October 19, 2009

HANSARD 09-23

DEBATES AND PROCEEDINGS

Speaker: Honourable Charlie Parker

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/

First Session

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
GOVERNMENT NOTICES OF MOTION:
Res. 645, McCulloch, Christine: Elections Act - Review,
Hon. F. Corbett 1352
Vote - Affirmative 1353
Res. 646, Clements, Vanessa: African Nova Scotian Olympic Torchbearer -
Congrats., Hon. P. Paris 1354
Vote - Affirmative 1354
Res. 647, Environ. - Waste Reduction: Nova Scotians - Congrats.,
Hon. S. Belliveau 1354
Vote - Affirmative 1355
Res. 648, Selinger, Greg: Man. Premier - Swearing-In,
The Premier 1355
Vote - Affirmative 1356
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS:
No. 41, Multi-Year Funding Act, Hon. Manning MacDonald 1356
NOTICES OF MOTION:
Res. 649, Cowan, Sen. James - Dal.: Hon. Deg. - Congrats.,
Mr. A. Younger 1356
Vote - Affirmative 1357
Res. 650, Naqvi, Dr. Mahmood: Health Care Contribution - Congrats.,
Mr. A. MacLeod 1357
Vote - Affirmative 1358
Res. 651, Ferguson, Meghan: Give to Live - Participation,
The Premier 1358
Vote - Affirmative 1358
Vote - Affirmative
Res. 652, Commun. Serv.: Income Assistance Rates - Raise,
Hon. Manning MacDonald 1359
Res. 653, Melanson, Harold - Springhill Miner's Museum:
Medal Donation - Thank, Hon. M. Scott 1359
Vote - Affirmative 1360
Res. 654, Pumpkin People: Kentville - Welcome,
Mr. J. Morton 1360
Vote - Affirmative 1361
Res. 655, Marchand, Brad: Hockey Accomplishments - Congrats.,
Ms. K. Regan 1361
Vote - Affirmative 1362
Res. 656, Gorman, Michael: Newspaper Award - Congrats.,
Hon. R. Hurlburt 1362
Vote - Affirmative 1362
Res. 657, McDonough, Alexa - Dal.: Hon. Degree - Congrats.,
Ms. L. Zann 1362
Vote - Affirmative 1363
Res. 658, Commun. Health Bds.: Actions - Congrats.,
Ms. D. Whalen 1363
Vote - Affirmative 1364
Res. 659, Middle River Cons. Sch.: Peace Bk. - Congrats.,
Mr. K. Bain 1364
Vote - Affirmative 1365
Res. 660, McDougal, Rebecca - Nova New England Group Essay Contest,
Ms. B. Kent 1365
Vote - Affirmative 1366
Res. 661, Best, Linda/Steward, Allan: Food Summit - Congrats.,
Mr. L. Glavine 1366
Vote - Affirmative 1366
Res. 662, Boudreau, Philomene & Désiré - Anniv. (50th),
Hon. C. d'Entremont 1367
Vote - Affirmative 1368
Res. 663, Schulich, Seymour: Dal-law Sch. - Contribution,
Mr. H. Epstein 1368
Vote - Affirmative 1369
Res. 664, Law Enforcement Mem. Serv. - Anniv. (27th),
Mr. W. Gaudet 1369
Vote - Affirmative 1369
Res. 665, McDow, Krista: Olympic Torchbearer - Congrats.,
Mr. C. Porter 1370
Vote - Affirmative 1370
Res. 666, NDP - Protesters: Backbenchers - Meet,
Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay) 1370
Res. 667, Pottle, Dr. Thomas: World Sight Day Challenge - Congrats.,
Hon. C. Clarke 1371
Vote - Affirmative 1372
Res. 668, Freedom Stone: Black Cultural Ctr. - Unveiling,
Mr. K. Colwell 1372
Vote - Affirmative 1372
Res. 669, Ferguson, Sara Rose - Pengrowth/N.S. Energy Scholarship,
Hon. K. Casey 1373
Vote - Affirmative 1373
Res. 670, Dupuis, Al: N.S. Country Music Hall of Fame - Induction,
Mr. H. Theriault 1374
Vote - Affirmative 1374
Res. 671, Barnes, Richard - peace Offcer Exemplary Serv. Medal,
Mr. K. Bain 1374
Vote - Affirmative 1375
Res. 672, Heating Assistance Rebate Prog.: Reduction - Efforts,
Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay) 1375
Res. 673, Murray, Gabrielle: Natl. Ballet Sch. - Acceptance,
Hon. C. d'Entremont 1376
Vote - Affirmative 1377
Res. 674, Campaign Sch. for Women: Participants - Congrats.,
Ms. K. Regan 1377
Vote - Affirmative 1377
Res. 675, Murphy, Andrew - Sherwood Pk. Educ. Ctr.:
Student Coun. Pres. - Election, Mr. A. MacLeod 1378
Vote - Affirmative 1378
Res. 676, Dart. Gen. Hosp.: Overcrowding - Address,
Mr. A. Younger 1378
Res. 677, Hayden, Brian - Truro Sport Heritage Soc. Vol. of Yr. Award,
Hon. C. Clarke 1379
Vote - Affirmative 1380
Res. 678, Antigonish By-Election: Right to Vote - Exercise,
Hon. S. McNeil (by Hon. Manning MacDonald) 1380
Vote - Affirmative 1380
Res. 679, Comeau, Tina - Newspaper Awards,
Hon. R. Hurlburt 1380
Vote - Affirmative 1381
Res. 680, Inverness By-Election: Right to Vote - Exercise,
Hon. S. McNeil (by Ms. D. Whalen) 1381
Vote - Affirmative 1382
Res. 681, McLaughlan, Garnet: Vol. Efforts - Thanks,
Hon. K. Casey 1382
Vote - Affirmative 1383
Res. 682, Melynchuk, LCdr. Mike: Cdn. Forces Squash Nationals -
Mr. L. Glavine 1383
Vote - Affirmative 1383
Res. 683, MacLeod, Warren: Journey of Kindness - Congrats.,
Mr. C. Porter 1384
Vote - Affirmative 1384
Res. 684, Justice: Crime Prevention Approach - Reasses,
Hon. M. Samson 1384
Res. 685, Smith, Karen: McDonald's Olympic Champion Crew -
Congrats., Hon. M. Scott 1385
Vote - Affirmative 1386
Res. 686, McLellan, Peter - Cdn. Assoc. of Counsel to Employers: Pres. -
Election, Hon. W. Gaudet 1386
Vote - Affirmative 1387
Res. 687, Rink Revitalization Prog./Crime Prevention Prog.: Funding -
Explain, Hon. M. Samson 1387
Res. 688, Sm. Bus.: Owners - Congrats.,
Hon. K. Colwell 1387
Res. 689, Helath: Freeport Meeting - Min. Attend,
Mr. H. Theriault 1388
Res. 690, Legal Educ. & Action Fund: Commun. Support - Acknowledge,
Ms. D. Whalen 1389
Vote - Affirmative 1389
Res. 691, RCL Br. 138 (Ashby): Commun. Serv. - Congrats.,
Hon. Manning MacDonald 1390
Vote - Affirmative 1390
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS:
GOVERNMENT MOTIONS:
ON MOTION FOR SUPPLY:
Mr. A. Younger 1391
Hon. C. d'Entremont 1395
Motion to adjourn debate 1398
Vote - Negative 1400
Ms. L. Zann 1400
HOUSE RESOLVED INTO CWH ON SUPPLY AT 4:56 P.M. 1404
HOUSE RECONVENED AT 8:15 P.M. 1404
REPORT OF CWH ON SUPPLY [Rule 62G(1)]:
Motion to Concur 1404
Vote - Affirmative 1406
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS:
No. 42, Appropriations Act, 2009. Hon. G. Steele 1406
PUBLIC BILLS FOR SECOND READING:
No. 42, The Appropriations Act, 2009. Hon. G. Steele 1406
Vote - Affirmative 1407
ADJOURNMENT, The House rose to meet again on Tue., Oct. 20th at 12:00 noon 1408
NOTICES OF MOTION UNDER RULE 32(3):
Res. 692, Gueller, Bernhard - Dal.: Hon. Deg. - Congrats.,
Mr. A. Younger 1409
Res. 693, Easter Seals N.S.: Official Name - Congrats.,
Ms. D. Whalen 1409
Res. 694, McLellan, Peter - Cdn. Assoc. of Counsel to Employers:
Pres. - Election, Hon. W. Gaudet 1410

[Page 1351]

HALIFAX, MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

Sixty-first General Assembly

First Session

2:00 P.M.

SPEAKER

Hon. Charlie Parker

DEPUTY SPEAKERS

Mr. Gordon Gosse, Hon. Wayne Gaudet, Mr. Alfie MacLeod

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. We will begin the daily routine.

PRESENTING AND READING PETITIONS

PRESENTING REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

TABLING REPORTS, REGULATIONS AND OTHER PAPERS

STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS

GOVERNMENT NOTICES OF MOTION

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Deputy Premier.

HON. FRANK CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, before I read this resolution, with your indulgence, because it is fairly long.

MR. SPEAKER: Okay.

[Page 1352]

1351

MR. CORBETT: I have supplied copies to the House Leaders, Mr. Speaker.

