theme of Our Future Blossoms; and

Whereas each year young ladies serve as ambassadors for their communities as Princesses, and this year Canning is represented by Amanda Kirkpatrick;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Canning's ambassador in this year's festival, Princess Canning 2008, Amanda Kirkpatrick.

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 Shelburne.

RESOLUTION NO. 3696

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

Whereas Ethel Devine has volunteered in the Woods Harbour food bank since 2005; and

Whereas Ethel has used the money which has been donated to purchase items for the food bank and tries to find the best bargains; and

Whereas every two weeks, she helps put together boxes of food for up to 32 families and also keeps a record of those who have been helped;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly recognize Ethel Devine for volunteering at the Woods Harbour food bank and commend her dedication to helping those in the community who are less fortunate.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

[Page 4048]

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 Tourism, Culture and Heritage.

RESOLUTION NO. 3697

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

Whereas Oyster Pond Academy has a running club to promote healthy living; and

Whereas the running club trained for the Blue Nose Marathon youth run, a distance of 4.2 kilometres, that was held in Halifax this past weekend; and

Whereas the members of the Oyster Pond Academy Running were among the 8,000 participants in the weekend long event, the largest of its kind east of Ottawa;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House applaud the efforts of the Oyster Pond Academy Running Club and wish them every future 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 Cape Breton Nova.

RESOLUTION NO. 3698

[Page 4049]

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

Whereas the Catholic Women's League, with the involvement of 5,428 members, is active in 91 parishes throughout Nova Scotia; and

Whereas on June 6th, 7th and 8th, the St. Theresa's Catholic Women's League will host the 60th Nova Scotia Provincial Catholic Women's League of Canada Convention in Sydney, Nova Scotia; and

Whereas the Catholic Women's League theme, Love One Another, challenges Catholic Women's League members to reach out with care and compassion;

Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly congratulate the St. Theresa's Catholic Women's League on hosting this prestigious event and wish them a successful and spiritual 60th convention.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

MR. SPEAKER: I wonder if you would read that final part again and this time maybe we'll hear it.

MR. GOSSE: Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly congratulate the St. Theresa's Catholic Women's League on hosting this prestigious event and wish them a successful and spiritual 60th convention.

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. 3699

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

[Page 4050]

Whereas Acadia is ranked as Canada's best undergraduate university by Maclean's, providing an excellent academic experience for its students; and

Whereas the appreciation of this world-class institution was clearly evident by the tremendous support received in its recent $50 million capital campaign, the most ambitious in its storied 170 year history; and

Whereas Acadia actually exceeded its $50 million goal with the outstanding support of a diverse group of contributors, including a significant portion donated by Nova Scotians and, of course, alumni;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House acknowledge the tremendous support shown by these many contributors to this venerable institution of higher learning.

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 Timberlea-Prospect.

RESOLUTION NO. 3700

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 June, 2008, legendary school teacher Ted Wholey will retire from the staff of Sir John A. Macdonald High School; and

Whereas Ted has given exemplary service to the students of our community; and

Whereas the dedicated professionalism of Ted Wholey is appreciated by students, parents and fellow teachers;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Ted Wholey on his retirement from the teaching profession and thank him for his years of dedication with best wishes for his future endeavours.

[Page 4051]

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. 3701

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

Whereas Ride the Lobster is a five day, 800 kilometre unicycle race across Nova Scotia from Yarmouth to Baddeck, being held June 16-20; and

Whereas it is predicted that 17 countries, 17 American states and 8 Canadian provinces including Nova Scotia will be represented at this international unicycle marathon, a first for Nova Scotia; and

Whereas this remarkable event, being called the closest thing to the Tour de France for unicyclists, is destined to be a successful event and an excellent tourism opportunity for the province;

Therefore be it resolved the House of Assembly send out best wishes to the organizers of Ride the Lobster and wish all participants the best of luck in this physically intense competition.

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.

[Page 4052]

The honourable Minister of Finance.

RESOLUTION NO. 3702

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

Whereas Katelyn Robarts is fighting a courageous battle with cancer; and

Whereas Katelyn is currently undergoing treatment at the IWK Hospital in Halifax and will soon be transferred to the Sick Kids' Hospital in Toronto; and

Whereas Katelyn's family - Scott, Mary and Gareth - who live in New Brunswick have been making many trips to visit Katelyn in the hospital;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of the House of Assembly express their warmest get well wishes to Katelyn and her 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 Human Resources.

RESOLUTION NO. 3703

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 volunteers are truly the backbone of every community throughout this province; and

Whereas volunteers contribute their time, energy and ideas in order to see a community event through to the end; and

Whereas John MacLean was recognized as the provincial Volunteer of the Year for the Town of Bridgewater;

[Page 4053]

Therefore be it resolved that all members of the House congratulate John MacLean of Bridgewater for receiving the 2008 provincial Volunteer 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.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ORAL QUESTIONS PUT BY MEMBERS

MR. SPEAKER: The time is 1:11 p.m. and we'll go to 2:11 p.m.

The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition.

PREM. - POWER RATES: TAX INCREASE - EXPLAIN

MR. DARRELL DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, my question today will be for the Premier. The price of coal has soared to record highs this year and that's on top of a 73 per cent price hike in 2007. Nova Scotia's electricity comes largely from coal-fired generating stations and most of that coal is bought on the world market. My question for the Premier is, why, with this dramatic upward pressure on electricity costs, did the Premier decide to add his own 8 per cent tax to every family's power costs?

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is intentionally misleading Nova Scotians with that statement.

MR. DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, I will table a recent Associated Press report. The headline tells the story: Coal price hikes boost electric rates, more increases coming. The article details hardship for seniors, the hit taken by businesses because of skyrocketing coal prices because they are pushing up electrical rates to record highs.

Nova Scotia, of course, is not immune, yet this is the only government in Canada that has hiked its tax on power at the very same time that rates are expected to climb, so my question for the Premier is, why did he think this was good for Nova Scotia families?

[Page 4054]

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, the government made a decision, in the budget, to make sure that we saw more dollars going into the hands of low-income Nova Scotians. The HST rebate will continue for home heating, for those with electricity, those with coal, those with other sources of heat in this province. I think it is important that we be clear to Nova Scotians that it is a fact. The rebate is going to serve many low-income Nova Scotians and our seniors with GIS, as well, this coming winter and the government stands by the decision which we made.

MR. DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, in fact, the HST rebate has now come off of all of the electrical rates, including heat, for the next four months. I want to table an article from the Cape Breton Post because not so long ago, when Nova Scotia Power applied for a 9 per cent rate increase, the Premier said that 9 per cent seemed like an awful lot. So 9 per cent is an awful lot but 8 per cent, that's just fine. So that tells Nova Scotians how much they can rely on the Premier.

Mr. Speaker, my question through you is, has the Premier calculated how much more his government will earn from his 8 per cent tax on even higher electricity rates now that coal prices have doubled in less than a year?

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, just a few months ago, the Leader of the Official Opposition, as all Leaders in this House, wanted to see more done for low-income Nova Scotians. What I do know is that there are two Parties which supported the budget, which made sure that happened, and one didn't.

[1:15 p.m.]

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

PREM. - TAXATION: SMALL BUS. - EFFECTS

MR. STEPHEN MCNEIL: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. Last week the Canadian Federation of Independent Business presented the minister with a petition to lower gas tax in this province. Over 2,500 small-business owners around this province collectively told the Premier that this government has gouged the bottom line of their businesses for far too long. So my question to the Premier is, why do you continue to refuse to provide relief for these small-business owners who so desperately need it?

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my honourable colleague for raising this question. I saw the press release, which the Leader of the Liberal Party is referring to. We all, as Nova Scotians, want to see lower taxes on everything, but there has to be a balance and the government is finding that balance, moving forward in a responsible way with balanced budgets, with a debt that is not growing and being fiscally responsible, and the government will continue to go in that vein.

[Page 4055]

MR. MCNEIL: Mr. Speaker, the signed petition stated, "As a small business owner, I contribute both socially and economically to my community. I want to do more of both, but the rising cost of energy is a significant roadblock to growth." These businesses want to stay and grow in our province but this government is not helping them to achieve that goal. So my question to the Premier is, when are you going to take the concerns and the financial well-being of small businesses in this province seriously?

HON. MICHAEL BAKER: Mr. Speaker, as the Premier had indicated earlier in answer to the Leader of the Liberal Party, we would all like to see taxes go down on everything in Nova Scotia but in this budget, the budget that we are so proud that he was able to support, we were able to bring in millions and millions and millions of income tax relief to Nova Scotians and that is helping Nova Scotians in every walk of life.

MR. MCNEIL: Mr. Premier, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation is telling you to reduce the motive fuel tax. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is telling you to reduce the motive fuel tax. The federal Minister of Natural Resources is telling you to reduce the motive fuel tax. Motorists in this province are telling you to reduce the motive fuel tax. So why are you refusing to lower the motive fuel tax and give Nova Scotia businesses and consumers in this province the break they deserve?

MR. BAKER: Mr. Speaker, I recognize that there are many people and certainly the government is very concerned about the price of motive fuel but I can also indicate to you that our budget contained revision for a comprehensive tax review, a tax review that is going to look at all of the taxes that are imposed on Nova Scotians, both business and individual taxes, to make sure that we have the best and most competitive tax environment that we're able to have in Nova Scotia. We will be looking at all of our taxes. Obviously motive fuel taxes would be part of that picture, along with income taxes that we would be looking at, to make sure we've got the best structure in Nova Scotia.

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

EDUC.: SCH. BDS. - FUNDING

MR. DARRELL DEXTER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again my question will be for the Premier. On May 15th, the Premier, feigning outrage that the Opposition would have the gall to vote against his budget, said in this House,"If he truly wants to help those school boards, he should be voting . . . for this budget." Well, Mr. Speaker, the school boards are speaking with one voice and this government's budget has flunked. So my question for the Premier is, if the government's budget is so good for our children's education, will he explain why our school boards have to cut student programs and services this year just to cover basic operating costs?

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, I refer that to the Minister of Education.

[Page 4056]

HON. KAREN CASEY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and to the Leader of the Official Opposition, I want to remind all members of the House that the funding to school boards has been on a continually increasing scale for the last five years. I also want to acknowledge and have people understand that the increase in funding has been accompanied by a significant and severe decline in the student population. So we believe we've been able to maintain funding in the face of declining enrolments.

MR. DEXTER: Well, Mr. Speaker, you may recall that last question was for the Premier and he didn't answer it, but I'll ask him another one. The Association of Nova Scotia Educational Administrators has told us that student programs and services are going to have to be cut - a huge problem is the skyrocketing cost of heating oil for the schools and diesel for the buses. The Minister of Education said in this House on May 14th, ". . . keeping our students warm and getting them back and forth to school, is the responsibility of the boards." Mr. Speaker, the superintendents say the money is just not there. So my question for the Premier is, did the Premier know school boards would be forced to cut programs when he voted for the budget?

MS. CASEY: Mr. Speaker, the member is correct, I did make a statement about keeping students warm and transporting them, that it's the responsibility of the boards and I will repeat, it is the responsibility of the boards.

I want to also mention that during the budget-building process the superintendents work very closely with our department to identify their cost pressures. That process continued up to the budget and it has continued since the budget, where we're helping them look at the funding that they have and the priorities they need to set.

MR. DEXTER: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Nova Scotia School Boards Association said bluntly on Thursday that the government was putting the children's education at risk with this budget. The province gave school boards no information about how much they would each receive from the province before the budget vote was held. The Premier says, Mr. Speaker, our kids are worth it. But then he puts their education at risk, he tries to keep everyone in the dark. So my question is, when is the Premier going to recognize that his government has to show some basic respect for our educational professionals?

MS. CASEY: Mr. Speaker, both the Nova Scotia School Boards Association and the Association of Nova Scotia Educational Administrators certainly are involved in the process along the way. They certainly are familiar with the pressures of the government. They're also familiar with their own cost pressures and that's where working together, we believe, will allow the boards to have the money they need to set the priorities that they have. I would not expect that any senior staff or any board members would look at cuts that would have a negative impact on students in the classroom.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition on a new question.

[Page 4057]

ECON. DEV. - GATEWAY COUNCIL: MANDATE - DETAILS

MR. DARRELL DEXTER: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My question will be for the Premier. The Minister of Finance promised in his Budget Speech that the government would create an Atlantic Gateway Council this year. The Minister of Economic Development said in this House that his government embraced the idea of the council. So my question for the Premier is, what is the mandate of the new council his government promised in the budget?