RESOLUTION NO. 645

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

Whereas the House of Assembly established an all-Party Select Committee on Participation in the Democratic Process by resolution on November 23, 2006, whose mandate was to consider measures designed to increase the percentage of Nova Scotians voting in an election and to enhance the effectiveness of our representative form of government; and

Whereas the committee provided a draft report to this House on May 1, 2009, recommending:

That, while it is not this committee's intent to review the Elections Act, a committee of experts be struck, by a resolution of the House of Assembly and under the leadership of the Chief Electoral Officer of Nova Scotia, with the appropriate resources to do an overall review of the Elections Act of Nova Scotia. The intent of the review is to modernize the Act, making it as voter-friendly as possible, while maintaining the integrity of confidentiality and impartiality that it clearly embodies; and

Whereas the recommendations for legislative change contained in the Report of the Chief Electoral Officer following the 38th provincial general election, recommended that (a) "a comprehensive review of the Elections Act of Nova Scotia with the objective of modernizing the Act including improving electoral registration, improving access, and enhancing voting options; and (b) a review of other statutes and regulations in the Province of Nova Scotia as they relate to elections and electoral finance, 'including the Members and Public Employees Disclosure Act, to address anomalies and deficiencies in the provisions for administrating and enforcing the electoral finance regime'";

Therefore be it resolved that:

(a) the Chief Electoral Officer, Christine McCulloch, Q.C. be asked to conduct a comprehensive review of the Elections Act, Members and Public Employees Disclosure Act, and Political Contributions Disclosure Regulations, and relevant Sections of other Statutes and regulations of Nova Scotia and prepare a report to the House of Assembly including a modernized Elections Act and an Electoral Finance Act for the House to consider;

[Page 1353]

(b) the modernized Elections Act reflect the Select Committee's recommendation that the law be as "voter-friendly" as possible, while maintaining the integrity of confidentiality and impartiality that it currently embodies;

(c) the Electoral Finance Act consolidate electoral finance provisions contained in other Statutes of Nova Scotia and address the anomalies and deficiencies for administrating, and enforcing the electoral finance provisions of the Members and Public Employees Disclosure Act and the Elections Act;

(d) the Chief Electoral Officer consult with appropriate experts, the members of the Election Commission and representatives of the province's recognized Parties on the content of the modernized Elections Act and electoral finances;

(e) the Chief Electoral Officer make her best efforts to report to the House of Assembly with draft legislation for consideration of the House during the 2010 Fall sitting of the House.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs.

HON. PERCY PARIS: Mr. Speaker, before I read my resolution, with your indulgence, I would like to table some items. Last week during estimates I was asked some questions by the members opposite and at that time I told them I would report back to them with the information that they were seeking - mostly related to NSBI. So could I table that?

MR. SPEAKER: Is there unanimous consent to allow that tabling.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Agreed.

MR. SPEAKER: The items are tabled.

The honourable Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs.

[Page 1354]

RESOLUTION NO. 646

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

Whereas for the first time in over 20 years Canada will pay host to the Olympic Games in Vancouver this February 2010; and

Whereas the province was given the opportunity to select 10 outstanding individuals as torchbearers, based on their exemplification of the Olympic values and contributions to making a better Nova Scotia; and

Whereas Dalhousie nursing student Vanessa Clements of Kingston is a talented hockey, soccer, and rugby player who has been selected to represent the rich diversity of our province as an African Nova Scotian Olympic torchbearer;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Ms. Clements for being chosen as an African Nova Scotian torchbearer, and wish her continued success as an athlete and student.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

[2:15 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 Minister of Environment.

RESOLUTION NO. 647

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

[Page 1355]

Whereas it is Waste Reduction Week from October 19th to October 25th; and

Whereas Waste Reduction Week's theme is Too Good to Waste and aims to continue to inform Nova Scotians of the environmental and social benefits of waste reduction, recycling, and composting; and

Whereas Waste Reduction Week is meant to draw attention to the richness and diversity of the environment and the importance of working together toward ecological sustainability through waste avoidance and resource conservation;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate Nova Scotians for their continued support of reducing, recycling, and composting efforts throughout the province, which continue to protect our environment and improve our economy.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable Premier.

RESOLUTION NO. 648

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

Whereas Greg Selinger will be sworn in today, October 19th, as Premier of Manitoba after winning the leadership of the New Democratic Party this past weekend; and

Whereas Greg Selinger is the MLA for St. Boniface and has been the Finance Minister since 1999; and

Whereas Greg Selinger won the leadership race by the largest margin since 1974, with a total of 1,317 votes out of 2,003 ballots cast;

[Page 1356]

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate Greg Selinger on his leadership win and wish him the best of luck as Premier of Manitoba.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable member for Halifax Citadel-Sable Island on an introduction.

MR. LEONARD PREYRA: Mr. Speaker, seated in the east gallery today is a distinguished group of students from my constituency, from the Dalhousie School of Social Work. I believe this is a class that was once taught by the member for Halifax Needham, the current Minister of Health and Health Promotion and Protection. On behalf of her and the rest of the House, I'd like to welcome this group of students, who are accompanied by their professor, Kathleen Donovan. I'd like them to rise and receive the warm welcome of this House. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: We certainly welcome all our guests here today and hope they enjoy the proceedings here in the House.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

Bill No. 41 - Entitled an Act to Develop a Multi-Year Funding Framework. (Hon. Manning MacDonald)

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

NOTICES OF MOTION

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Dartmouth East.

RESOLUTION NO. 649

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

[Page 1357]

Whereas Dalhousie University's honorary degrees are awarded to recognize individuals who, by their example, provide inspiration and are models of leadership, integrity to Dalhousie's student body; and

Whereas Senator James Cowan has been a member of the Dalhousie community for 36 years, serving on Dalhousie's Board of Governors from 1972 to 2008, and as chairman from 2002 to 2008, and within several of Dalhousie's committees; and

Whereas Senator James Cowan, who currently serves in the Senate as the Leader of the Opposition and is a former President of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from Dalhousie University on Saturday, October 17th;

Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly congratulate Senator James Cowan as the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Laws from Dalhousie University.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable member for Cape Breton West.

RESOLUTION NO. 650

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

Whereas on October 23, 2009, Dr. Mahmood Naqvi will be honoured by his friends and colleagues in Sydney, Nova Scotia; and

Whereas Dr. Naqvi has been innovative in his accomplishments in the community and health care field in Cape Breton for many years; and

Whereas Dr. Naqvi's outstanding contribution will be celebrated on October 23, 2009, at the Delta Sydney - this tribute will be by the Ostomy Chapter of Cape Breton with all proceeds going to this chapter;

[Page 1358]

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Dr. Naqvi and wish him much success in his future endeavours.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable Premier.

RESOLUTION NO. 651

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

Whereas Meghan Ferguson of Halifax is embarking this month on a 5,000-kilometre bike trip from Vancouver to Austin, Texas, to raise funds for cancer research; and

Whereas the Halifax-based charity Give to Live, which organized this year's Cycle for Life event, has to date raised more than $800,000 for a variety of cancer organizations; and

Whereas Meghan herself has raised more than $15,000;

Therefore be it resolved that this Legislature congratulate Meghan Ferguson and Give to Live on their extraordinary work in the fight against cancer, and wish all 40 participants in the Cycle for Life event a safe trip from Vancouver to Austin.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

[Page 1359]

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. 652

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

Whereas October 17th is recognized as the International Day to Eradicate Poverty; and

Whereas the Community Advocates Network held a panel presentation today at St. Matthews United Church to mark the day and to send a message to government as to actions that should be taken to address poverty; and

Whereas the recent increase of $6 in social assistance rates was an insult according to one member of the Community Advocates Network, a dollar amount the Minister of Community Services in this Legislature admitted was not enough;

Therefore be it resolved that the Minister of Community Services acknowledge the fact that she has the power to increase income assistance rates and immediately outline future plans for addressing the issue of poverty.

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 Cumberland South.

RESOLUTION NO. 653

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

[Page 1360]

Whereas Harold Melanson made a special donation to the Springhill Miners' Museum that has been a very important part of his family's heritage for 51 years; and

Whereas it was 51 years ago when the ground beneath Springhill heaved, killing 75 miners in the No. 2 Colliery and trapping many more and Harold Melanson's father, Eldred, was one of the five Scout Masters who helped to coordinate the young men in Springhill in assisting the rescue efforts that the Scouts undertook, which may seem like a small role in a large rescue operation, but the effort did not go unnoticed and Eldred Melanson, Stan Pashkoski, Wilfred Brown, Jim Booth and Kenny Bigelow would later receive the Scouts Medal of Gallantry at Rideu Hall for their involvement; and

Whereas one of these medals came home on October 2009 when Harold presented his father's medal to the Miners' Museum framed with a photograph of the five Scout Masters;

Therefore be it resolved that members of this House thank Harold Melanson for donating this prestigious medal to the Springhill Miners' Museum as part of the history of a very important time for the Town of Springhill and, indeed, the world.

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 North.

RESOLUTION NO. 654

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

Whereas the annual Kentville Harvest Festival is held at the beginning of each October and welcomes not only the world-famous Pumpkin People, but also thousands of visitors who make the town a destination point during their autumn tour of the province; and

[Page 1361]

Whereas the theme of this year's Pumpkin People is Pumpkin People Go for Gold! A Celebration of the Winter Olympics; and

Whereas the 24th Kentville Harvest Festival had its official kickoff on October 3rd and the Pumpkin People Festival will run from October 3-25, 2009;

Therefore be it resolved that the Nova Scotia House of Assembly welcome the arrival of the Pumpkin People and congratulate the Town of Kentville on having sustained its Kentville Harvest Festival for nearly a quarter of a century.

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 Bedford-Birch Cove.