THE PREMIER: The Atlantic Gateway Council is one of the most important initiatives that this province will move forward upon for many, many years. For every container boat that comes in here to this harbour, roughly 4,600 hours of persons' work are created as a result. The impact that it can have on the lives of our citizens for years to come is something which will keep families, keep young people here, and grow this province. The Gateway Council - and the second question I may refer to the minister on this to get more of the details - but in essence we'll take a look at the opportunities on research, on training, on marketing what we have here in Nova Scotia to attract as many of those ships to come to our port in the years to come and the opportunities.

It's a long-term plan, it's a long-term initiative, Mr. Speaker, but this government is bound and determined to make sure that we take advantage of every opportunity.

MR. DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, well, that's all very interesting but yesterday the province's Gateway director, David Oxner, said in an interview that the Budget Address was incorrect, that there is no new provincial Gateway Council. The funding announced in the Premier's budget is going to the existing Atlantic Gateway Federal-Provincial Senior Officials Committee. It seems that the Premier has become dangerously close to misinforming this House. So my question is, what other items in the government's budget were smoke and mirrors?

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Economic Development.

HON. ANGUS MACISAAC: Mr. Speaker, I can tell the honourable member that the reference in the budget indeed was toward the creation of a Gateway Council but a broader council than just Nova Scotia. We, obviously, need to involve all provinces in the Atlantic Region in the promotion and development of the Gateway, and the money was intended to be used to join with other provinces in order to create that agency.

MR. DEXTER: Well, Mr. Speaker, it seems that much was left out of the budget. In March, the Premier announced his Gateway wish list with great fanfare but we learned yesterday from the same interview that his list did not come from the federal-provincial committee, it seems it was a project - yes, a project - of an overheated imagination from a government that promises much and, of course, produces very little. So my question for the Premier is, will the Premier tell us when his government plans to live up to its commitment in his budget and put together a Gateway Council that will get the job done?

[Page 4058]

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, what we heard from the Leader of the Opposition, it doesn't surprise me that what we heard was what we knew all along - they're against development in downtown Halifax. They're against growing the economy of our province. They want to tax, they want to spend, they want to bring this province back into debt. Well, this government is going to focus - yes, we're going to focus - on making sure we have a logistic centre of excellence here in this province. We're going to make sure we put in the infrastructure needed to grow this economy. We're going to grow this economy despite what the Leader of the Official Opposition and the NDP want to do. (Interruptions)

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

EDUC - SCH. BDS.: REMOVAL - POSITION CONFIRM

MR. STEPHEN MCNEIL: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. Yesterday the Minister of Education announced the disbandment of the Strait Regional School Board to protect the interests of students and board staff. The minister appointed John Sears as the lone board member until the elections in upcoming October. This is the second school board that the minister has fired. So my question to the Premier is, is it the position of this government to remove all school boards?

HON. KAREN CASEY: Mr. Speaker, to the member opposite, I have stated many times that elected school boards in this province are an important part of the delivery model that we currently have and when school board members understand their roles and responsibilities and understand their code of conduct and adhere to that, we believe they make a valuable contribution to the students in our province.

MR. MCNEIL: Mr. Speaker, the minister knew the problems SRSB were facing for months. Just this past February, the minister stripped all financial and human resource authority from the board members. The minister knew that the board had been dysfunctional for some time. So my question to the Premier is, why didn't your government introduce legislation this session to deal with dysfunctional school board members?

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Education has taken the appropriate steps in dealing with this school board and dealing with all school boards. This government's priority is what's happening in the classroom. This government's priority is to make sure our students receive a top-notch education - which I believe is being provided in many of our classrooms - in all of our classrooms from one end of this province to the other, including in the Strait Regional School Board. But we're not going to take a shotgun approach and introduce legislation which is not in the best interests of students. We want to make sure we have consultation and we want to make sure that consultation includes a consultation with our school boards, so that it will be prepared to go forward this Fall.

MR. MCNEIL: Mr. Speaker, school boards have been suffering as a result of one or two members disrupting meetings. Currently, the Education Act does not give the minister the ability to deal with disruptive members of any school board and this government has had

[Page 4059]

two years, two years to deal with this issue. It's the same excuse they used for firing the Halifax Regional School Board that they're using now in the Strait area. The minister experienced the same problems with Halifax Regional School Board and was forced to appoint a one-person board. the minister should have immediately introduced legislation to prevent problematic members from disrupting the everyday proceedings of school boards.

So my question again to the Premier is, why is your government waiting until the Fall to introduce legislation to deal with disruptive school board members, instead of doing it now, when we can deal with the future of Nova Scotia students?

MS. CASEY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know one of the things that we expect school board members to do is to have some self-discipline. When that self-discipline is not evident, we expect the boards to discipline their own members and when that fails and all of those attempts are made, there are amendments to their code of ethics which they did not follow. When all else fails, the minister has the power and the authority to remove responsibilities and she did.

I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that when we have our new legislation, we will have input from school boards, school board associations and others, to make sure that it is legislation that is complimentary to school boards.

[1:30 p.m.]

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Cape Breton Centre. (Applause)

Order, please. The member for Cape Breton Centre has the floor.

COM. SERV. - CAMPBELL FAM.: AUTISM FUNDING - DETAILS

MR. FRANK CORBETT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope this camaraderie continues throughout my questioning. (Laughter) My question, through you, is for the Minister of Community Services. Calvin and Tove Campbell are constituents of mine. They have five children and two with autism syndrome. The three-year-old has been denied direct family benefits from this minister's department while the older, the 12-year-old boy, and the family have been told he will lose his respite care this month because his IQ is too high. This child needs constant care and he is in danger of hurting himself. He often runs into the street into direct traffic.

I want to ask this minister, through you, Mr. Speaker - why are you cutting off the family from receiving necessary respite care?

HON. JUDY STREATCH: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I thank my honourable colleague for the opportunity to rise and speak. My honourable colleague and all colleagues in this House know I can't speak to the specifics of any individual case but I'd be more than happy to take the particular case back to staff and have it examined.

[Page 4060]

Mr. Speaker, I would indicate that we have a very successful program in place - independent family support, direct family support. We provide support for families from one end of this province to the other and certainly we will continue to do that to the best of our ability.

MR. CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, I gave the minister an example of what her policy is doing and how it is harming families in need in this province, and that's the type of answer I get. Using a child's intelligence level to deny services does not make one bit of sense. IQ has nothing to do with the behaviour of this 12-year old; it is the autism syndrome. Any family of a child with autism will tell you that you can't just hire a teenager or somebody next door to look after them. You need a trained caregiver and that's what this minister seems to lack.

So I ask her once again - why isn't the diagnosis of having two children with autism enough to give respite care to these very needy parents?

MS. STREATCH: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Again, to my honourable colleague across the way, he knows I can't speak to the particulars, as much as he'd like me to. I would be happy to take the individual case back to the department and have it looked at.

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind all members of this House of the significant investment that this government has made to services with persons with disabilities. We will continue to make those investments to ensure that all families are dealt with in a fair and accountable manner.

MR. CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, need I remind that minister that this is being done not by the workers, but by directives from the minister. None of this meeting me outside and telling me what's wrong - she's heading the department, she should take responsibility. She's the minister. (Applause)

I want to ask her why and where can families like the Campbells get help and why are they doing an unscientific method in an arbitrary criteria such as IQ tests to deny families like the Campbells to get the needed respite care? Why are you doing it, minister? It's your directive.

MS. STREATCH: Mr. Speaker, again I'm pleased to rise and respond to my honourable colleague's bellowing from across the way. We will continue to treat all families in Nova Scotia in a fair and equitable manner. He can raise his voice and shout at me all he likes - we will continue to ensure that all families are cared for.

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

[Page 4061]

COM. SERV.: POLICY CHANGES - PUBLICIZE

MS. MARILYN MORE: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Community Services. A constituent of mine on CPP Disability has been receiving treatment for four years by a podiatrist, as ordered by her surgeon and family doctor. Recently the service was cut off by Community Services citing a policy change that now prohibits any health care services that are not covered by MSI, regardless of health or financial need or medical recommendation. My question to the minister is, why have you cut financial support to people in need who have clear health care requirements?

HON. JUDY STREATCH: Mr. Speaker, again, I'd be pleased to look into this to ensure that programs are being delivered in a fair and equitable manner. Again, it was this government who brought in its 7th consecutive budget, who continues to provide programs and services for all individuals across the province and we'll continue to do so.

MS. MORE: Mr. Speaker, the dilemma that my constituent is in is the result of a deliberate policy change made by the Department of Community Services. These treatments could literally be the difference between this person being able to walk or requiring a wheelchair. For other clients with diabetes or other conditions and disabilities, cutting off access to podiatrists, massage therapy and similar services may lead to health complications down the road. This constituent is living on less than $8,500 a year and she cannot possibly afford visits to the podiatrist every three months. I ask the minister, why is her department putting the bottom line ahead of the well-being of some of the people it serves?

MS. STREATCH: Mr. Speaker, my department continues to work tirelessly to assist all those Nova Scotians who need our help. It was this government who put people first, it was this Party who increased funding for the services for persons with disabilities, it is this Party who will continue to do that. We put people first; that Party put politics first. (Applause)

MS. MORE: Mr. Speaker, there can be no other explanation for this change in policy than saving money on the backs of the most vulnerable people in this province. (Applause) Perhaps as troubling is the way this change was made. Staff indicated that the change was made in January of this year; however, there is nothing recorded in the Policy Revision Manual. The policy just changed and people were denied services. I will table a copy of this mysterious policy. Because it's policy, the minister was able to do it, and her department, behind closed doors without bringing it to the Legislature for debate. So I ask the minister - why are changes like this, that have a tremendous potential impact on clients, made behind closed doors and not reflected publically?

MS. STREATCH: Do you know, Mr. Speaker, what is troubling is how that member can stand and make questions continually about lack of increase in funding when she voted against the budget that put $6 million more in the services of persons with disabilities. That's what is troubling.

[Page 4062]

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Richmond.

HEALTH - MACKAY FAM.: OUT-OF-PROV. PROCEDURES - FUNDING

MR. MICHEL SAMSON: Mr. Speaker, late last summer, Marilyn and Ken MacKay set out on a journey, a journey of fear and financial ruin. Last May, Marilyn was added as a patient to the Lung Transplant Program at Toronto General Hospital and in August, when her health declined, she was forced to relocate to Toronto. Marilyn requires a double lung transplant, a procedure not available in Nova Scotia. She is currently living in Toronto, not by choice but by necessity. For Marilyn, this has been a stressful time. Instead of worrying about her health, she is worried about money. Ken is now on stress leave, carrying the burden of his wife's ill health and their financial strain squarely on his shoulders. To date, the Department of Health merely offers them drug coverage. My question to the Minister of Health is, why do families like the MacKays have to go into financial ruin in order to be available for a medical procedure not performed in Nova Scotia?

HON. CHRISTOPHER D'ENTREMONT: Mr. Speaker, we all have examples of people going for lung transplants or other types of surgeries that are not available here in Nova Scotia. We do cover the cost of the surgeries themselves but we do not, at this point, cover the cost of the travel or the living expense that a family like the ones referenced by the member for Richmond brings up. There are very few jurisdictions in Canada that do cover the travel cost or the living expenses of an individual when they require some kind of surgery outside that province.

MR. SAMSON: Mr. Speaker, Marilyn's friends and community back here in Nova Scotia have been more than generous. They have raised a total of $15,000 to help the MacKays financially. The money is gone. So far, close to $20,000 has been spent on living expenses and not one dime of this money came from the province. The MacKays called the Premier's office and were referred to Community Services where they were told to cash in their one last RRSP and two life insurance policies, spend this money and then they will be assessed to see if they qualify for any help whatsoever. No guarantee of help, only a promise of an assessment.

Mr. Speaker, I think you would agree this is no way to treat someone who is desperately clinging to their one last hope of life, a double lung transplant.

MR. SPEAKER: Question.

MR. SAMSON: My question to the minister is, why doesn't the government see the value of supporting Nova Scotians like the MacKays, while they wait out of province for life-saving procedures?

MR. D'ENTREMONT: Mr. Speaker, the member opposite did reference the department that does take care of those kinds of issues which is, of course, the Department of Community Services. I wish there was a lot more that we could do for Nova Scotians

[Page 4063]

when it comes to the health care and especially when it comes to out-of-province surgeries. The added problem that we have with this type of surgery, that it depends on the availability of an organ, which is of course, the double lung, the two lungs, which can come quickly or can take a very long time. It's very hard to judge how long somebody is going to be waiting for that surgery.

MR. SAMSON: Mr. Speaker, one would think with the answer the minister just gave that he has given the best justification for such a program here in Nova Scotia. The MacKays need to pay room and board, food costs, travel costs back and forth to the hospital three times a week, as well as the costs associated with having a support person available. While the minister said only few jurisdictions offer it, our neighbours - the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador - recognizes the burden being imposed on their families as they offer up to $1,500 per month for registered accommodation, $700 for groceries and provide support to cover air costs so the spouse of the patient can visit once in a while.

Mr. Speaker, Newfoundland and Labrador recognized this burden to their residents 10 years ago when they started their Medical Transportation Assistance Program. So my final supplementary is, when can Nova Scotians - who are waiting out of province for treatment not available here - expect a similar program in our province?

MR. D'ENTREMONT: Mr. Speaker, again it comes down to priorities. It is my understanding in Newfoundland that they actually don't pay most of the costs for nursing homes. So there's always that balance of what programs we can fund or what we cannot fund.

Mr. Speaker, to finish off my answer, really it is the availability of organs, making sure that Nova Scotians are aware of the Gift of Life Program, the program that makes donors of us. If one became available, of course, for a family like theirs, they could be out of Toronto that much sooner and then that financial burden wouldn't be quite as great. We will take this issue under advisement.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Halifax Citadel.

LWD - HFX. BAR SCENE: RULES - TIGHTEN

MR. LEONARD PREYRA: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Labour and Workforce Development. The report of the Roundtable on Violence and Public Safety in Halifax says that Halifax's bar scene " . . . could well be described as the perfect storm for violence and crime . . . ". Among factors contributing to what the report calls a perfect storm are open hours past midnight and discounted alcohol prices. The government has contributed to this problem by extending bar hours and allowing discounted drinks. My question to the minister, why has the government ignored advice from the police and health officials to tighten the rules governing the Halifax bar scene?

[Page 4064]

HON. MARK PARENT: Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for the question and I want to assure the member that there's a committee between Health Promotion and Protection and Labour and Workforce Development that have been looking at this issue. They're looking at five various issues amongst which are two he mentioned and they'll be reporting back very soon.

[1:45 p.m.]

MR. PREYRA: Mr. Speaker, I'm surprised that the minister has continued to consult with this committee. The Minister of Justice has had a study. The Minister of Health Promotion and Protection has commented on the issue and I'm wondering how much more consultation and how much more violence and vandalism will he need before he actually acts.

My first supplementary is to the Minister of Justice. Students are especially vulnerable to crime and violence in the downtown bar district. According to the roundtable report, alcohol abuse is the central proximate cause of that crime and violence and the report's author, Don Clairmont, says that fear of crimes against students could hurt the city's economy by scaring off post-secondary students who may not come to Halifax.

MR. SPEAKER: Do you have a question?

MR. PREYRA: My question to the Minister of Justice is, will the minister support efforts by the Halifax Regional Municipality to make the downtown bar district safer?

HON. CECIL CLARKE: The simple answer to that, Mr. Speaker, is yes and the government has done that by working with the Halifax Regional Police, working with their efforts, this is why this government, in this last budget, invested more dollars to add more police officers on the streets of this province - that the NDP voted against.

MR. PREYRA: Well, I'm glad the minister was able to add to that because I was hoping there would be something more than just a committee in response to the crime and vandalism in downtown Halifax. Last Christmas Eve, Mr. Speaker, 38 people were arrested following a brawl outside the Liquor Dome. The Minister of Health Promotion and Protection blamed the incident on the Liquor Dome's $1 shooter promotion. The Liquor Dome voluntarily raised its minimum drink prices to $2.50, but the regulations allowing $1 drinks are still in effect. My final question to the Minister of Justice, does he agree with his colleague, the Minister of Health Promotion and Protection, that $1 drinks can contribute to incidents like the Liquor Dome brawl and should be banned?

MR. CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, to the honourable member, what I do know is that the departments within government have been working to address the concerns that have been raised. The Halifax Regional police have been doing their job. The Bar Association has done their job to be responsible stewards to find practical solutions. We continue to work with the Office of Health Promotion and Protection and we will continue to work forward. As the

[Page 4065]

honourable member knows, the report to the mayor's round table has just been received. We were there as a government to take that report in and we'll continue to see further action while they just talk.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Kings West.

EDUC. - SCH. BDS.: FINANCIAL CONCERNS - ADDRESS

MR. LEO GLAVINE: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education. Superintendents from every school board have expressed their frustration for the lack of additional funding needed to manage the day-to-day operations. Many boards were relying on the additional funds when calculating their budgets. Now many boards will be faced with some difficult decisions. My question to the minister is, will the minister address the financial concerns of Nova Scotia's school boards revealed in the last few days through their profile sheets?

HON. KAREN CASEY: Mr. Speaker, thank you to the member opposite for the question. As I had indicated in one of my earlier answers, the superintendents are very much a part of the budget building process. They have identified their cost pressures. They have worked with our department and as recently as Friday, those superintendents have met with my deputy where they have been able, now that they have their numbers, to sit down and look at what those cost pressures are and what impact that might have. That process began on Friday and it will continue.

MR. GLAVINE: Mr. Speaker, the Strait Regional School Board received a mere 0.68 per cent increase in this year's budget. Three other boards - Cape Breton, Victoria Regional, AVRSB and Tri-County - less than 2 per cent. School boards are required, by law, to table a balanced budget. If this government refuses to provide financial assistance to school boards, they will have no choice but to cut programs and services to balance the books. My question to the minister is, why is the minister forcing school boards to chose between balancing this budget and cutting education programs?

MS. CASEY: Mr. Speaker, the average increase to school boards this year was 2.6 per cent. That varies across the boards, depending on the application of the Hogg report formula but I would like to suggest to the member opposite that we are looking at, with boards, at unallocated funds which may help them mitigate some of their pressures. We will continue to work with them to ensure that students do not suffer from the priorities that are set by the boards.

MR. GLAVINE: Mr. Speaker, rising fuel costs coupled with a new collective bargaining agreement have added unforeseen additional costs to school boards. The Tri-County School Board is projecting a deficit of $400,000 this year alone. Halifax Regional School Board is currently scrambling to find an additional $3.32 million it will need to balance its budget.

[Page 4066]

Mr. Speaker, $2.4 million of that debt is based on fuel costs alone. With fuel prices skyrocketing every day, the minister has an obligation to help boards struggling between fuel costs and providing educational programs. My question to the minister is, will the minister provide school boards with additional funding so they don't have to chose between paying fuel costs and providing service to the public?

MS. CASEY: Thank you, Mr. Premier, and as I mentioned there, or Mr. Speaker. (Interruptions) Some day maybe.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. (Interruptions)

The honourable Minister of Education has the floor.

MS. CASEY: Yes, Mr. Speaker, we have indicated that we started the process on Friday where superintendents are meeting with the deputy and they have been asked to go back and work with their CFOs to look at the allocation of funds that they have and how they can set priorities. Recognizing, as we all do, that the fuel costs have increased and we will be helping the boards identify whether it's from their surplus or whether it's from unused funds from previous years, ways that they may be able to cover that.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Dartmouth East.

HEALTH PROM. & PROTECTION: FLAVOURED

TOBACCO PRODUCTS - ADDRESS

MS. JOAN MASSEY: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health Promotion and Protection. Flavoured cigarillos are considered by many to be an entry-level tobacco product. The flavours, such as cherry, strawberry and chocolate mint, cover up the harsh taste of tobacco but the sweet flavours also conceal the fact that these cigarillos are just as addictive as other tobacco products and we know that teenagers are 3.5 times more likely to smoke these products than people over the age of 25. My question is, when will this minister finally address the issue of flavoured tobacco products?

HON. BARRY BARNET: Mr. Speaker, the approach that we have used as government to address the issue of tobacco in this province has been a strategic approach. We put in place a strategy in 2001. It has shown results. We are in the process of renewing that strategy. I have told the member opposite that I expect that strategy to be before government sometime this summer and it is anticipated that issues like that will be considered within that renewal of the strategy this summer.

MS. MASSEY: Mr. Speaker, it's a well known fact that when it comes to tobacco control, provinces lead and the federal government follows. For example, smoke-free workplaces have been in place in Manitoba since 2004. In 2006, Nova Scotia took action but the federal government didn't act until this year. In Australia, two states restricted the sale of flavoured tobacco products before the federal government announced a nation-wide ban.

[Page 4067]

How long will it be before this province takes the lead to curb the sale of these flavoured tobacco products?

MR. BARNET: Mr. Speaker, I'm proud of the fact that our province has been a leader with respect to tobacco cessation and healthy public policy related to tobacco products. With that regard, I've written to Minister Clement asking him to look at this particular issue and to make a national ruling with respect to this. But, I do know that the success we've had as a province has been seen by other jurisdictions and we will continue to move towards a strategic approach, which has been proven beneficial to Nova Scotians. We now are the lowest province in the country for young people smoking, our rates are now below the national average. That's something I'm particularly proud of here in Nova Scotia.

MS. MASSEY: Mr. Speaker, health organizations throughout this province and across the country would like to see these flavoured cigarillos off the shelves. Only big tobacco is opposed to their ban. How many more youngsters have to get hooked on tobacco before this minister takes action?

MR. BARNET: Mr. Speaker, I want to remind the member opposite that we've reduced our tobacco rates for young people aged 15 to 19 from 33 per cent in 2001 to 12 per cent in the last study. (Applause) So to say that we've taken no action is completely inaccurate. Our province is the leader in this country, we're seen as a leader in the world in terms of tobacco cessation. We will continue to move forward as health public policy is addressed through a strategic approach.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Queens.

TIR: GUYSBOROUGH-SHEET HBR. - ROAD NEEDS

MS. VICKI CONRAD: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. Earlier today I tabled a petition on behalf of residents of Guysborough-Sheet Harbour. It was signed by 635 people concerned about the safety of their roads. They were calling on this government to honour their promises of 2006 and for the government to take immediate action to repair and repave the many kilometres of unsafe roads in Guysborough-Sheet Harbour. My question for the minister is, why is this government failing to deal with the road needs of Guysborough-Sheet Harbour?

HON. MURRAY SCOTT: Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for the question. I think all members of this House would agree, over the last number of years this government has increased, each year, the budget with regard to infrastructure and particularly around paving in this province. I continually hear the members of the Official Opposition get up in this House and talk about spending more money in different places. Certainly, if the honourable member wants me to divert that money from Queens to Guysborough-Sheet Harbour, I will certainly do that. (Applause)

[Page 4068]

MS. CONRAD: Mr. Speaker, as Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Critic, I feel proud to stand in my place and represent all roads in Nova Scotia. (Applause) In the election night interview of 2003, the current member for that constituency was quoted as saying, this is a large rural riding with bad roads and not much has changed since then.

We have heard commitments from this government many, many times, but the residents of communities throughout Guysborough-Sheet Harbour and most of the other rural ridings in this province continue to see the deterioration of the roads that, for all intents and purposes, are gateways to their communities. These roads need to be improved for the benefit of residents, tourists and economic growth. My question to the minister is, when will he commit to a rural infrastructure plan that will address the needs of our secondary roads connecting our rural communities?

MR. SCOTT: Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for the question. I do want to say, in regard to the constituency she is talking about, I'm proud to say this government over the last number of years has completed 60 kilometres on Route 7; 50 kilometres on Route 16; and 25 kilometres on Route 316.

Mr. Speaker, you know, again I'll say I think this government is receiving kudos from a lot of people across this province even though the Official Opposition don't want to say that and don't want to admit it - I hear it all the time, everywhere I go.

I will say, Mr. Speaker, that I think this budget that we passed is good for the province. It's unfortunate that the NDP didn't vote for the paving that is included in that budget.