RESOLUTION NO. 655

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

Whereas Hammonds Plains native and 2007 World Junior Hockey champion Brad Marchand was called up from the minors by the Boston Bruins on Sunday; and

Whereas Marchand, the feisty second-year winger, was leading the American Hockey League with six goals at the time of his promotion to the NHL; and

Whereas the former Halifax Mooseheads forward is expected to make his National Hockey League debut on Wednesday against the Nashville Predators;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of the House of Assembly recognize Brad's accomplishment, and wish him a long and successful career in the NHL.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

[Page 1362]

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 Yarmouth.

RESOLUTION NO. 656

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

Whereas Michael Gorman of the Yarmouth Vanguard recently won the best sports story award at the Atlantic Community Newspaper Association's annual banquet in Halifax; and

Whereas Michael is a familiar face to the people of Yarmouth, as he is continually out in the community pursuing information on stories ranging from local sports, to community events, to local politics, and everything in between; and

Whereas the versatility and the professionalism that Michael displays is an accurate portrayal of the hard work and skills required to win such an impressive award;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of the House of Assembly congratulate Michael Gorman on his recent accomplishment and wish him continued success in the years to come.

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 1363]

The honourable member for Truro-Bible Hill.

RESOLUTION NO. 657

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

Whereas former NDP Leader and Halifax MP Alexa McDonough received a Doctor of Laws from Dalhousie University during Fall convocation on Saturday, October 17, 2009; and

Whereas Ms. McDonough became the first woman in Canada to lead a recognized political Party when she was chosen Leader of Nova Scotia's New Democratic Party in 1980; and

Whereas from 1981 until 1984, Ms. McDonough was the only woman and only NDP member of the provincial Legislature;

Therefore be it resolved that the Nova Scotia Legislature congratulate Alexa McDonough on receiving a Doctor of Laws honorary degree from Dalhousie University.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

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

The motion is carried.

[2:30 p.m.]

The honourable member for Halifax Clayton Park.

RESOLUTION NO. 658

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

[Page 1364]

Whereas more than 200 community-minded Nova Scotians gathered this past weekend in Dartmouth at the Provincial Community Health Boards conference called Healthy and Engaged Communities; and

Whereas these dedicated and passionate citizens met to share their experiences, learn from each other, and offer positive and healthy solutions for our communities; and

Whereas these volunteers give freely and generously of their time and expertise to the benefit of us all;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House of Assembly recognize the proactive and positive actions taken by the community health boards across our province.

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. 659

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

Whereas on September 10th the students of Middle River Consolidated School, in Victoria County, united together to express their awareness against bullying; and

Whereas the students also created a peace sign to show their stand against bullying; and

Whereas after reading author Tony Stead's Peace Book the students collaborated to write and illustrate their own version of the Peace Book, focusing on what peace meant to each of them;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House Assembly recognize the students of Middle River Consolidated School for their stand against bullying and congratulate them on creating awareness within the school.

[Page 1365]

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 on an introduction.

HON. MAUREEN MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, I'd like to draw the attention of the members of the Assembly to our east gallery where today we are joined by Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, who is the Minister of Health from Guyana and also the President of the 61st World Health Assembly. I believe he's been the minister since 2001, making him among the longest-serving Ministers of Health in the world. Dr. Ramsammy is here at a conference with the Canadian Association of Pediatric Centres where they are examining issues around children and youth, providing services to young people in challenging economic times.

I'd like to ask the members of the Assembly to extend a warm welcome to Dr. Ramsammy. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: We certainly welcome our special guest here this afternoon.

The honourable member for Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage.

RESOLUTION NO. 660

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

Whereas during the excavation of the old Masonic Hall in Dartmouth, at the corner of Ochterloney and Wentworth Streets, a time capsule was discovered by Nova New England Group; and

Whereas this inspired Nova New England Group to have an essay-writing contest about time capsules, with the winner receiving an award and a copy of their essay placed in a new time capsule; and

[Page 1366]

Whereas the winner of the contest was an Astral Drive Junior High School student, Rebecca McDougal;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Rebecca McDougal of Cole Harbour for winning first place in the time capsule essay-writing contest sponsored by Nova New England Group, and wish her every success in her future.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable member for Kings West.

RESOLUTION NO. 661

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

Whereas food security plays an important role in the health of all Nova Scotians; and

Whereas more than 100 delegates are attending Nova Scotia's first Food Summit in Greenwich; and

Whereas the goal of this summit will be to raise awareness of important issues facing the agricultural industry, the health of Nova Scotians, and the sustainability of the food system in our province;

Therefore be it resolved that the House congratulate Linda Best and Allan Stewart, all organizers, presenters and participants of the Food Summit, and encourage more discussion and debate on this important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

[Page 1367]

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 Argyle.

RESOLUTION NO. 662

HON. CHRISTOPHER D'ENTREMONT: M. le Président, à une date ultérieure, je demanderai l'adoption de la résolution suivante:

Attendu que les anniversaires sont une ocasion pour la famille et les amis de se rassembler pour célébrer la vie de deux individus unis comme un seul; et

Attendu que un auteur américain a écrit: "un mariage réussi exige de tomber amoureux plusieurs fois, toujours avec la même personne"; et

Attendu que le 20 juin 2009, une fête très spéciale a eu lieu lorsque Philomène et Désiré Boudreau ont célébré leur 50e anniversaire de mariage;

Par conséquent, qu'il sont résolu que tous les membres de cette Chambre se joignent à moi pour féliciter Philomène et Désiré à l'occasion de cette étape remarquable dans leur vie conjugale et leur souhaitent une bonne santé, prospérité et de nombreuses années de bonheur ensemble.

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

Whereas anniversaries are an occasion for family and friends to gather together to celebrate the life of two individuals united as one; and

Whereas an American author once wrote: "a successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person"; and

Whereas on June 20, 2009, a very special occasion took place when Philomene and Désiré Boudreau celebrated their 50th Anniversary;

[Page 1368]

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House join me in congratulating Philomene and Désiré on this remarkable milestone in their life together and wish them good health, prosperity, and many more happy years together.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable member for Halifax Citadel-Sable Island on an introduction.

MR. LEONARD PREYRA: Mr. Speaker, Dalhousie University is certainly well represented in this House today. Seated in the east gallery, I believe most of them in the front row, are students from the Dalhousie Library Science Program, graduate students from the Dalhousie Library Science Program, on a trip organized by Julie McLellan.

It is a great day to be library science students, with the announcement of a new library in downtown, so welcome to the House. I'd like you to stand and receive the warm welcome of the House as well. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Halifax Chebucto.

RESOLUTION NO. 663

MR. HOWARD EPSTEIN: Well, Mr. Speaker, even more on Dalhousie.

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

Whereas the Dalhousie Law School plays an important role in educating Nova Scotians; and

Whereas Mr. Seymour Schulich, a prominent Canadian whose wife is from Halifax and who values the importance of law in our society, has made an historic $20 million

[Page 1369]

donation to the school, focusing on scholarships and enriching the experience of students; and

Whereas Mr. Schulich's contribution is of such significance that the school will be renamed in his honour;

Therefore be it resolved that this House congratulate Mr. Seymour Schulich, the faculty, students and staff of Dalhousie Law School, soon to be the Schulich School of Law.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable member for Clare.

RESOLUTION NO. 664

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

Whereas law enforcement officers put their life in danger every day in order to protect Nova Scotians across the province; and

Whereas 300 officers marched through Halifax on Sunday, in remembrance of those who have died in the line of duty; and

Whereas the 27th Annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service was attended by members from the municipal police forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the military police, the Canada Border Services Agency, and the provincial corrections and justice services;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate those law enforcement officers who serve, and remember those who have lost their life in the line of duty.

[Page 1370]

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. 665

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

Whereas Krista McDow of Mount Denson was recently selected as an Olympic Torchbearer to carry the flame as part of the cross-country relay which leads up to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver; and

Whereas Krista was selected as one of 12,000 torchbearers, out of an initial applicant pool of over one million, who will ultimately bring the flame to its rightful home in Vancouver; and

Whereas in order to be selected for this impressive honour, Krista had to submit an essay on active living and she wrote an excellent piece where she outlined her keys to living a healthy and fulfilling life;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House of Assembly congratulate Krista on writing an outstanding piece and wish her luck on the torch relay.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

[Page 1371]

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. 666

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 in the past, the NDP has gleefully gone outside this House to meet and greet any and all protestors that have been here; and

Whereas over the years, the NDP would knock you over to get to the front of the protestors to be heard and interviewed; and

Whereas that strategy seems to have changed, and now all they can do is sit in their seats as ordered by their Cabinet, leaving the protestors puzzled as to what happened to their MLAs;

Therefore be it resolved that the Premier and Cabinet Ministers let their backbenchers go outside during the next protest to gleefully resume their greetings and get back to caring about their constituents.

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 Cape Breton North.

RESOLUTION NO. 667

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

[Page 1372]

Whereas Dr. Thomas Pottle, a North Sydney optometrist, donated all his eye examination fees on October 7, 2009 as part of World Sight Day Challenge; and

Whereas Optometry Giving Sight is the organizer of World Sight Day and monies raised are used to support programs that offer eye exams and glasses and create vision care centres in communities that have little or no eye care services; and

Whereas this organization has distributed $3 million to help 1.7 million people, train 1,550 mid-level eye care personnel, and build 101 vision centres;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House join me in congratulating Dr. Pottle and the optometrists who have taken action to give back to those in need.