MS. CONRAD: Mr. Speaker, I've tabled several petitions in this House indicating that residents certainly aren't pleased at all. For the last nine years this government has talked about added investments in our infrastructure, but we continue to see the decline in our secondary roads, infrastructure in communities like Sheet Harbour, West Caledonia, Voglers Cove, and throughout rural Nova Scotia. Will this minister and his department commit to investing a more balanced funding formula so rural communities can get their fair share of infrastructure roads - and we don't need to hear that we didn't support your budget. Thank you.

MR. SCOTT: I couldn't hear the honourable member. I don't know if she said she didn't need to hear that or she didn't want to hear it, but she's going to hear it anyway, Mr. Speaker.

[2:00 p.m.]

Mr. Speaker, the Official Opposition voted against firefighters, they voted against seniors, they voted against students, they voted against families . . .

AN HON. MEMBER: Fishermen.

[Page 4069]

MR. SCOTT: The fishermen, yes. We don't want to forget the fishermen, Mr. Speaker. They voted against all those people. You know, I will . . .

AN HON. MEMBER: Tax and spend, tax and spend.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. The honourable . . .

MR. SCOTT: . . . raising taxes in Nova Scotia because, Mr. Speaker, the member, the critic for the official "tax and spend Party" would raise taxes across the board, give everybody everything they say they will give them, when at the end of the day they won't give them that - in fact, we hope they will never get the opportunity to do that. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Glace Bay.

EDUC. - GLACE BAY JHS: CONST. - COMMITMENT

MR. DAVID WILSON (Glace Bay): Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education. As each day goes by, the people of Glace Bay continue to anxiously await word on the future of their new junior high school - a school originally announced five years ago. As I've asked many times before, Madam Minister, are you still committed to the construction of a new junior high school in Glace Bay?

HON. KAREN CASEY: Mr. Speaker, as folks in the House have heard me say before, we have a 2003 capital construction list that we are addressing. On that list there is a new junior high school for Glace Bay and, as I've said before and as I will say again, this government is committed to honouring everything on that particular capital construction list - and that includes Glace Bay Junior High School.

MR. DAVID WILSON (Glace Bay): Mr. Speaker, the two junior high schools in Glace Bay were built in the 1940s; the students in Glace Bay deserve better. The people of Glace Bay have been understanding and patient on this issue, so my question for the minister is, Madam Minister, how much longer are the people of Glace Bay going to have to wait?

MS. CASEY: Mr. Speaker, I do want to agree with the member opposite that the students in Glace Bay deserve a new school. That's why this government is committed to building them a new school; in fact, it is a $15-plus million new school for the students in Glace Bay.

MR. DAVID WILSON (Glace Bay): My final question for the minister, Mr. Speaker, and I will make it as clear and concise as I possibly can, will the minister commit, here today, to complete construction by the end of the school year next year, or by the end of next year, and will the minister name where that school is going to be located? Madam Minister, go ahead, answer those and make my day. (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.

[Page 4070]

MS. CASEY: Mr. Speaker, I do believe that it would be welcome news to all members of this House if we could conclude the questioning with respect to Glace Bay Junior High School. I will conclude by saying this government is committed to that project. It is a $15 million project and it will (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. The minister has the floor.

MS. CASEY: We have a process to go through. The member opposite is aware of the assessment process and I am proud and pleased to say that the assessment for sites has been completed and, in fact, Mr. Speaker, to the member opposite, to answer his question, the assessment has been completed and the Wallace Road site has been selected. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.

The honourable member for Pictou West.

TIR - HWY. 256: REPAIRS - TIME FRAME

MR. CHARLES PARKER: Mr. Speaker, I will be hoping for just as good an answer to my question. My question, through you, is to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. One of the worst sections of secondary road in this province is the section of Highway No. 256 from the West Branch Corner to the Colchester County line in western Pictou County. This approximate five-kilometre section is very badly potholed, cracked and is exhibiting overall deterioration. Now, I brought this to the attention of the minister on numerous occasions and I know residents are losing patience. So my question, through you is, can the minister tell this House when Highway No. 256 will be repaired?

HON. MURRAY SCOTT: Mr. Speaker, I am being encouraged by my colleagues to refer that question to the member for Queens but I won't do that. I will certainly take that under advisement and report back to the member. I don't have the information with me but I will certainly get that information for the honourable member.

MR. PARKER: Mr. Speaker, economic development and tourism opportunities depend on good infrastructure. Now the West Branch and Area Community Association have worked long and hard over the past few years to bring improvements to their community. Their Infrastructure Improvement Committee has brought media and government attention to local roads and bridges. In fact, Highway No. 256 was recently featured on the CBC Nova Scotia suppertime news and it was shown on the CBC national news across the country. So obviously, the problem has been recognized. I want to ask, when is the department going to recognize this serious concern?

MR. SCOTT: Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for the question. That road the honourable member is talking about here today certainly is an important highway and an important road in that constituency. It is important to the people. Like many other roads in

[Page 4071]

this province, we are dealing with the issues of priorities, trying to balance the dollars we have for capital. I would love to be able to stand in this House, as I have said on many occasions, and say we are going to pave them all. We know that is not possible but I can ensure the honourable member, that will be taken into consideration as we do our capital funding.

MR. PARKER: Mr. Speaker, I am going to table a letter written to myself from the West Branch and Area Community Association in which the chairman states that this road currently cannot be travelled at posted speed limits without the risk of loss of control of the vehicle. So not just economic development, but now safety for drivers and the timeliness of emergency response are issues. So my question is, how soon can the West Branch residents expect action on their concerns?

MR. SCOTT: Mr. Speaker, I'll just restate what I said a moment ago that we'll certainly take it under consideration, but I will commit to the honourable member that I will respond to the individual. If he wants to provide a copy of that letter, I will respond personally to that individual.

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

HEALTH - PATHOLOGISTS: NOVA SCOTIA - RETENTION

MR. DAVID WILSON (Sackville-Cobequid): Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. Last week Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams announced a $73,000 annual pay increase for a pathologist. That took the base salary from being the worst in Canada to bringing it on par with Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. When you include an extra $60,000 stipend, retention bonus, on-call fees and other benefits, the total compensation package is worth over $360,000 a year for those pathologists in Newfoundland. That's about $100,000 more than Nova Scotia pathologists make here in our province. So I would like to ask the Minister of Health, what is the government doing to ensure the pathologists will stay and work here in Nova Scotia where we need them?

HON. CHRISTOPHER D'ENTREMONT: Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite knows, the pathologists in this province, especially the ones here in Capital Health, work under their own APP or a different payment plan within their group. That will be impacted this week, I believe, when the master agreement is ratified with Doctors Nova Scotia. So there should be an increase for those doctors in the next number of weeks.

MR. DAVID WILSON (Sackville-Cobequid): Mr. Speaker, pathologists everywhere, including Nova Scotia, are overworked and in some cases underpaid. A pathologist recently resigned in Sydney, another in Amherst has retired, another in New Glasgow left for the States, and five vacancies are currently shown in Capital District. It's so important for the government to recognize that they ensure these individuals are working here in Nova Scotia. Pathologists had been working for two years without a contract and there doesn't seem to be

[Page 4072]

any light in sight. So I would like to ask the Minister of Health, when - can he give a specific date? - will these pathologists see an increase in their pay and would he make it retroactive like they did in Newfoundland and Labrador?

MR. D'ENTREMONT: Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my first answer, of course, these individuals work under an APP because they also work with Capital Health in order to have this thing. They've been negotiating quite in earnest over this one. We would want them to have an appropriate pay for the work that they do.

Mr. Speaker, it is like any other physician in this province, is to make sure that we have a pay that is comparable across this province. We will continue to look at that and, of course, bring it to Cabinet, and to bring it to our caucus table to make sure they have a plan that makes sense for all Nova Scotians, to make sure pathology is protected in this province.

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

MR. FRANK CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. During Question Period today, the Premier responding to the Leader of the Official Opposition said that the member misled this House. I believe that language is unparliamentary and I wish that he would apologize and withdraw it.

MR. SPEAKER: I will take that under advisement.

The honourable Minister of Community Services on an introduction.

HON. JUDY STREATCH: Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to introduce a man who is no stranger to this Legislature. It's quite bizarre that our roles would be reversed for it used to be years ago when I sat in the gallery and watched down as he answered questions in Question Period. I certainly hope he doesn't give me a dressing down later on for my heckling during Question Period because I learned from him. So I would ask all members of the House to give a warm welcome to a former MLA from this House, my father, Ken Streatch. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: Certainly we welcome him and all the visitors to our gallery here today.

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Deputy Government House Leader.

MR. CHUCK PORTER: Mr. Speaker, would you please call the order of business, Public Bills for Second Reading.

PUBLIC BILLS FOR SECOND READING

[Page 4073]

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Deputy Government House Leader.

MR. CHUCK PORTER: Mr. Speaker, would you please call Bill No. 126.

Bill No. 126 - Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Labour and Workforce Development.

HON. MARK PARENT: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It's a pleasure to rise and speak about this bill, the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act. We're working hard in our province to ensure that we have fair, transparent and accountable processes in place to make it easier and more attractive for externally-trained professionals, both within other provinces in Canada and also globally, to live and work in Nova Scotia.

Mr. Speaker, we're aware, in a superficial way, but not in any sort of, I think, profound emotional way, of the demographic challenge that is facing this province. When you look at the facts and the figures, when you look at the studies that have been in place, that have been presented to government that I assume - I know members of this House have had access to briefings on this and I assume members from the Opposition have also had access to this information, that one becomes very worried about the ability for the province to continue its strong economic growth, unless we're able to build our trained workforce properly.

One way of doing that, Mr. Speaker, is through attracting workers back from other provinces, or through attracting immigrants from other countries. The problem, of course, becomes a problem of credentialing and while this bill leaves the credentialing, as well it should, in the hands of regulated professions where the standards are set, nonetheless the importance to have transparent and timely responses to those individuals and information to those individuals from other provinces, or from other countries, who may be thinking of moving to Nova Scotia, is a problem that this government wants to take some leadership on, and has taken leadership on, through this very, very important bill.

[2:15 p.m.]

The demographic challenge, as I said, Mr. Speaker, that I've seen shows that we have a typical inverted pyramid, typical of western countries, typical of North America, with the exception of the United States which, through rather substantial immigration, has had a slightly different profile. The Canadian profile is an inverted pyramid, in keeping with the western countries, where we have more and more people in my age group and older and fewer people who are younger, who are able to take these jobs and sustain the economy in its advance toward the future. So we are going to have to do a myriad of different things in order to make sure that we have adequate supply of workers in our various industries.

It struck me, Mr. Speaker - this came home to me when I was visiting on a labour tour and I did a labour tour of the province really looking at occupational health and safety issues

[Page 4074]

and featuring those companies that had improved their occupational health and safety record. I came across a company in Mahone Bay that, although they're quite happy to talk to me about their occupational health and safety issues, also wanted to speak to me about the lack of skilled workers. They had $35 million in back orders and they weren't bidding on any more back orders because they just weren't able to deliver on the back orders they had because they needed 60 more employees.

I asked them what they were asking for in terms of qualifications. They told me all they wanted was high school and a willingness to come to work every day and the starting salary was $12 an hour. Now, Mr. Speaker, if they don't bid on contracts in other provinces, then what will happen is that when they go back to bidding, their name, their brand will have to be revived and they will have to work very, very hard to get orders, new orders in. But they have no choice, they're caught between a rock and a hard place.

It struck me very, very strongly, Mr. Speaker, that the demographic challenge that we have is one of the greatest challenges that this province will face. In fact, in a study done by Dalhousie Professor McNiven claims that the challenge, the public policy challenge, the challenge politically for all Nova Scotians is this demographic challenge.

There are very few tools the government has at its disposal in order to meet the demographic challenge. We can help, as we are doing, working through the Department of Labour and Workforce Development with under-represented communities in the workforce, particularly doing special projects with the Mi'kmaq communities and with the Black communities in Nova Scotia, who have been traditionally under-represented in terms of their percentages in the workforce for various reasons, not of their own doing.

There are targeted programs that my new department has to try to work with these communities. We are working also with disabled Nova Scotians, who for too many years have been frozen out of the workplace because proper procedures, policies and accommodations were not put in for them. So we're working to increase the participation of groups that were typically under-represented. That's one tool that we have.

The other tool that we have is one that takes place through the Workers' Compensation Board, and that is working with injured workers in order to prevent injuries in the first place and with injured workers, once they're injured, to help them return to work faster. It's very interesting to me that the chair of the Workers' Compensation Board spoke to me recently and gave a presentation in which he noted that we'd been successful last year in returning workers to work faster and this meant that about 420 additional workers - this would be the equivalent of 420 additional workers - coming back to the workforce.