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. 668

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

Whereas on Thursday, October 15, 2009 a special ceremony was held to unveil the Freedom Stone at the Black Cultural Centre, a monument funded through Democracy 250; and

Whereas this ceremony acknowledged the history and contributions of Nova Scotia's African community; and

Whereas the Freedom Stone pays tribute to the Black loyalists and honours all those who gained the freedoms we now enjoy;

[Page 1373]

Therefore be it resolved that all members of the House of Assembly congratulate the staff and volunteers of the Black Cultural Centre for organizing this historic event and acknowledge both the significant historical and current contributions of the black loyalists and Nova Scotia's African 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 Interim Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party.

RESOLUTION NO. 669

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

Whereas since the program's inception in 2005, the Pengrowth-Nova Scotia Energy Scholarships have been awarded to Nova Scotia students pursuing energy-related studies at a university or community college; and

Whereas 12 university students have been awarded $10,000 each over the four years and six community college students have been awarded $2,500 non-renewable scholarships; and

Whereas Sara Rose Ferguson, a first year community college student from Tatamagouche, Colchester North, has been awarded a $2,500 scholarship based on a combination of academic achievement, involvement in extra-curricular activities and a clear interest in Nova Scotia's energy sector;

Therefore be it resolved all members of this House congratulate Sara Rose Ferguson for being selected as a recipient of this scholarship.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

[Page 1374]

[2:45 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 Minister of Community Services.

HON. DENISE PETERSON-RAFUSE: Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce a gentleman named Kendall Worth. Kendall and I just before the opening of the House here today, sat with at least 12 other individuals who live in poverty, to discuss the issues and challenges that they face each and every day, to see how we can go forth and make a difference in their lives. I would like Kendall to stand up and receive the warm welcome of the Legislature. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: We welcome all our guests here this afternoon.

The honourable member for Digby-Annapolis.

RESOLUTION NO. 670

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

Whereas Al Dupuis is a talented singer/songwriter who started strumming his guitar at the age of 5, wrote his first song at age 13 and can play anything from country, folk, rock, Cajun, Irish and Scottish, bluegrass, pop to Newfoundland jigs as well as being a whistler; and

Whereas Al Dupuis left the teaching profession to become a full solo performer on the Maritime circuit, Ontario and the U.S.A. in 1977; and

Whereas Al Dupuis, formerly of Minto, New Brunswick and currently residing in Digby, Nova Scotia, was inducted into the New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame on October 17, 2009 in Fredericton, New Brunswick;

[Page 1375]

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House of Assembly recognize Al Dupuis for his induction into the New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame and wish him many more years of 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 Victoria-The Lakes.

RESOLUTION NO. 671

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 Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal recognizes those persons who have dedicated themselves to preserving Canada's public safety through long and outstanding service; and

Whereas the awards are national in scope and are part of the Canadian Honours System in recognition of service rendered to the country; and

Whereas DFO officer Richard Barnes of Boularderie Island was recently presented his Exemplary Service Medal by Her Honour, Mayann Francis, for 31 years of service;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House of Assembly congratulate Richard Barnes on receiving this prestigious medal and thank him for his 31 years of service.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

[Page 1376]

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. 672

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 Nova Scotians are already feeling the effects of dropping temperatures as winter months approach; and

Whereas one year ago, the Progressive Conservative Government announced that Nova Scotians may receive up to a $450 rebate in heating oil under the Heating Assistance Rebate Program, formerly known as Keep The Heat; and

Whereas in this budget the government plans to slash the Heating Assistance Rebate Program so that a family that was eligible for the $450 rebate will now be eligible for only a $200 rebate;

Therefore be it resolved the government realize that for thousands of low and middle income Nova Scotians, instead of a month in a warm house, it means less than two weeks, it means families must choose between being hungry or being warm, it means every volunteer agency from food banks to churches, in every community across this province, will be flooded with requests for help and the government reinstate the $450 rebate that Nova Scotians were counting on.

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 Argyle.

RESOLUTION NO. 673

[Page 1377]

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 Gabrielle Murray realized her dream of being one of only 50 ballet dancers from around the world to be accepted into the prestigious Canada's National Ballet School; and

Whereas this extremely talented 12-year-old dancer began her career as a toddler with the Ashlei Ballet School and currently takes numerous classes six days a week, dancing around her house and training outside of studio time, Gabrielle is poised to become a professional dancer; and

Whereas talent is the determining factor for acceptance to the National Ballet School, Gabrielle Murray also possesses dedication, commitment, poise and maturity beyond her years;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House extend their congratulations to Gabrielle Murray for her remarkable accomplishments and wish her success in fulfilling her dreams of gracing stages around the world as a professional ballet dancer.

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 Bedford-Birch Cove.

RESOLUTION NO. 674

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

Whereas women comprise only 23 per cent of the members of the Nova Scotia Legislature; and

[Page 1378]

Whereas the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women held its 5th Campaign School for Women this past weekend, October 16th to 18th, at Mount Saint Vincent University; and

Whereas the 30 participants learned about financing, networking, communication and many other useful aspects of election campaigns;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate the campaign school organizers, facilitators, presenters and participants and wish them success in their future endeavours.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable member for Cape Breton West.

RESOLUTION NO. 675

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

Whereas Andrew Murphy of Sydney was recently elected student council president of Sherwood Park Education Centre; and

Whereas student council presidents across Nova Scotia are entrusted with the important responsibility of managing student affairs and making a positive learning environment for all students; and

Whereas when not fulfilling his political duties, Andrew is an impressive athlete playing tennis, hockey and baseball;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House of Assembly congratulate Andrew Murphy on his recent election and wish him a long and successful political career.

[Page 1379]

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable member for Dartmouth East.

RESOLUTION NO. 676

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

Whereas the Dartmouth General Hospital has averaged over five Code Census per month throughout 2009 - more than double those called at the QE II - and last week there was talk of cancelling surgeries and moving patients as far away as Sheet Harbour; and

Whereas the Minister of Health has known about this issue for months but has done nothing to address the short-term concerns except deflect responsibility and blame others; and

Whereas Code Census is just the latest example of the NDP Government failure to address the concerns of patients and health care professionals across Nova Scotia;

Therefore be it resolved that the Minister of Health immediately put in place a short-term plan to address overcrowding and the lack of beds at the Dartmouth General Hospital.

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 Cape Breton North.

[Page 1380]

RESOLUTION NO. 677

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

Whereas Brian Hayden received a Volunteer of the Year Award at the Truro Sport Heritage Society's 23rd Annual Sports Awards dinner; and

Whereas Brian Hayden worked with over 100 young golfers as the 2006 Junior Club Chair of the Truro Golf Club; and

Whereas Brian Hayden's tutelage includes skills, understanding the game, sportsmanship and human relations as he was a role model for all of these qualities;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Brian Hayden on earning a Volunteer of the Year Award from the Truro Sport Heritage Society and thank him for his exceptional leadership to young people, and I would note was a student of the Interim Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party.

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. 678

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

Whereas it is an essential part of the democratic process for citizens to have a strong voice in the Legislature of their province; and

Whereas the right to vote is a right cherished by all of us; and

[Page 1381]

Whereas the people of the riding of Antigonish had the last 30 days to question and to get to learn about the individuals who are offering for the job of their MLA;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of the House of Assembly join me in encouraging the people of Antigonish to use the power to create positive change that is inherent in their right to vote and exercise that right tomorrow.

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 Yarmouth.

RESOLUTION NO. 679

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

Whereas Tina Comeau, the Associate Editor of the Yarmouth Vanguard recently was honoured by the Atlantic Community Newspapers Association's annual banquet in Halifax; and

Whereas Tina took first place prize in five categories, including Outstanding Journalist, Outstanding Photographer, Best News Photo, Best Sports Photo and Best Feature Story; and

Whereas these truly impressive accomplishments accurately reflect the 19 years of hard work and dedication she has given to the Vanguard and the people of Yarmouth;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of the House of Assembly congratulate Tina Comeau on her five awards at the Atlantic Community Newspapers Association's annual banquet, and wish her continued success both in journalism as well as in other future endeavours.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

[Page 1382]

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable member for Halifax Clayton Park

RESOLUTION NO. 680

MS. DIANA WHALEN: Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas for the last 30 days residents of the riding of Inverness have had the opportunity to listen to the candidates offering for the job of MLA; and

Whereas it is an essential part of democracy that residents have a strong voice in their provincial Legislature and

Whereas the power to create positive change is in their hands;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this elected House of Assembly encourage the residents of the riding of Inverness to embrace their democratic power and exercise their right to vote on Election Day.

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 Interim Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party.

[Page 1383]

RESOLUTION NO. 681

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

Whereas Garnet McLaughlan, a resident of Economy, Colchester County, is President of the Kenomee Trail Society, a coastal and wilderness trail system, and of the Cobequid Eco-Trails Society, which focus on the development and promotion of non-motorized trails; and

Whereas Garnet's use of his knowledge of trail consulting to teach volunteers how to properly build a trail has resulted in the building of six kilometres of the Rogart Mountain Trail; and

Whereas another of Garnet's volunteer roles is as Chief of the Economy Volunteer Fire Department;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of the House extend thanks to Garnet McLaughlan for his valuable volunteer efforts and the positive benefits that they provide to his community and province.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable member for Kings West.

RESOLUTION NO. 682

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

Whereas Lieutenant-Commander Mike Melynchuk of Harbourville is an avid sportsman who has excelled at the game of squash for the past 19 years winning four independent championships; and

[Page 1384]

Whereas Lieutenant-Commander Melynchuk took first place at the Canadian Forces Squash Nationals; and

Whereas in spite of a diagnosis of throat cancer Lieutenant-Commander Melynchuk persevered through his challenges and maintained his competitive edge and brought home the Gold Medal;

Therefore be it resolved that members of this House congratulate Lieutenant Commander Mike Melynchuk for his success at the Canadian Forces Squash Nationals and wish him continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

[3:00 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 Hants West.