So, Mr. Speaker . . .

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. We've checked the record and apparently it should actually be the honourable member for Halifax Needham that had adjourned debate. There seems to have been a slight mix-up.

[Page 4075]

MS. MAUREEN MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. The minister has already spoken in second debate to this bill and so it's out of order, this procedure we're using here now with the minister speaking again to this bill. That's my point and that's my only point.

MR. SPEAKER: Thank you. So the honourable member for Halifax Needham was the one who adjourned debate and we should have returned to her.

The honourable member for Halifax Needham.

MS. MAUREEN MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, I move that we adjourn debate on this bill.

MR. SPEAKER: The motion before the House is to adjourn debate on Bill No. 126. Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

There have been several requests for a recorded vote.

Ring the bells. Call in the members.

[2:22 p.m.]

[The Division bells were rung.]

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.

Are the Whips satisfied?

[2:30 p.m.]

The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. CECIL CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, I apologize for any confusion that has resulted with regard to the order paper. There was an error with regard to the calling of the bill. As we were going forward, the Orders of the Day, the papers for today indicated that, indeed, it had not been adjourned and it was in the process to move forward. It was the intent and sincerely for the minister to get up and to speak, but indeed the honourable member for Halifax Needham technically - well, not technically, she did adjourn the debate with regard to Bill No. 126.

So with that, and on her point of order, indeed, of course, we agree that is correct. It was an oversight with regard to the order paper. It was not intended to go around the procedures of the House and I would then ask for the concurrence to adjourn the debate on Bill No. 126 and proceed with Public Bills for Second Reading for other bills. My apologies.

[Page 4076]

MR. SPEAKER: The question before the House is to adjourn debate on Bill No. 126. Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

Thank you for the clarification.

The honourable Deputy Government House Leader.

MR. CHUCK PORTER: Mr. Speaker, would you please call the order of business, Public Bills for Second Reading.

PUBLIC BILLS FOR SECOND READING

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Deputy Government House Leader.

MR. CHUCK PORTER: Mr. Speaker, would you please call Bill No. 179.

Bill No. 179 - Halifax Regional Municipality Charter.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.

HON. JAMES MUIR: Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise at this time to speak on Bill No. 179, which is the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter. I have to get comfortable, I'm going to speak for some time. This bill has sort of been a long time in coming and it's been a - certainly since the time which I have been in government which is about nine years that (Interruptions) I'm getting some encouragement from the opposite side of the House. It has come up from time to time, and I know the other folks who occupied this particular portfolio have raised it from time to time within caucus.

Mr. Speaker, after considerable reflection, the government felt it would be a most appropriate time to bring forward a Halifax Charter in light of the tremendous growth that the Halifax Regional Municipality has undergone in the past number of years and also its role as the capital of Nova Scotia.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I think before getting into this because I want to clarify something for the members of the House and, hopefully, the members of the media if they are listening. One of the provisions in this particular Charter talks about the creation of district councils. My executive assistant was a recent candidate in the municipal council by-election out in Bedford and it has been suggested that he had some input into the insertion of this clause into the Charter. I want to assure the members of the House this is categorically not the case. He and I have never discussed this and, as a matter of fact, some of the things that were attributed to positions that he held - as appeared in Saturday morning's Herald - were not

[Page 4077]

accurate information. It is unfortunate when a person puts their name on the line to run for public office, they are given by implication or directly some very unfounded abuse.

Mr. Speaker, the young man in question, Matthew Christie, is a man of integrity and he is doing a good job in his role. (Applause) I can tell you that as a Minister of the Crown, I have a standard of integrity which I am supposed to meet which involves preventing conflict of interest and there was no conflict of interest and that should be the end of the story. (Interruption)

AN HON. MEMBER: It should be but it won't be, you know that.

MR. MUIR: No, they won't leave it alone, I know. Anyway, Mr. Speaker, the Halifax Charter was introduced in response to petitions from HRM. Mayor Kelly and his colleagues all felt that a Charter - now, I know that there are a number of people in this Legislature who did serve on the HRM Council. As a matter of fact, I expect that their service on the HRM Council was probably the stepping stone to getting into this particular House of Assembly. Therefore, the arguments pro and con, a Charter for the Halifax Regional Municipality would be in detail and better known to many of them than to me as a person who did not sit on that council.

However, Mr. Speaker, the fact that the HRM Council and the administration felt that this was going to be a Charter and would be a way to make HRM better serve the needs of its citizens and to give it a better place in the whole Province of Nova Scotia caused this government to reflect upon those arguments and to decide that this is probably the appropriate time to move this legislation forward.

I want to emphasize, Mr. Speaker, that this legislation - despite the fact that it was introduced by this government - is a direct result of a request from HRM. It's a direct response to HRM, as indeed were a number of the changes in the Municipal Government Act which the members on the opposite side of the House didn't think were appropriate despite the fact that a number of those members when they sat on municipal council thought they were the right thing to do. So I guess where you stand on particular issues quite often depends on where you sit - absolutely, where you sit.

Anyway, I don't think anyone, Mr. Speaker, can argue about the importance of Halifax in Nova Scotia because it is the capital city and indeed, it is not only the capital city in Nova Scotia. Probably for most intents and purposes - except if you asked the people in the other three Atlantic Provinces - we would find that it is the capital of Atlantic Canada.

I see the people on the opposite side of the House nodding their heads. Halifax is the largest city. It has certainly the largest economy, notwithstanding St. John's and the wonderful opportunities it has for the offshore now, but Halifax is the largest capital in Atlantic Canada. It is the medical centre for Atlantic Canada in terms of high tech medical treatment. In the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, they have a very good medical school at Memorial University. They also have some extremely talented medical people over

[Page 4078]

there, but the fact is that most of the really high end surgery that is done in Atlantic Canada is done here in Halifax.

Similarly, there is the Janeway Children's Hospital in St. John's, which is a marvelous institution and I can say, actually, when I lived in Newfoundland, I had the opportunity, perhaps unfortunately, to visit the Janeway on a couple of occasions with one of our children. It is a marvelous institution as well, but indeed, the IWK Hospital here in Halifax is really the tertiary centre for children's health here in Atlantic Canada.

This is recognized - I mean, this is not something that you go around and you debate. This is a fact that is readily supported by people and that's probably a good thing, Mr. Speaker, because collectively in Atlantic Canada, while we don't have many more than two million folks, to try and duplicate everything in every province probably isn't a good thing. As a matter of fact, those who would look at Atlantic Canada objectively would say maybe we have too many of most things, simply because they occur in each provincial jurisdiction.

Mr. Speaker, that may or may not be the case, depending on where you stand but in a lot of cases, for example, if we take the Atlantic Provinces, in Nova Scotia we have 11 degree-granting universities - we used to have 13; in Newfoundland, they have one; in Prince Edward Island, they have one; in New Brunswick, they must have four. So in Atlantic Canada, for a population of two million people, we have about 16 or 17 degree-granting institutions which is a lot.

Now I want to say it's a lot, Mr. Speaker, but in Nova Scotia, of course, it is a great strength of this province, these marvelous education institutions that we have. Halifax is a centre of higher centre of education that is envied right across this country. We have Saint Mary's University, Dalhousie University, we have Mount Saint Vincent University, we have the Atlantic School of Theology, we have the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. In HRM, we have five degree-granting institutions, all fine institutions. The number of students, the number of people from Nova Scotia and other parts of Atlantic Canada, other parts of Canada and other parts of the world, who come into this province and make remarkable contributions because of the high quality of university education that is available here, enriches our province tremendously.

I mention that, Mr. Speaker, because when we're looking at Halifax as perhaps a unique constituency and why there should be a Charter, we have to understand what HRM consists of. Now HRM has operated within the Municipal Government Act, but the fact is that just over 40 per cent of the population of Nova Scotia resides in HRM and when we look across Canada, we find that major cities in many other jurisdictions have their own Charters - Winnipeg and Vancouver and Edmonton and places like that, and one of the keys to the maintenance of a capital city and a capital region was the ability to perhaps more closely control some of the decisions because, when you get that magnitude of size and the number of people, some of the things that may be appropriate for the rest of the province which are covered in HRM maybe can be better, better government can be provided to the people and

[Page 4079]

for the people of the province if there is a Charter where some of the decisions that are made can be unique or designed to meet the large capital population.

Mr. Speaker, as I said, nobody in Nova Scotia would deny the importance of HRM and as a capital region here having about 40 per cent of our population. Of course this is pending, it's expected to grow unfortunately - and perhaps it is unfortunately if you come from other areas of the province, that people continue to move to HRM because that's where many, many of the jobs are.

The HRM has a long and distinguished history. The City of Halifax was founded in 1749 . . .

AN HON. MEMBER: By whom?

MR. MUIR: By whom? By Lord Halifax. Absolutely. And I am looking at the member from Halifax Chebucto to get his head nodding because he may have been the person in the Legislature, around in 1749.

AN HON. MEMBER: He was there then. (Laughter)

MR. MUIR: Anyway Halifax has been unique - as a matter of fact the history of Halifax is really kind of fabulous. This was the birthplace of democracy in Canada - indeed, this year in this House we are celebrating the 250th Anniversary of democracy.

AN HON. MEMBER: Let's have 97 more politicians.

[2:45 p.m.]

MR. MUIR: Mr. Speaker, we may have 97 politicians, and one less in the constituency of Glace Bay, I don't know.

Now that the Minister of Education was kind enough earlier today to confirm a school on the Wallace Road site - the fact coming from Glace Bay, one of the resolutions I tabled today was about a gentleman from Glace Bay, a very distinguished person - the honourable member from Glace Bay may wish to look at Hansard to read about the Reverend David MacNaughton and some of the contributions that he has made to the United Church and other organizations in here. Glace Bay, despite the fact that it is not in Halifax (Interruptions) Mr. Speaker, the member for Glace Bay took me down a bad road, I'm sorry about that. Anyway I want to get back to the Halifax Charter. This indeed is really a very serious topic and I know that there are a number of people who probably wish to speak on it and support this piece of legislation and everything that's in it.

[Page 4080]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, this legislation has been the product of rather lengthy and protracted discussions with HRM officials, the sharing of ideas between some of their elected officials, as well as some of their corporate officials, to try and come up with a piece of legislation that is going to meet the needs of HRM and also fit well into the other part of Nova Scotia. That's one of the things that sometimes people forget, particularly on the opposite side of the House, that there are rural parts to the HRM. So when this Charter is being designed, one of the things that you have to take into consideration is that HRM is a very complex constituency and therefore would actually (Interruption) No, we're not forgetting about CBRM because I understand CBRM is again very historic and very fine amalgamated constituency here.

AN HON. MEMBER: Same rural aspects.

MR. MUIR: Same rural aspects, it did, only one of the things, of course, their resource-based industries were a little more, what we will call more mineral based, although we did have a very rich mining tradition in HRM and, indeed, we have a mine out there at Gays River, I believe, right now and I saw a picture of that the other day and we had . . .

AN HON. MEMBER: And Carrolls Corner.

MR. MUIR: And Carrolls Corner, natural gypsum. So it is a varied thing, Mr. Speaker.

Anyway, the thing with the economic growth of Halifax, it right now is the gateway into Nova Scotia and, indeed, probably, in some ways, the gateway into central Canada and then going from central Canada into the midwestern United States. The Atlantic Gateway strategy, which was referenced in Question Period a couple of times today, that the Minister of Economic Development spoke about as well as the Premier, Mr. Speaker, this Charter, once it is implemented, will probably make it better for all of Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada by facilitating this Gateway concept that everybody thinks is important for our province's future.

So, Mr. Speaker, the Charter is not only for sort of the nuts and bolts of making HRM work better administratively, it is also visionary in looking to the future and putting in place a structure where - I will use the word better or more appropriate and even - more timely decisions can be made.

Right now, Mr. Speaker, as you would be well aware, under the MGA, there are a number of decisions that municipalities wish to make that have be approved by government, usually by the Department of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. Well, the fact is, sometimes there is a time lag. The ability to respond immediately is not always there. Once we get the request, the due diligence, perhaps, has been done by the municipalities. If we are signing off on it, of course, we have to assure ourselves that the due diligence that has been done is appropriate and meets not only the needs of HRM but it fits well into the pattern of municipal government in the province.

[Page 4081]

So, Mr. Speaker, the other part of the Gateway that we don't talk a whole lot about is in the constituency of Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley, the Halifax Robert L. Stanfield International Airport which, by the way, I think is something that we can be very, very proud of because for the second year in a row it won an international award as the best airport in its category. (Applause) Four million visitors a year come into Nova Scotia through the Halifax Robert L. Stanfield International Airport.

Of course, Mr. Speaker, one of the things I suppose I should be speaking of, I am talking about Halifax as a capital city and also the seat of the provincial government here in Nova Scotia, is the person that the airport is named for now, the Honourable Robert L. Stanfield who was a Premier in this province for a long, long time. He was actually this province's first Education Minister. The first Education Minister that this province actually had and he held the portfolio of Education Minister . . .

AN HON. MEMBER: Did he go to school in Glace Bay?

MR. MUIR: No, what we were going to do with that, was we were actually going to pick up the school in Dominion and move it to Glace Bay and we could put it on the Wallace Road.

Mr. Speaker, you know Mr. Stanfield and his contribution, not only to the evolution of the development of Nova Scotia and his input into national politics is really the tremendous positive contribution that he made, is not challenged by anybody. It is recommended (Interruption)

Yes, thank you. Actually, although he was never really active in the family business, of course, the Stanfield family has been a well-known Nova Scotia entrepreneurial family since the 1800s. By the way, the first mill for Stanfield's was over in Prince Edward Island and they eventually moved it over to Truro where it remains these days. Of course, Stanfield's is just really a remarkable business because, to my knowledge, Stanfield's hasn't had any government assistance to keep going. They still remain a textile manufacturer here in Nova Scotia. So many of these other factories became sales agencies and the goods were manufactured offshore.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I'm going to tie that back in here because, as we know, it was Mr. Stanfield, his family name and, of course, one of the people who made a tremendous contribution, and one of the Stanfields who made a tremendous contribution to this province in recent years, as the Speaker would know and as the members on the opposite side of the House would know, was Tom Stanfield. He's the current president of the company but he was the chair, the founding chair of Nova Scotia Business Inc. (Applause)

It was not easy to find somebody to take that role, Mr. Speaker, and Mr. Stanfield stepped up and did a remarkable job. The number of jobs that Nova Scotia Business Inc. has brought, not only to HRM but to other parts of the province, is something of which I think we can all be very proud. This was an agency that was created some number of years ago.

[Page 4082]

We had business people from all over this province come together and try to decide what some things are that we can do to enhance the future of Nova Scotia. Now, you know, the NSBI for the most part, its head office is here in Halifax. It's in the World Trade and Convention Centre and, you know, most of their board meetings - but I believe that Nova Scotia Business Inc., along with the Nova Scotia Department of Economic Development, have created thousands of jobs in the past eight or nine years. Many of those jobs, Mr. Speaker, have been here in the metro area.

Now, one of the things that HRM is trying to do and the government is trying to do, and our Premier has spoken of it on a number of occasions, is to try and perhaps turn HRM into one of the major financial capitals here in the country. But one of the things that has discouraged some people from coming into HRM to set up businesses - ones that would benefit all Nova Scotia, which is directly referred to in this bill and some accompanying pieces of legislation - is, we need better office space downtown. We've got to have the opportunity so the developers can put facilities so these businesses can come here.

So one of the things that was in this, despite the opposition of people like the member for Halifax Chebucto who does not like new structures, likes only old buildings. (Interruptions) Mr. Speaker, some of the things that were in the Halifax Charter and the accompanying legislation would follow it, were going to make it easier for developers to remove some of the red tape that would enable developers to make it more friendly for development so perhaps we can grow and bring this A-class office space that we need downtown, a little more easily. I've been told that sometimes it's very frustrating to people who want new development in HRM, some of the restrictions that are there for a variety of reasons. You know, bringing in the Charter and some of the additional amendments to the MGA and, of course, the HRM by Design, which is a piece of this as well, would enable HRM to grow economically and, of course, it, well, we have to get things that will keep our young people here.

One of the unfortunate things in Halifax is no different than other parts, although the population of Halifax is growing, it's not growing naturally. The population of Halifax is growing because people are moving here. People are moving here and if they're moving into Halifax, it means they're mobile and they might move someplace else. One of the things we would like to do and which we think this Charter may help HRM to do is to put in conditions that would enable HRM to be more attractive to more young people who are going elsewhere for employment.

For example, I know and I look at the member for Cape Breton Centre and the member for Glace Bay, there's a large number of young people who are on a plane and they're making a living in various parts of Alberta and they come back here and, you know, there's lots of money, they tell me that the Cape Breton economy right now is being fuelled by Alberta money, a lot of it. It would be good if these people could not work in their home community up in the Cape Breton area, that if they could work in Nova Scotia, it's not quite as far to travel. Putting conditions that will enable development and business growth in HRM is a good thing, not only for HRM, but for the rest of the province.

[Page 4083]

[3:00 p.m.]

I was reminded by my colleague, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture that we're talking about the diversity of HRM, that we have a major fishery here. I mean, even down in Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage, I think there are wharves down there and there are fishermen. I know when I was over knocking on doors during the by-election which the honourable member won, I saw a lot of people, a lot of fishing gear and whatnot and I can't understand why she voted against the support for the fishery, particularly as part of HRM. Her conscience as representing HRM, I would have thought her conscience would have prevented her from doing that, I would have thought she would have stood up for her constituents. I really did, yes. Fishermen and farmers. ( Interruptions) Feed us all, yes, Mr. Speaker, I don't know.

To be quite frank, the member for Halifax Citadel who talks about being the university champion and this particular piece of legislation is going to make it easier to attract more students for the growth of universities and all these things. Well, he voted against universities and that, I expect he'll vote against the Charter too, I don't know. I'm guessing. Just to be consistent. (Interruption)

AN HON. MEMBER: I voted against the 8 per cent tax on electricity.

MR. MUIR: I'll tell you I think I heard you vote against a lot of good things. (Interruptions) In many ways, I've tried to link that Halifax is not only a capital city, it's the education capital, the medical capital and it is the political capital and as we all recognize, it is also the economic capital of this province. The health and performance of the other municipalities are, quite frankly, in many ways dependent on the economy of Halifax. Now, we do have an equalization system here in Nova Scotia. (Interruption) I do believe the mayor of the CBRM does recognize that there is an equalization system here - it appears he doesn't quite agree with it. So probably at this point there might be disagreement between two members (Interruption) The members of CBRM and the members of the Department of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.

Anyway, the fact that it's the economic engine in the province and, as they say, the health and economic performance in many ways is related - other municipalities are related to how well Halifax goes.

I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, one time when I worked in Halifax, some time ago, and lived here - well, I guess I didn't live here - I had to a pay poll tax, I had to pay a poll tax in Halifax. Now I know the member for Dartmouth South-Portland Valley, on that side of the House, may be the only one who really has been around long enough to remember a poll tax (Interruption)

AN HON. MEMBER: I remember the poll tax.

[Page 4084]

MR. MUIR: You remember the poll tax? Yes, I can remember that. I had to pay these poll taxes, if you worked in the city. (Interruption) You wouldn't remember, no, okay.

Now the reason I say that is, we were in the coffee room the other day, it was no reflection, but she said that she was the same age as the member for Cape Breton South and the Minister of Economic Development. So I figure that was (Interruption) Anyway, HRM, of course, over the course of time, improved things - the poll tax is gone. What that was, Mr. Speaker - you wouldn't know that - if you worked in HRM and you did not pay municipal taxes here, then there was basically a payroll tax where you, everybody - I think in the case it might have been about $50 a year, or something like that. If you weren't a property owner, and worked here, then you had to pay that.

Mr. Speaker, a major city having its own Charter is certainly not uncommon in Canada. I said that earlier but I want to repeat it, because I like to think that in terms of the importance of HRM as a community in Nova Scotia, it would rank up there with the importance of Vancouver, British Columbia, where they are going to have the Olympics. I think in terms of like Toronto - now, Toronto is a little bit different, they have a city Charter there, but as I understand, Toronto has boroughs which perhaps makes it operate a little bit differently than here.

AN HON. MEMBER: How about the Leafs, how about those Leafs?

MR. MUIR: No, they haven't won a Stanley Cup since before the Premier was born.

Mr. Speaker, I'm one of the few people maybe in here who has watched Winnipeg develop over the course of the years, notwithstanding the member for Halifax Fairview, but he's got a few years - he didn't see the part of Winnipeg that I saw.

Anyway, one of the things, Winnipeg hit a critical mass. How many people in here have been to Winnipeg lately? It's a marvelous city now, the landscape has changed, it has arts and culture and all these things which were there very minimally when I was in and out of there. When I one time had a career as - I worked as a hard-rock miner for a couple of years and I used to go in and out of Winnipeg and go to these things. So the city has changed. But when you have cities like Toronto and Vancouver and Winnipeg having their own Charters, I think if that's one of the things that would make one of those cities greater, then we're trying to make HRM greater, to have the same place, then obviously if a city Charter facilitates that, or an HRM Charter, then there very well could be here, and the government is well advised to support HRM in this regard, and that's what we're doing.

Now what these cities - Vancouver, Toronto and Winnipeg - have in common is that they are all regional centres with a strong economic base. So if having a Charter is good, can strengthen the economic base of a municipality, then it makes sense that Halifax, our province's largest city, with the largest economic - and being the provincial capital that we, too, would have a Charter here to enable HRM to move forward, as it should.

[Page 4085]

Mr. Speaker, the Charter legislation that is being proposed is based on the Municipal Government Act and, to be quite frank, I think there are a number of people in here who recognize that and kind of the tweaking that has been done is to respond to Halifax as the economic and the political capital of the province and the MGA, of course, is the legislation under which all municipalities currently operate.

Now, members will know that under the current MGA, HRM has its own special section. It's a special section that recognizes special HRM needs, something that no other municipality has. However, it is the feeling of HRM, and agreed to by government, that the needs of HRM have evolved to the point that having the special section, relating to HRM in the MGA, is no longer the best governance approach. The best approach now is to remove the HRM governance from the MGA and to set up new legislation, effectively a Charter for HRM.

What the Charter will do, Mr. Speaker, is it will allow government to be more flexible and more responsive to HRM's evolving needs, especially around growth, development and economic opportunities, without continually having to amend the Municipal Government Act. I guess one only has to take a look at this sitting of the House to find out what happens when you try to make some minor changes to the Municipal Government Act to get the full perspective of people, particularly the people in HRM. Of course, if you're talking about dogs, then you're getting them from Atlanta, Georgia, and Toronto and every other place.

Whereas HRM council went to the cats and had a little dust-up there, Mr. Speaker. We felt that the legislation we had proposed in the Municipal Government Act, which would amend the powers of the municipality to control or to regulate dogs was a good thing. However, unfortunately, it appeared to be, perhaps deliberately, widely misunderstood. What that particular clause was intended to do, and of course it would have applied here in the Charter, and it was a request from the UNSM, was right now municipalities have the right to ban dogs. They can do it. What this particular amendment, that did not get through the Law Amendments Committee, would have done was would have given municipalities other options to banning ,which probably might have been more appropriate in the cases where there were dogs whose behaviour was not in the best interests of the public and, in particular, public safety.

So, Mr. Speaker, the Charter is going to allow government to be more flexible and responsive to HRM's evolving needs, especially the growth, development and economic opportunities. As I say, these things - and I'm repeating them, because they are important and without continually having to amend the Municipal Government Act.

Now, Mr. Speaker, if you look around HRM, where they have probably some unique problems, we've got them. All we have to do is walk outside the door down here and see the traffic that comes into downtown Halifax and the question is how to best deal with that. Although they deal with it as best they can, when you're trying to preserve a heritage district and trying to make a transportation system work within that, it's not always that easy. Maybe

[Page 4086]

a transportation route should be someplace else. These are questions that can be best considered outside the Municipal Government Act and inside a Halifax Charter.

As I've said, Mr. Speaker, the proposal of this act is to take the powers relating to municipalities in general, and HRM in particular, that are in the current Municipal Government Act and place them into a new, separate act. What really are the major changes? Charter not only reflected its own legislation that we have proposed, but it incorporated the proposed amendments through the Municipal Government Act. The fact is, the intent of this Charter is that when we make changes in the Municipal Government Act, we would be making changes, where appropriate, to the HRM Charter.