RESOLUTION NO. 683

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

Whereas Warren MacLeod of Windsor recently carved a piece of soapstone, which since August 29th has been on a Journey of Kindness, where Warren, his wife Kari and Lori Cox took the stone to Scotland on the first leg of this amazing journey; and

Whereas the motivation is that each holder of the stone must fulfill an act of kindness and pass it on to another trusted person so that they can do the same; and

Whereas the stone has been from Windsor, to Scotland, to the United States and is soon to travel to Hungary, and with each hand it touches it makes a positive change in people's lives and the impact of such a simple gesture can be enormous;

[Page 1385]

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House of Assembly congratulate Warren MacLeod on the positive effect his stone has had on so many and all pledge to follow his lead and complete their own acts of kindness in tribute to his efforts.

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 Richmond.

RESOLUTION NO. 684

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

Whereas community policing has had many successes in reducing crime in communities across Nova Scotia; and

Whereas one important reason for this continued success is that police officers are able to forge relationships and become vital players in the social fabric of these communities; and

Whereas the Minister of Justice questioned, during the subcommittee on Supply, whether police officers should be put on social problems in communities;

Therefore be it resolved that this government reassess their approach to crime prevention and that the Minister of Justice reconsider his priority list.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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

Is it agreed?

[Page 1386]

I hear several Noes.

The notice is tabled.

The honourable member for Cumberland South.

RESOLUTION NO. 685

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

Whereas the world's best bobsledders, biathletes, skiers, skaters and snowboarders, will soon converge on Vancouver for the 2010 Olympics; and

Whereas Springhill's Karen Smith will be joining them; and

Whereas Karen, a Springhill resident and an Amherst McDonald's employee, has been named a member of the McDonald's Olympic Champion Crew which will head to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games to work at one of the three on-site McDonalds; and

Whereas Smith, a team leader and a 14-year veteran of McDonalds, is one of 300 Canadian McDonald employees, including 11 from across Nova Scotia, who have been selected to attend the games;

Therefore be it resolved that members of this House congratulate Karen Smith on being chosen to work at a McDonald's restaurant in Vancouver during the 2010 Olympic Games and wish her all the best.

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.

It is becoming a little hard to hear some of the honourable members when they are on their feet and I just ask members to respect the member who is up speaking.

[Page 1387]

The honourable member for Clare.

RESOLUTION NO. 686

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

Whereas Peter McLellan, Q.C., partner of Stewart McKelvey, has been elected President of the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers; and

Whereas Peter is a founding director of CASE and is recognized as one of the top lawyers in Canada for his work in labour and employment law; and

Whereas CASE was founded in 2004 and has over 300 members, including the leading management, labour and employment lawyers in Canada;

Therefore be it resolved that members of this House congratulate Peter McLellan for his election as Atlantic Canada's first president of the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers and recognize the significant contribution Peter has made to the legal profession.

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 Richmond.

RESOLUTION NO. 687

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

Whereas crime prevention plays an important role in every community across Nova Scotia and important community programs involving crime prevention need financial assistance; and

[Page 1388]

Whereas the Minister of Justice has said that there is $180,000 for a crime prevention program that has no name, has no applications, but that everyone is invited to write the Minister of Justice a letter and they will receive money; and

Whereas the NDP government scrapped the Rink Revitalization Program for the very same reasons that make this mystery crime prevention funding so obscure;

Therefore be it resolved that the Minister of Justice admit the hypocrisy of his government in cancelling the rink revitalization program while encouraging unaccountable spending in his own department.

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 Preston.

RESOLUTION NO. 688

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

Whereas small businesses are the heart of Nova Scotia's economy; and

Whereas the Canadian Federation of Independent Business released the results of their Nova Scotia Business Barometer, which measures confidence levels for small business and small business owners; and

Whereas the results of the CFIB survey showed that small business confidence is gradually but steadily climbing;

Therefore be it resolved that this House congratulate all Nova Scotians who run small businesses for their continued hard work, dedication and optimism in spite of the lack of support shown by this NDP Government during these difficult economic times.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

[Page 1389]

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

Is it agreed?

I hear several Noes.

The notice is tabled.

Order. Order, please. The honourable member for Digby Annapolis.

RESOLUTION NO. 689

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

Whereas the people of Digby Neck and Islands lost their popular and trusted nurse practitioner last week; and

Whereas concerned citizens from the surrounding area will meet at the Islands Consolidated School in Freeport at 7:00 p.m. this evening to discuss and debate the need for full-time nurse practitioners; and

Whereas I will be appearing at the community meeting tonight via satellite in order to assure my constituents that the 1,500 patients who are currently without a nurse practitioner won't be without one for very long;

Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly urge the Minister of Health to attend the public meeting in Freeport and find a permanent solution to the health care woes facing the people of southwestern Nova Scotia.

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 Halifax Clayton Park.

RESOLUTION NO. 690

[Page 1390]

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

Whereas October 18th is declared Persons Day, an occasion to celebrate victories and reaffirm our commitment to achieving full equality for all women in Canada; and

Whereas 2009 marks the 80th Anniversary of Persons Day, a momentous step enabling women to participate in all aspects of Canadian public life; and

Whereas the Women's Legal Education in Action Fund, a national charity committed to advancing equality for women and girls through the law, held a Persons Day breakfast this morning, which featured Rene Ross as the keynote speaker;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of the House acknowledge the valuable support LEAF Halifax plays in our community and recognize the significant contributions women have made in Canadian public life throughout the years.

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. 691

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

Whereas Ashby Branch 138, Royal Canadian Legion has a long history of support for veterans needs; and

Whereas Branch 138 has contributed much to the community it serves including sponsorship of many youth events; and

[Page 1391]

Whereas the members of Branch 138 Ashby Legion will again this year be actively involved with the annual Poppy Campaign;

Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly congratulate the officers and members for their community service and wish them all the best with their Poppy Campaign.

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.

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. FRANK CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, would you please call the order of business, Government Motions.

GOVERNMENT MOTIONS

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. FRANK CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, I move that you do now leave the Chair and that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on Supply unto Her Majesty.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Dartmouth East.

MR. ANDREW YOUNGER: Mr. Speaker, as we enter the last day of Supply before tonight's budget vote, it seems appropriate that we would discuss the situation at the Dartmouth General Hospital, which continues today, to a lesser extent, but continues nonetheless.

As of late this morning, before coming over here, there were still four people in the emergency room at the Dartmouth General Hospital who had been admitted but were seeking a bed. We don't know if today they're going to send them two and a half hours down the

[Page 1392]

road to Sheet Harbour to find a bed, but we know that's what was looked at last week. Last week, the Health Minister suggested to this House that moving around patients at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax would, in fact, solve many of the problems at the Dartmouth General, yet we heard a number of very prominent physicians and nursing staff at the Dartmouth General say that, in fact, that is not the case and in the history of the Dartmouth General, that has never provided that impact.

We became aware of this in the House last week when a Code Census happened to be called at both the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre and the Dartmouth General. It raises some concerns, of course, when we find out that the Dartmouth General had been suffering from more than five of these a month on average this year. The Health Minister was sworn in in June, and when you talk to folks over there, well, there is no short-term solution being offered to them even though it's been suggested a number of times that the addition of five or six beds would provide a short-term solution while we await the long-term changes the Health Minister has talked a lot about.

There's no question, Mr. Speaker, our Health Critic, the member for Halifax Clayton Park, stood up and congratulated the government on the appointment of Dr. John Ross, as did the Tory caucus. I think we all recognize there's a need for a long-term solution, but that doesn't negate the fact that a short-term solution is needed.

What are the options? The other day they were telling patients arriving there that if they were able, they should go to the Cobequid Community Health Centre. They were diverting ambulances at one point. The problem is, that centre closes at 10 p.m., and while the Health Minister has talked in this Chamber about the promises the NDP made during the election of making the Cobequid Centre a 24-hour emergency, the fact is, it isn't at the moment. It doesn't currently have the resources. There are staffing and other shortages at both the QE II and the Dartmouth General. No doubt there will be similar strains and similar shortages at Cobequid as well, unless they're prepared to put a lot of money into creating that.

That is not likely to be the immediate solution - it's certainly not going to be the immediate solution because it's not in this year's budget. By the minister's own admission, that is something for next fiscal year.

The problems go deeper, and during the health estimates I had asked the Minister of Health about the plans for the Dartmouth General. At the time I was unaware that they were having these Code Censuses, but I had asked in particular about the issue around the blood collection unit there. We've had situations in the blood collection unit where people are turning up the night before to get a number.

So what happens? People are turning to private health providers to collect blood and so forth. We've heard the NDP talk frequently against the idea of private health providers entering the field, yet that's exactly what the NDP is allowing to happen more and more, and

[Page 1393]

in fact, is forcing people to go there for some basic services like blood and other specimen collection by not acting to deal with chronic problems.

There were a few days a week or two ago where blood and specimen collection patients were overflowing into the emergency room at the Dartmouth General, and the emergency room was already full. This is getting out of hand. Yet the answers we get are, wait a year and there will be a long-term plan. Well, I have no doubt that Dr. Ross will bring forward a long-term plan, and I know I eagerly look forward to that because we know there are critical issues across this province. There does need to be a change in the way that health care is delivered. I think we all understand that.

[3:15 p.m.]

That doesn't stop the fact that we are in a traditionally slow period of time and yet there is a long waiting time at most of these hospitals - and particularly the Dartmouth General - that are not being addressed. There appears to be no solution forthcoming from the Health Department and nurses and doctors are starting to speak out on this and patients have been for some time.

Now, when we go and look at the accountability reports from the Capital District Health Authority, we find that routinely when you look at wait times at the emergency rooms and times from triage to discharge, they are routinely well over by hours and hours. They are longer at the Dartmouth General Hospital than they are at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre; they are longer than they are at the Hants Community Hospital; they're longer than they are at the Cobequid Health Centre. So that has to point to the fact that there is a specific and endemic issue at the Dartmouth General which needs to be addressed.

The question is, how long has this been going on and there's no question, Mr. Speaker, you know, many of our hospitals have had different challenges at different times over the years. But if you talk to any of the senior staff at that hospital and the long-term nurses who have been there, or recently retired doctors, they will tell you that problem has gotten far worse in the past few months than it has ever been. Now, that shouldn't surprise us because the population in Dartmouth and the areas that it serves is growing. We've seen overcrowding at the Queen Elizabeth Health Sciences Centre where for a number of years, many residents of Dartmouth would choose to go to Halifax to the emergency room but with the overcrowding there, it's pushing people to a situation where they have no option.

So we need to have a solution and we need to have a short-term solution. We don't need to have the continuous blame game. We don't need to have a continuous situation where we keep saying there will be a plan a year from now. Well, we all want to work together on this - at least I assume we all want to work together on this and find a solution. That solution has to come in the short term and it's no different when I listened to my honourable colleague, the member for Digby-Annapolis talking about the problem with the

[Page 1394]

nurse practitioners. I have no doubt there's going to be a long-term solution that will help address the problems that are being faced on Digby Neck. But there is a short-term problem and it's a critical short- term problem - no different than at the Dartmouth General - that must be solved now.

Every single problem in the delivery of health care cannot be put off for a year waiting for a report. The Health Department and the Minister of Health cannot abdicate a responsibility to ensuring that Nova Scotians get health care while we wait for a report that's going to suggest changes. There may be many very good changes. There may be fundamental changes in the way that health care is delivered in Nova Scotia coming down the road and those may very well be a good thing, but those will also take time.

It's no different than the other day in estimates. We heard the Minister of Justice talk about changing the way that justice is delivered and how the solution to saving money and delivering justice better is getting at the root of crime. Well, there are people who have been saying that for years and there are programs that are working, that have been put in place, but those things take five and 10 years to roll out. That doesn't mean you stop providing police, that you stop providing the mechanisms of justice, and properly resourcing our courts in the meantime. The same thing is true for health care. We can't wait until the entire system is rolled out because by that point the system will be in a very serious crisis.

Mr. Speaker, there are issues in our hospitals right now. The Dartmouth General is the latest one to have this issue and it's having it at a level that I don't think even many residents in Dartmouth realize. I've lived in Dartmouth my entire life and the thing is that we always looked at it as a community hospital. I know that the honourable Premier was a member of the board at the Dartmouth General for many years, so he has got to know that there are issues there. He must know. I know that there are many members of the government benches who attend the annual lobster dinner that the Dartmouth General has.

So they hear from the doctors and the patients at these events. They know the issues. There have been improvements. I attended an opening of a dialysis unit there a couple years ago which has improved the service to residents in Dartmouth and further out along the Eastern Shore that that hospital primarily serves. But the fact is, while those improvements have been made, the emergency room, the blood collection units and other areas like that have been left to suffer. It's a sad state of affairs when a hospital, multiple days in a row, has patients who are waiting on stretchers, waiting to be admitted to beds, and there are no beds available. That's a problem.

I mentioned that last week the Minister of Health in Question Period - I think it was on Wednesday - suggested that some changes at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre would solve that problem. I did talk about how some doctors and nurses say that never works. Well, by Thursday the minister had been proven wrong. That doesn't do the job because, in fact, the Code Census has been dropped at the QEII and the situation had got

[Page 1395]

worse at the Dartmouth General, not better. It hadn't improved, as the minister suggested that it might; it had actually gotten worse.

That really points to an issue that must be addressed. When we look at these wait times - and the wait times are all publicly available, they're posted online every day so it's very easy to see what is going on - you can look at some of these dates and recognize the fact that, for example, for the weekend of October 16th to 18th, in pretty well every single category of triage acuity, the wait times at the Dartmouth General Hospital and the discharge times were significantly over the Hants Community Hospital, the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre and the Cobequid Centre.

Now, of course, the Cobequid Centre doesn't deal with all the issues that might appear at the Dartmouth General Hospital or the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, so that might not be a fair comparison, but certainly comparing the Dartmouth General to the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre is.

I just look here, at an acuity level of two, your time from triage to departure was 47 minutes at the QEII and it was 17.5 hours at the Dartmouth General. There's a problem when those two numbers are so far apart, and it continues like that. You look at an acuity level of three and it was an eight-hour time from triage to discharge. Again, it was 17 hours and five minutes at the Dartmouth General. These are in triage levels where the patients have very similar injuries. So we're comparing apples to apples in a case like this. I'm not comparing somebody who has had a bump and fall to someone who has had a heart attack or, forbid, has been in a violent altercation or a serious motor vehicle accident.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious issue. I've been to the Dartmouth General Hospital a number of times and you often see police officers who get tied up with some of these cases, so there will be a situation where a police officer has to bring in someone who claims they are injured but they've been arrested and the police officer has to stand there. So this goes further than just health care. The police officers then get tied up and are taken off the street because they have to sit there and wait with patients who are in their custody. Well, does that make sense? Is that a good use of police and emergency resources? This makes no sense.

People are losing faith in our health care system and it's a really sad state of affairs. I honestly think that we enjoy one of the better health care systems in the world, despite all its faults. We cannot afford to have people lose faith and we cannot afford to let problems like this goes unanswered and, most important, Mr. Speaker, I think we have to ensure that we have short-term solutions for problems, whether they're here, they're in Digby, they're up on Digby Neck or they're in Cape Breton, it doesn't matter.

Short term solutions are needed, short term solutions must be delivered and short term solutions are deserved by residents of Nova Scotia. We'll wait to see what the long-term

[Page 1396]

solution is but that doesn't abdicate the responsibility for the minister to bring forward the long term solution. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Argyle.

HON. CHRISTOPHER D'ENTREMONT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to stand again and speak into supply on this Monday. Of course on my last opportunity to speak in supply we were speaking about NSCC and maybe I'll have a few questions, rhetorical questions, as we move along into my 15 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, first of all traditionally the talk into supply is to sort of have the opportunity to talk about the last election, to talk about the constituency. I'm going to spend a little bit of time talking about that. You know going into this election - I think it was the member for Timberlea-Prospect who talked about a certain number of votes in order to be able to speak in this House - well I can say I took 64 per cent of the vote in the constituency of Argyle. I think that is a telling tale of the work that's being done in Argyle, the kind of people that I represent and the work that I do on the ground.

I do need to thank, first of all, my family. I know that the member for Pictou East would attest that it's quite a large group of individuals, in the Pubnicos and on my wife's side, all in through Sluice Point and that part of my constituency. They are phenomenal, they came out and worked and had a great time. I need to thank my campaign team for launching a wonderful campaign, one that was well fought and I think the election day results show the hard work that they were able to do.

[3:30 p.m.]

Saying that, going door to door once again, you get to acquaint yourself with many of the constituents and they all have some similar issues and, of course, different issues. I'm always amazed that during election you always hear of something else that you really had never thought of or had been approached to try to solve or fix. I can say this time, there were a lot of questions, especially from fishermen around the licencing program; the new Loan Board program that was, of course, put in place by our government. They were wondering when those dollars would be able to flow and when people would be able to apply for it.

I can say that there were many applications that I am aware of that were put in my constituency and I'm still waiting to hear if some of the people have been accepted, how many have been rejected, but it seems at this point that a very small number of people have been accepted for the licence program. I'm sure that's because of a number of reasons, the product can be anything from the industry, the lobster industry, as well it could be the financial situation, I suppose, of the individual.

[Page 1397]

I can say though, that we hope that this government seriously considers this program, continues to expand upon it and continues to make it even better. The reason this was really put in place had to do with the average age of the fishermen in southwest Nova Scotia. In my constituency, I would probably hazard a guess at this point the average age of a lobster fisherman is somewhere in the 50s, but a lot of guys who have been spending time on the back of a boat and who seem to want to take that next step, they don't want to be what we call a bégou in French - they don't want to be at the back of the boat doing the work. They want to be running their rig, they want to be able to do their work.

This is a tough time though, I think everything sort of hit all at the same time. One, you have the issue of owner/operator and the fallout, or the benefit of that, where a number of individuals who had lobster rigs had to find ways to divest of them and once that divestiture happened there were a number of boats and licences that were up for sale. A lot of individuals didn't have the wherewithal, of course, to do that. Banks will not loan for a licence because that licence is actually held by the federal government, so we have the fall-out of the owner/operator policy or the independent fishermen policy. You have these boats and licences available and you have a whole bunch of people interested in buying them.

What that did is, it did one of two things. It brought the price of rigs and licences down from a high of somewhere close to a million dollars at one point, to today where something a little more affordable - and we can only go by the example that was, of course, brought forward in this House, which is the $592,000 - which seems to be what I'm hearing, it's in the $500,000 to $600,000 range. So fishermen, these young guys who are available, who are sitting on the back of the boat, who really want to get into the fishery, are mortgaging life and future to get into this fishery. That's where the help of the government really comes into place, is to be able to have the dollars available to purchase these boats and licences. So that's an issue that I've heard of a lot.