In this case, I can say with the tabling of the Charter this time, we brought forth changes to the Municipal Government Act and they were discussed in the Law Amendments Committee process. The intent of course was that any changes that were made to the Municipal Government Act, as a result of the Law Amendments Committee process, would be included in the Halifax Charter Act. Effectively, in some ways, we did recognize it might have been the case where this Act was tabled and it was going to have to be amended before it was passed simply because there had been changes in the Municipal Government Act, so, we did recognize that.

[3:15 p.m.]

Now people will say, why did you then introduce the Halifax Charter Act when you did as opposed to waiting to see what was going to happen as a result of the changes to the Municipal Government Act? To be quite frank, although we would very much like to see this bill be passed during this session of the Legislature, it seemed unlikely that it was going to be. It's a document which is going to require considerable careful study by a good many people. The UNSM people in HRM will go back and I'm sure they'll have a sober second thought about some of the things that are in the Charter. What we wanted to do was bring a document to the floor of this Legislature so that there would be something concrete.

In having this discussion about the Charter, we think the legislation that was introduced was good legislation, but we want to give people the opportunity to examine, and where necessary debate, so that when the Charter comes back on the floor in the Fall, there will be opportunity for more informed discussion than there would be if we moved this forward. I think we have seen some unfortunate examples, in this city, in the Legislature, where there have been some things that have happened, particularly with regard to amendments, because people have acted on information which probably is not the most accurate. As a result, there were some very good things that were introduced into legislation that will not be approved this sitting.

Now, among other things that the Charter legislation will do- you know, it's the type of thing that makes it easier to do business. Mr. Speaker, if HRM wants to sign a lease for five years that might be more than $100,000, they have to come to the Department of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations to get approval to do that. Anybody who knows about

[Page 4087]

the price of office space and floors of offices in buildings in downtown Halifax, I'm sure would probably say that, you know, you're getting into a long-term commitment for a lease that maybe $100,000, you know, a long-term commitment for rent is probably, the question is why should they have to come to the Department of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations to get permission to do that? Well, that's a pretty good question.

So one of the things that this legislation does is that it changes the requirement for ministerial approval for long-term commitments from $100,000 to $500,000 and, Mr. Speaker, this is probably a good thing. I mean this is one of these little practical things that kind of makes sense. I don't think anybody here is going to disagree with that if you know about the price of real estate and other commitments, I mean contractual commitments. For example, in my department one of the things that I found out this morning is that our software contracts in the Department of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations - we're now up to $1 million. That's our software contracts. I had a discussion with the deputy this morning. So I can see that within HRM which, you know, basically has so much infrastructure to maintain and whatnot, whether it's a lease of equipment, or it's a lease of technology equipment for a computer for information services, you know, having a commitment of more than $100,000 over a period of time is not hard to do.

Now, one of the other things, Mr. Speaker, that was included in this bill was the authority for HRM to establish district councils which would provide local residents with an added voice in local matters. I think the fact of the matter is, as everybody knows, despite the fact that there are certain parts and certain elements in HRM that work very, very well and nobody would try to take that away but there are certain areas of HRM where there is tension.

Mr. Speaker, the insertion of this particular clause and this particular amendment was to try to provide a compromise. Certainly everybody knows that one of the groups is residents. They want, basically, taxation powers and they wanted the ability to spend the money, the money that was collected for them more or less, in general spend it as they saw fit. Well, that's unfortunate or, fortunately, that's not the way things work whether it's in HRM or whether it's in the province but what we thought might be an appropriate intermediate step which might give people a greater sense of ownership was if they so chose to establish a district council which would provide residents with an added voice into local matters. Now, as people know, this district council would be to provide advice only. It did not have the power to set area rates. The financial control for rates would remain with HRM.

So, Mr. Speaker, it wasn't the intention to put in another - as has been tritely and probably wrongly suggested by certain members, particularly the media - to add another level of government. What it was trying to do was to put in place a mechanism to give residents who wanted it authority to have a greater input into local matters. Now, these things weren't automatic and I would suggest that if, as was suggested to me by one of the people this morning, we're going to create 92 district councils, there must be something sadly wrong with HRM if they all felt that they had a gripe, that they had to set up a council. So probably if that was the case, then this was a very necessary thing to do. It might provide for that.

[Page 4088]

Now, Mr. Speaker, the legislation also provides for consultation before future amendments are introduced to allow for proper research and reflection on the impact of proposed changes to the Charter. Of course, the other thing which has created some degree of controversy in the UNSM as well as in the HRM community; HRM was the creation of the provision of a municipal auditor general.

I think this suggestion of a municipal auditor general is a very good one. We have had some push back or - push back I guess you would call it - push back from the UNSM because in addition to having one for HRM, we're suggesting that a municipal auditor general be included in the MGA. There was an amendment that would see that thing would not take place until there was a meeting of the minds between Service Nova Scotia and the UNSM on this matter.

The fact is that in Halifax, spending - you know, 40 per cent of the population - a tremendously big budget. The members from HRM council, including the mayor, did approach me last year and asked if there was any chance to have an auditor general for HRM. Now, what the auditor general would do - the functions would be very similar to that of the auditor general for the province. The auditor general would not really just look and see whether your accounting practises were correct. Municipalities, like everybody else, hire firms of accountants to do that.

But this auditor general would really, in many ways, be doing value for money audits. Is the money being spent wisely? Is the staff being used? They're going to ask all those questions which sometimes we're happy to answer and sometimes we're uncomfortable answering. The thing with the auditor general, which was requested by the HRM councillors, was that the auditor general report to council and not to staff. This was sort of a point of tension, I think, in the current HRM, where there was really the discussion that if you do, to whom do auditors report? Do they report to the city management, or do they report to council?

Council would like them to report directly to council. I believe the interpretation is, right now, when they bring in auditors - and I could get some help from the member for Preston - is that I understand they have to report to the city management. This has created, again - you know government, although sometimes it's very uncomfortable to have the auditor general review what you're doing and sometimes you don't agree with what the auditor general said. It would be very hard, as a government, to say that a municipal auditor general or a provincial auditor general did not perform a valuable function to ensure good governance at the provincial level or good governance at the municipal level.

Indeed, I'm not sure I would want to be a municipal unit now that was arguing against the concept of an auditor general. I do understand there are financial implications in the MGA for municipalities and I appreciate that. That's why government is prepared to work with them to try and come up with a best-type solution to the municipal auditor general, but HRM wants an auditor general, so they can literally - and they're certainly large enough, basically, to have a full-time auditor general to see how they're doing. Are the citizens being

[Page 4089]

well governed? Is their money being well and wisely spent? How can things be improved? Is there waste? These things are topics for auditors general and they are good ones.

Mr. Speaker, I think I'm close to running out of time and I'm actually just getting warmed up, because I had a lot more things that I would like to say. I do want to make it clear that although government at this time believes that a Charter is appropriate for HRM because of its size, its economic base, the fact that it's the site of the provincial government, we do not believe that any other municipality, at this time, would be well-served by a Charter. So when people say well, it's the thin edge of a wedge which is something we don't see it that way. I can make it, I think, probably quite clear, Mr. Speaker, that this government has no intentions of extending Charter privileges or introducing Charter legislation on behalf of any other municipality at this time. Clearly right now this is a stand-alone piece of legislation, it is intended for HRM. HRM is probably in some ways radically different from the other parts of other municipalities in the province, and there are 55 municipalities in the province, Mr. Speaker. We think that for the most part, the MGA works well.

However, HRM felt that they had some particular unique situations - circumstances

which meant that a Charter would serve them better. So we felt that the introduction of a Charter, if it would better meet the needs of HRM and better meet the needs of HRM residents - and if it meets the needs of HRM residents because of Halifax being the major economic player in the province, as well as the capital and the cultural centre and the education centre. I'm talking in the broad sense, not in the individual sense because we know we've got marvelous - my colleague, the member for Kings South today, I believe it was, introduced a resolution on Acadia University being the number-one ranked university in the country, undergraduate university, by Maclean's Magazine.

[3:30 p.m.]

We also have, of course, Cape Breton University, which is an institution which is maturing and serving the people in Cape Breton municipality primarily very, very well. We have also St. Francis Xavier University serving the people in Antigonish very well, and not to mention in my home community and that of the Minister of Education, we have the Nova Scotia Agricultural College and we recently passed an Act which is going to enable it to do its - but the fact is that when you take collectively with the specialized education, the graduate schools, the professional education, the law school, the med school, the architectural school and engineering school, all of these advanced education things for the most part are here in Halifax.

So when we say that Halifax is, in many ways, the education capital of Nova Scotia, it's not saying that these other institutions don't have excellent quality of education, it's just recognizing the thing.

Mr. Speaker, with those few comments I would like to adjourn debate on Bill No. 179.

[Page 4090]

MR. SPEAKER: Thank you. The motion before the House is to adjourn debate on Bill No. 179.

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 Deputy Government House Leader.

MR. CHUCK PORTER: Mr. Speaker, would you please call Bill No. 181.

Bill No. 181 - Halifax Regional Municipality Act

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.

HON. JAMES MUIR: Mr. Speaker, thank you and I am pleased to be able to stand again in my place to talk about Bill No. 181, the Halifax Regional Municipality Act. This is really a companion piece of legislation to the Halifax Charter Act and it's - I guess really what it is, rather than calling it the Halifax Regional Municipality Act, it is better known as the more common phrase, HRM by Design.

We chose to create a separate Act for this because it deals with provisions which are very different from those which are found in the Municipal Government Act. It also makes it very easy for everyone to identify the provisions that specifically relate to HRM by Design.

Mr. Speaker, we know that this particular bill is going to generate a lot of public interest and there will be a lot of not only debate on the Floor of this Legislature and in the Law Amendments Committee when it hits the Law Amendments Committee, but we are bringing it forth as a separate piece of legislation because we want it to be available to focus decision. I guess if we look at it, HRM by Design has been something that is not new. It's something that HRM has been working on for some number of years now, at least for a couple of years formally. They have been wrestling with this whole issue particularly of how to build a 21st Century capital municipality. Well, we thought that the Charter, change that would introduce the Charter, would be one way to do this. Secondly, and I did reference this in my comments to the other bill, is that Halifax Regional Municipality is looking for changes to the new Charter that will enable development to proceed more quickly downtown. It will be of high quality and respect the city's heritage.

I guess I've spoken of the heritage earlier, Halifax being founded in 1749, I don't know how far back some of these buildings go, but clearly there was a tremendous emphasis

[Page 4091]

in Halifax, some number of years ago, to make heritage and the heritage building a major part of downtown Halifax. It was seen, in some ways, as revitalization of the downtown Halifax. Mr. Speaker, when I first started to come to Halifax as a young person, of course the two major streets in Halifax were Barrington Street and Gottingen Street. Those were the commercial centres of this city - Barrington Street and Gottingen Street, absolutely.

Spring Garden Road, although it had Mills, the Cameo Restaurant, the Garden View Restaurant, the commercial development on Spring Garden Road has been more recent. One of the things that spurred the development on Spring Garden Road may have been the expansion of the universities and putting all of those people into downtown. Of course, too, when Gottingen Street and Barrington Street effectively closed down, then if there was to be shopping on the peninsula, outside of the shopping centres, it morphed to Spring Garden Road. There used to be all kinds of theatres in downtown Halifax. Of course we think of the Capitol, which was the site of the building in which my office is located, the Maritime Centre. We had the Paramount (Interruption)

AN HON. MEMBER: Automobile site now?

MR. MUIR: Automobiles. No, but I can tell you what I remember in HRM by Design, if you want to go down to Granville Street and Hollis Street and dig up underneath that pavement, you will find cobblestones. I can see the honourable member for Dartmouth South nodding her head as she too can remember that. I can remember (Interruption) Mr. Speaker, rabbit tracks. Anyway Halifax has really changed. We had the Vogue Theatre and the Casino Theatre up on Gottingen Street, we had the Gaiety Theatre - I'm trying to remember what the theatre was that is now the location where Neptune - that was actually a movie theatre when it was converted to Neptune. It was not the Gaiety, it was the - I'm sorry, I just can't remember it right now.

So, HRM by Design is something that has been evolving. You know, from seeing the transformation of the downtown area from Barrington Street and Gottingen Street being the two major shopping areas in Halifax, and both of them you see boarded up buildings and I was going to say not restaurants, but you see a lot of lounges and other restaurants, it has been a major change.

So then they redeveloped the downtown area, the Historic Properties down there, and somebody, government, and I assume with probably federal and provincial money. A tremendous change in downtown Halifax with the Historic Properties, and that was seen as something to keep people, the shoppers, in the downtown area. Of course, at that time, we were in the shopping centre movement. The first shopping centre, I think, in Halifax, was the one on Bayers Road, the Bayers Road Shopping Centre. It was followed a little bit later by Penhorn Mall. Then from Penhorn, if I am not mistaken, it was Mic Mac Mall, and then it was the Halifax Shopping Centre, and then all of the out little riding communities a lot of them had mini shopping centres or various malls. Of course, what you did was, you got in your car and you drove to these things, and the gasoline wasn't approaching $1.35 a litre then either.

[Page 4092]

You know, with Halifax, I can remember one of the real thrills for me as a young person was when I used to come and visit in Halifax and when I was finally able to get on the trolley by myself. They used to have something they called the belt line. It was 1 and 2, and it ran up Spring Garden Road, and it ran all the way up Coburg Road, and it went around, up Oxford Street, came back across Quinpool Road, and down there through Cogswell Street and came back up Barrington Street and made a loop. They used to call it the belt line, and I do remember that.

Anyway, it was interesting, and of course those were in the days when we didn't have diesel buses. At that time we had the electric buses, and I don't know, maybe we should never have given up the electric buses.

When I first went to university here in Halifax I stayed at Pine Hill. I was there for a couple of years and, of course, it used to be the number nine that ran from down on Spring Garden Road up to Tower Road, so we could get off there. I think there might be a transfer, the number six ran down Oakland Road at that time, I think. Anyway, I am getting a little bit off track there. I was just going back a little bit.

But we do know, Mr. Speaker, that there will probably be considerable public interest in this bill and considerable representation on it before it passes, but the whole idea behind it was the Halifax Regional Municipality know that if they are going to keep the downtown and develop a commercial centre in Halifax and redevelop the commercial centre in Halifax there have to be changes that would allow or enable the city to respond to development decisions more quickly and efficiently, yet, at the same time, protect the quality of any development and also respect the heritage of downtown Halifax.

So HRM by Design, was really intended to do those things, to put in place a mechanism which would enable development to occur, to occur more rapidly, yet, at the same time, retaining quality and respect for heritage. Mr. Speaker, if a piece of legislation can do that, then I would think, notwithstanding there might be one or two things that people may wish to see tweaked, that there should be unanimous support for this document in this Legislature.

Now I do see one naysayer, Mr. Speaker, but we probably knew that before we introduced it. The amendments will enable the HRM Council to appoint a design review committee to approve architectural design and other characteristics of a new development in downtown.

This is not something unique, or will not be something that would be unique to HRM. Committees of this nature are the norm in other major cities. We are a major city in HRM, and if HRM is going to be a major city, then it has to put in place a mechanism so that it can respond to development needs and other things as a major city. We know that people or organizations and municipal entities like Vancouver and New York, they have these committees to allow for expert input into the architectural features of structures being proposed.

[Page 4093]

Of course, under the proposed amendments, if anybody doesn't like the decisions of that committee, then they can be appealed to council. Right now, as I understand it, if you don't like something that is done, you can't appeal to council, you have to go to the URB. There may be times when appealing to the URB makes sense, but I have to believe, on matters such as this, there might be a better way to do it. That's what this legislation is seeking to do, to give that opportunity and take it away. It is two things, first of all, it is probably going to be done quicker and more efficiently. People will make more meaningful appeals. In other words, they realize there would be certain time lines that would go in, they would have to have tight appeals, they just couldn't go in.

Secondly, as people in this House would know, the URB has a tremendous load on it right now. URB struggles to keep up with the load that has been put on it and if it would lessen the load for the URB, and you'd still get quality decisions by another body, then it would make sense for all of us to probably consider that appealing to a committee of council, I'm sorry, to appealing to council, might just be a little more efficacious than all the time having to go to the URB.

[3:45 p.m.]

The amendments being introduced today also clarify provisions relating to bonus and incentive zoning that are already in legislation. Bonus and incentive zoning, for those of you who are not familiar with that, means there may be certain restrictions in a zone and in exchange for doing something over and above the development, the city may allow some enhancements or some deviation from the current existing guidelines.

For example, if you want to put up a high rise, some sort of a major office tower and at the same time you didn't quite fit the zoning requirements, you say, okay, we might allow that if you go ahead and you fix up the street. It would be compatible with that, or, at the same time, even put up some affordable housing. There might be some trade-offs where the trade-off would be more positive than the disadvantage that was first apparent.

There is some provision in the legislation for that and in return, in consideration for a developer doing more, or adding something to the development agreement that would enhance the community, the council might, in return, reciprocate and say, okay, if you do this, we will perhaps maybe put two buildings on the site, or two small buildings as opposed to one big one or maybe even add a floor to the building.

Again, that would be something that would be determined by council, you know, if they want to negotiate it this way, then the amendments being introduced are clarifying that particular planning tool. Now, that does currently exist in the legislation but apparently I guess not everybody is on the same page about what is the meaning of this so what this does is intend to clarify it. So the amendments being brought forward to clarify the existing provisions are intended to provide an additional planning tool.

[Page 4094]

Now, the changes being introduced to the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter will result in more certainty for citizens, the development industry and municipal council. I guess, in addition, the new planning tools will help protect heritage and will allow development to proceed in a timely fashion. The criticism that I've heard as somewhat of an outsider and watching debates in Halifax, with some degree of interest I guess probably because I'm a little bit interested in that, and secondly as the minister, is the developers want certainty. They want to know what is possible and what is not possible. So any piece of legislation that will clarify that is good legislation.

Mr. Speaker, we believe that this bill will provide some clarity to developers and it also will provide clarity for those who perhaps don't want development, you know, at least everybody knows what the ground rules are and apparently right now that is not always the case. I think of one of the great things, which I think we who don't live in metro look at with some degree of interest, is what was known as the "Twisted Sisters" development on the corner of Hollis and Sackville Streets. It is and it isn't, it is and it isn't, it is and it isn't, I mean somebody figure it for me and I don't know whether it's on or off now. The last I heard I thought it was on. Is it on? It is.

It is, okay, but I mean the ramifications and the back and forth on that particular development, to me, looking at it from the outside, there has got to be some way to fix that. I mean you're the city, you shouldn't have to go through it; if you're the developers, you shouldn't have to go through it. You know somewhere there should be some guidelines that enable this project to move ahead or not move ahead and apparently clearly that wasn't the case. That has been three or four years. I think the old Tex-Park, it may even be down six or seven years ago. So the new planning tools, as I say, will help protect heritage and will enable development to proceed in a timely fashion.

As I said in my comments on the Charter, HRM's economic growth and development is important to all Nova Scotians. It is the economic engine of our province. There's no question about that and we want to make sure that measures that are in place can be responsive, and responsive to Halifax's needs in a responsible way and be both responsive and responsible especially around growth development and economic opportunities.

So, Mr. Speaker, the amendments relating to HRM by Design are certainly a very important part of that. I think if you go back, looking at the controversy over downtown, there is an accompanying amendment to this that came from my colleague, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, that while HRM by Design is being worked on and we have the new heritage strategy, a task force out there from his department, that there is a piece of legislation he may wish, and he probably will speak to it, was going to put a two-year freeze on development or the destruction of heritage properties. Apparently right now under the legislation, if you appeal to the council, if you want to do something, that something is designated as a heritage property and they tell you no, then you don't do anything for a year and then you can do what you want to.

[Page 4095]

The amendment which is being proposed by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage will extend that and put a moratorium on for two years. I think that is a good thing, until this whole issue of the heritage strategy is straightened out.

Mr. Speaker, when we're looking at the Halifax Charter legislation and the amendments to the MGA, which are going to be incorporated into the Halifax Charter, and the amendments to the Halifax Charter, which are really HRM by Design, I think we probably have to look at all three as a package because they are intertwined. So I encourage members of the House to look carefully at these three pieces of legislation. Clearly HRM thinks they are important pieces of legislation. The fact that we, as a government, did table them, albeit at least the two pieces in the Halifax Charter and the amendments to the Halifax Charter, HRM by Design, we felt that they were good pieces of legislation and indeed, they are going to help promote HRM, they are going to help promote and foster economic growth, they are going to foster cultural growth.

In Halifax, they are going to foster all kinds of things which would be associated with a cap on the improvements in HRM, probably making HRM a tighter-knit community. That was another thing which was considered. HRM has been a place now for 10 years but there is still some - not that they were ever trying to do away with community identification, but some people still don't feel that they are in HRM as an identity and probably it would be better if this legislation would help people not only feel at home and retain their own community identification, but also feel that HRM was a good thing for them, it would be better.

Mr. Speaker, we think that these pieces of legislation will do that and in that interest we encourage all members of the House to support them. If there are particular items over which they have a difference of opinion, we think, now that these pieces of legislation are tabled, that people are going to have the opportunity to go and talk to other people, to get a degree of comfort that these pieces of legislation are good for everybody - the residents of HRM, or if you happen to live out in East Hants, and say well, you know, the member for Hants East here, this piece of legislation, is this going to be good for my community? I think you're going to find that the answer is yes.

Now the danger, of course, sometimes comes that you may be the member from up in Cumberland North. Is it going to be beneficial to the people up in Cumberland North? The other question is, is it going to do damage to the people in Cumberland North, which may be a more fundamental question. We think the answer to that, whether it's Cumberland North, or it's Preston, or it's Cape Breton Centre, or it happens to be even down in Queens, we think that this piece of legislation is going to strengthen HRM, these pieces of legislation are going to strengthen HRM, they're going to strengthen the communities in Antigonish, they're going to strengthen the communities in Inverness, because we have to think of Nova Scotia as an entity. I always think, what's good for one part of Nova Scotia, I think in many ways is good for us all.

[Page 4096]

Now we have economic development in Halifax and we know that does spin out across the province. We know that if people come to visit Halifax because of the Heritage Properties there, that those people, to get to Halifax, are doing to have to drive through Truro and maybe they'll stop in and see the Agricultural College or see our tree sculptures, or go and see our Veterans Memorial Garden. There are all of these things which they may do. Go and visit the cultural centre or the power centre. We think if we can get people in Nova Scotia, and you know they may very well drive down the Eastern Shore and go down to see Sherbrooke Village, if we can get the people here, then we, as other communities, can get to them to other parts of the province.

So, Mr. Speaker, these particular amendments, the amendments to the Halifax Charter, HRM by Design, which we are speaking of specifically at this time, and what it is intended to do is trying to protect that unique part of the Halifax heritage which does not exist in my community, but be able to marry that with appropriate development that is going to create greater economic opportunity, greater economic growth, and create more opportunities for our young people so our young people will stay in Nova Scotia, and they don't have to go to these other places right now to get, let's say, well-paying jobs - I don't want to use the work high-paying, but jobs that will enable them to raise their families, will enable them perhaps to educate their kids, enable them to take a vacation, all of these things which we all want not only for ourselves, we want it for our kids and we want if for our neighbours.

So this is what Nova Scotia is about. The legislation, HRM I think plays a role in all of this. So these pieces of legislation, you know, are good ones. I think they are beneficial not only for HRM, they are beneficial for our whole province. I know, Mr. Speaker, that the members are going to have the opportunity to discuss these pieces of legislation with some of their colleagues, and when they do that they are going to see that these are indeed good pieces of legislation and should be supported.

So, Mr. Speaker, I encourage all members to look carefully at this. I think that we should be supported. So with those few comments I am going to adjourn debate, request the adjournment of debate on Bill No. 170 . . .

MR. SPEAKER: Bill No. 181.

[4:00 p.m.]

MR. MUIR: I'm sorry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I didn't write the number down, I was so wrapped up in my comments.

MR. SPEAKER: The motion before the House is for adjournment of debate on Bill No. 181. Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

[Page 4097]

The honourable Deputy Government House Leader.

MR. CHUCK PORTER: Mr. Speaker, I would ask that the House do recess for one hour.

MR. SPEAKER: The motion before the House is for the House to recess for one hour.

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 will recess until 5:00 p.m.

[4:01 p.m. The House recessed.]