Hopefully, there will be an expansion on it, a better appreciation of the industry, and we hope that the lobster industry does better as we move into this new season that will get underway in southwest Nova Scotia on the last Monday of October. The member for Pictou East is looking at me with great interest too, making sure I know my dates. I've got to get the day right - I'm hoping that maybe we're not in the House at that point, that I can actually get out on a boat and maybe be there for dumping day, as I always have lots of offers to be out there on those first couple of days.

Whether or not my stomach can actually go out on the water depends on the weather of course. When you've been in this House this long, anybody who had sea legs, it takes a little to get those sea legs back, which is the other reason why I'm in politics and not a fisherman, because my stomach actually didn't like being out on the ocean as much as being on terra firma.

[Page 1398]

Mr. Speaker, infrastructure in our constituency is extremely important when it comes to the fishery. I was very happy to stand alongside MP Greg Kerr on a number of announcements over the last few months on the redevelopment of some of our harbours.

Mr. Speaker, if we start east and go west: East Pubnico Harbour was one that was getting tremendously congested, where the size of vessels was really outweighing, sort of outspacing the size that were sitting at the wharf. So what really has to happen is either the boats have to get smaller or the wharf has to get bigger. There was a proposal that was before the federal government, small craft harbours, to expand the wharf, create a new wharf to the eastward, to be able to create a nice little port that was protéger, or protected from the elements as the southwest wind would come in, and be able to hold on to a number of boats. What was happening to the vessels at East Pubnico was that they were having to go down and move their boats either to the west side or having to go down to Ray Belliveau's in order to weather a storm.

Going to the west side: there are two projects that are ongoing right now, which was the completion of the T of the number one wharf. We used to call the wharves in Pubnico, you used have jetée nord and jetée sud, you have the north and the south. Back in the 1980s, they built a further one to the south and just recently they built another one to the north. So now we have 1, 2, 3, 4 as we're going north to south. When they built that wharf, there was still a piece that needed to be put on it in order to fix the L and the T coming off the two wharves to create another protected area within it.

Dennis Point, which is the one that I'm referencing, is a sight to behold, really. I know that the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture has been there on a number of occasions to see the wharf. (Interruption) On the west side? East side, that's right, probably 30 per cent. Thank you very much for bringing that up, that many of the constituents for Shelburne, on the western end of his riding, actually dock in East Pubnico.

Anyway, back to the west side. The largest landing at any wharf in eastern Canada comes to that wharf, whether it's in lobster, whether it's in groundfish, whether it's in herring, and it goes on, the list of species that would come into this wharf. There are number of things going in there so the infrastructure in that port is extremely important.

I go to the other side of Pubnico, those of you who know it, it is a point. On the other side of it you get Abbott's Harbour, we call it the Quogguenich. In Abbott's Harbour they had a deck project, and I don't remember when the deck project was first done, I was just a kid and I remember running on top of some of the beams, so let's say 30 years ago the work was done there and it's high time that it was done again. A project was announced there, so they're getting a whole new cap and a whole new deck for the wharf in Abbott's Harbour, because you know the prevailing wind is southwest, it is sort of hidden behind a little bit of an island, but through time the pilings and everything become so weak that it becomes a little dangerous.

[Page 1399]

As we flow along to the other wharves which would be in the Wedgeport area, of course, the Argyle Camp Cove wharf didn't get a project this time in the Wedgeport area, of course the Argyle Camp Cove wharf didn't get a project this time - they haven't really applied for one - and there's a couple of little ones as you flow around in through Morris Island and the Tittle, and there's one at Sluice Point. But we go into the other spot, which is lower Wedgeport, which is called the breakwater wharf. That one had continually been eroded on the northern side, as the Tusket River, the wind would be flipped over to the nor'east or north, it would sort of just ravage the side of it.

What that proposal had been was to basically rip-rap the side, put some rocks in to be able to protect it and, of course, to expand what happens at that wharf. As in all wharves in the southwest, the boats continually did get better. I'm sure that the Minister of Fisheries, when he first started - I don't know how big the French Connection was, it was probably a 42-foot - yes, 40 feet by 15 feet. You go to a boat today, which are 45- or 50-feet by 30-feet wide, so you can only imagine the space change within those wharves.

Wedgeport was able to get some work. On the other side, which is off of Little River Harbour, they were able to get some dredging so the boats, of course, can go in and out. So again, I'm very happy that the federal government stood up to the base and were able to fund these projects that are so important.

These are some of the projects that haven't been done in many years, so it was very good to see. How much time do I have, Mr. Speaker? Two minutes.

You know bridges, of course, I'll continue to talk about the residents of Surettes Island and Morris Island. They need that new bridge, of course, and I'm very encouraged by the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal's comments that he will find the dollars in partnership with the federal government. It's a $15 million to $16 million bridge, and I know many of us don't have a bridge of that size, but it's very important for those individuals. It's the only access that they have on and off the island. So, of course, we really have to watch for that.

I have two other bridges that are very important to me as well, which are the Gavelton Bridge, which connects me to Yarmouth, and the Tusket Bridge, which goes in. Anyway, I'll look forward to maybe talking about this another time. At this point, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to move adjournment of debate.

MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for adjournment of debate.

Is it agreed?

A recorded vote has been called for.

[Page 1400]

Ring the bells. Call in the members.

[3:38 p.m.]

[The Division bells were rung.]

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.

The motion is to adjourn debate on the motion going into Committee of the Whole House on Supply.

A recorded vote has been called for.

[The Clerk calls the roll.]

[4:38 p.m.]

YEAS NAYS

Mr. Scott Mr. Landry

Ms. Casey Ms. More

Mr. Clarke Mr. Estabrooks

Mr. d'Entremont Ms. Peterson-Rafuse

Mr. MacLeod Mr. Corbett

Mr. Hurlburt Mr. Dexter

Mr. Bain Mr. Steele

Mr. Porter Ms. Maureen MacDonald

Mr. Paris

Ms. Jennex

Mr. MacDonell

Mr. Belliveau

Ms. Zann

Mr. Zinck

Ms. Conrad

Mr. MacKinnon

Mr. Gosse

Ms. Kent

Mr. David Wilson (Sackville-Cobequid)

Mr. Preyra

Ms. Raymond

Mr. Epstein

Mr. Prest

Mr. Ramey

[Page 1401]

Mr. Skabar

Mr. Whynott

Mr. Morton

Ms. Birdsall

Mr. Boudreau

Mr. Burrill

Mr. Gaudet

Mr. Samson

Mr. Glavine

Ms. Whalen

Mr. McNeil

Mr. Manning MacDonald

Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay)

Mr. Theriault

Mr. Colwell

Mr. Younger

Ms. Regan

THE CLERK: For, 8. Against, 41.

MR. SPEAKER: The motion is defeated.

The honourable member for Truro-Bible Hill.

MS. LENORE ZANN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Merci, M. l'Président, Wela'lin, Al sue sed.

Je suis tres heureuse et honoree d'etre ici finalement a parler dans cette Maison d'Assemblee - la premiere Maison Legislative pour tout les gens de Nouvelle Ecosse, et en face de le premier Government du Canada.

I'm very happy and honoured to be here finally this afternoon to speak in this House of Assembly, the first Legislature for the people of Nova Scotia and, in fact, of the first Government of Canada.

It's an honour as a newcomer to be given the opportunity to speak on the motion going into Supply and as well as to personally congratulate and welcome our new Premier to his place in this historic House. I'm thrilled, yet humbled, by the fact that I could play a role in helping him achieve that historic victory, a role that was a very new one for me and one that has changed my own life dramatically.

[Page 1402]

I wish to state here that I fully agree with, and support, our Premier's vision as articulated in the Throne Speech. I also applaud his continued championing of this province beyond its borders, and I promise to do everything in my power to help him achieve his vision in order to bring about prosperity, and the eventual elimination of poverty, not only for my own constituents, but for the incredible people right across this province. (Applause)

I have heard it said that sometimes you have to leave a place before you ever really know it fully. Well, I can truly say that after 30 years of living and working in the entertainment industry in cities right across North America and Europe, when I finally returned home to Nova Scotia in October 2007, I was able to see it in a much different light than when I had left on the train to York University at 17 years of age.

Instead of feeling like everything that was exciting and full of untold possibility was out there somewhere beyond provincial borders, I saw that Nova Scotia has actually come a long way since I was a restless teenager wanting to work full-time in film, television, and theatre, and I realized I could help to make exciting things happen right here at home.

What I saw was a province that is absolutely full of potential - potential that is only just beginning to be discovered. Not only do we have great alternative energy potential due to our geographic approximation to the Bay of Fundy with its powerful tides and winds, as well as the distinct opportunity of future green energy partnerships with our fellow Atlantic Provinces, but I believe there is a growing awareness of another potential power for our future - it lies in the creativity and the talent of our people.

[4:45 p.m.]

It is my belief that this is a natural resource which has never been fully realized and I truly believe that, if given half a chance, Nova Scotia can become one of the great creative, historic, exciting, and - dare we say - fun cultural destinations of this country. (Applause)

In the recent provincial election I agreed to run for public office for the first time ever as a New Democrat in Truro-Bible Hill, in spite of its reputation as a staunchly Progressive Conservative fortress with a history of famous leaders like Ike Smith and Robert Stanfield. I agreed to run for two very simple reasons: I believed in Darrell Dexter, and I believed that the status quo no longer served the people of Nova Scotia and that the way of doing things in the past was over and we were due for a change. I also believed in the New Democrat values that shape and drive this Party, as well as Premier Dexter's vision, guidance, and good governance for all Nova Scotians.

Mr. Speaker, on June 10th the papers said that I had won by a Zann-slide, but everyone in this Chamber knows that none of us can do something like this alone. So I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the members of my team who helped to change the colour of Truro from blue to orange. First and foremost, obviously, I thank my family, from the

[Page 1403]

oldest, at 77, to the youngest, who is looking forward to turning six next weekend. Believe me, five-year-old hands can get candidate cards into places where adults can only dream.

Now, as many of my colleagues on both sides of the House know, my mom and dad, Jan and Paul Zann, are the salt of the earth. They are the salt of the earth and they brought me up to believe in the NDP dream. They have the distinction of being NDP members with the only orange sign on Willow Street in Truro for the past 40 years. Now, after all their years of knocking on countless doors, scrutineering, and encouraging candidates with unflagging energy in the belief that someday they just might get a win, it gave me great pleasure to be able to inspire people to finally put up a whole bunch more orange signs in Truro to keep theirs company. So thank you to my mom and dad for all the long hours they put into my campaign, and thanks to my sister, Tamara, and her husband, Tim Roland, sign erector, and their kids, Aidan, Lachlan, and Maia.

Mr. Speaker, a teammate who I especially need to thank for our success is Susan MacQuarrie. I simply couldn't have done it without her. When she agreed to be my local campaign manager, after first asking "what does a campaign manager do?", we decided that it was time for both the people and, in particular, the women, to take back the Town of Truro. For that and for all the work Susan did and continues to do now as my CA, I am eternally grateful.

Mr. Speaker, many friends and colleagues helped by making appearances and canvassing with me and I thank them from the bottom of my heart - Mr. Darrell Dexter, Alexa McDonough, Maureen MacDonald, and Rocky Jones, in particular. Many more helped out in the office, making signs, operating the computers, and making phone calls. I can't list them all, but I would like to mention a few in particular: Jamie Crane; Norm McKaskell; Pat and Dave Scammell; Bruce and Sharon Farrell; Kathleen McManus; John MacLean; Lenora Steele; Cheryll, Kyle and Tim Blaikie; Ibel Scammell; Greg McCloud; Jeannie Archibald; Dave Murphy; Kathleen Roy; Ruth Ann LaBelle; Danielle Pinkney; Cherie and Pete Keaveney; Dennis Keaveney; Gabriel Comeaux; Nelson MacKinnon; Wayne Burley; Rod and Connor MacQuarrie; and last but not least, Chloe MacQuarry and her gang of 13-year-old girls. I would like to thank them especially, since it was so exciting to see these girls get not only interested in politics at such a young age, but active as well. We did it and we're here, living proof that the status quo can change and that ideas are as important as concrete and steel.

In the past few weeks, we've heard from many of my fellow colleagues and I've been thoroughly enjoying hearing the descriptions of the wide variety of wild and beautiful natural settings and the people who make their locales unique.

My own constituency, known as Truro-Bible Hill, is nestled in the wide Salmon River Valley. Truro-Bible Hill actually encompasses four small communities: the Town of Truro itself; the suburb of Salmon River, best known as Hockeyville; the Village of Bible

[Page 1404]

Hill; and Millbrook First Nation. Some people may find this surprising, but a recent study by KPMG concluded that Truro is, "the most efficient place to do business in Atlantic Canada." Only 40 minutes to the international airport and 60 minutes from downtown Halifax, with four new schools, a new hospital being built, and two respected colleges, Truro is rapidly becoming a satellite town of Halifax. Being the hub of Nova Scotia also means that all major highways go through it. One has to go through Truro to get to the other destinations in the province. The Atlantic Gateway is an important project for Nova Scotia and we hope that Truro has an important part to play in that as well.

Truro is blessed with some very interesting and beautiful natural attractions. Mentioned in textbooks around the world is the phenomenon known as the tidal bore. Another natural attraction that Truro possesses is our 1,000-acre Victoria Park. It was lauded by Joseph Howe in his writings, and Acadians were once baptized in a small clearing in the park, untouched since those days. The Falls have been a great tourist attraction in Truro for many years.

Along with these natural attractions, Truro can boast of having three designated heritage conservation districts, indicative of the town's growing interest in preserving its built heritage. As the saying goes, the greenest building is the one already built, and our town has the largest collection of Italianate and Queen Anne revival-style houses in the province. A wonderful example of the adaptive reuse of an heritage building is the former post office, designed in 1884 by Thomas Fuller and now converted into the town's civic building. The Normal College built in 1858 is undergoing a feasibility study right now to determine the practicality of turning this gorgeous 27,000 square-foot Victorian building with a second empire mansard roof into a post-secondary school for the performing arts.

Truro now has a fine live theatre as well, due to the fundraising efforts of the Truro Downtown Partnership and support from the province. The Marigold Arts and Cultural Centre, under the auspices of the Cobequid Arts Council, is located in the centre of town in a building on Prince Street that was once the local cinema.

Truro certainly is the best-kept secret as well when it comes to affordable housing, so who knows, "Truro or bust" may become the phrase of the future.

Mr. Speaker, Salmon River is a suburban community that is growing. Located on the south side of the Salmon River from which it derives its name, new upscale housing developments are constantly being built up the hill along the south side of the valley. The defining feature that sets Salmon River apart is the fact that this community was the winning entrant of CBC's nationwide Hockeyville contest. Out of 450 initial entries across Canada, Salmon River won the competition hands down, and the tourists that were brought to the town from that TV show are a really good example of how tourism and entertainment can join to bring in tourist dollars to Nova Scotia.

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The Mi'kmaq people of my riding are very important to me - Millbrook First Nation under the leadership of Chief Lawrence Paul. Our African Nova Scotian population is very important as well. They've contributed greatly to our community, and they've been here since the earliest days of Truro's settlement. In both sports and cultural pursuits, our black population excels. Portia White was the daughter of William White. She's a world-famous opera singer born in Truro.

Many of these people who are alive today are friends of mine and of my family. The entertainment there, the music festival, the band program have all grown to make Truro very well-known for its music and theatre heritage.

I really say that our stories, our songs, our history, and our heritage here in Nova Scotia are unique, inspiring, moving, and liberating. This is one of my favorite places on the planet. Its wild beauty and amazing people inspire me every day, and I feel grateful to wake up knowing I'm home, close to my family, and in a position to give back to the community and the province in which I grew up. So, yes, Nova Scotia has potential, Mr. Speaker, potential to become an even better place to live and I want to help make that happen.

I have a vision for our province, which I believe is mirrored by my fellow New Democrats and my Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. It's a vision that will see Nova Scotia grow stronger and become a real force to be reckoned with as we move inexorably forward into this 21st Century. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to speak. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: The motion is carried.

[4:56 p.m. The House resolved itself into a CWH on Supply with Deputy Speaker Mr. Gordon Gosse in the Chair.]

[8:15 p.m. CWH on Supply rose and the House reconvened. Mr. Speaker, Hon. Charlie Parker, resumed the Chair.]

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House on Supply reports:

THE CLERK: That the committee has met and completed its consideration of the 47 estimate resolutions referred to it, including estimates referred to the Subcommittee on Supply, and the committee recommends the estimate resolutions to the favourable consideration of the House without amendment.

MR. SPEAKER: The motion is that the House concurs with the report of the Committee of the Whole House on Supply.

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Is it agreed?

A recorded vote is being called for.

Ring the bells. Call in the members.

[8:16 p.m.]

[The Division bells were rung.]

MR. SPEAKER: Are the Whips satisfied?

[The Clerk calls the roll.]

[9:16 p.m.]

YEAS NAYS

Mr. Landry Mr. Gaudet

Ms. More Mr. Samson

Mr. Estabrooks Mr. Glavine

Ms. Peterson-Rafuse Ms. Whalen

Mr. Corbett Mr. McNeil

Mr. Steele Mr. Manning MacDonald

Ms. Maureen MacDonald Mr. Scott

Mr. Paris Ms. Casey

Ms. Jennex Mr. Clarke

Mr. MacDonell Mr. d'Entremont

Mr. Belliveau Mr. MacLeod

Ms. Zann Mr. Hurlburt

Mr. Zinck Mr. Bain

Ms. Conrad Mr. Porter

Mr. MacKinnon Mr. Younger

Mr. Gosse Ms. Regan

Mr. David Wilson (Sackville-Cobequid) Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay)

Mr. Preyra Mr. Theriault

Ms. Raymond Mr. Colwell

Mr. Epstein

Mr. Prest

Mr. Ramey

Mr. Skabar

Mr. Whynott

Mr. Morton

Ms. Birdsall

[Page 1407]

Mr. Boudreau

Mr. Burrill

THE CLERK: For, 28. Against, 19.

MR. SPEAKER: The motion is carried.

The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. FRANK CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, would you please call the order of business, Introduction of Bills.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

Bill No. 42 - Entitled an Act to Provide for Defraying Certain Charges and Expenses of the Public Service of the Province. (Hon. Graham Steele)

[PUBLIC BILLS FOR SECOND READING]

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Finance.

HON. GRAHAM STEELE: Mr. Speaker, I move second reading of Bill No. 42, the Appropriations Act, 2009.

MR. SPEAKER: The motion is for second reading of Bill No. 42, the Appropriations Act, 2009.

A recorded vote is being called for.

Ring the bells. Call in the members.

[9:20 p.m.]

[The Division bells were rung.]

MR. SPEAKER: Are the Whips satisfied?

[The Clerk calls the roll.]

[10:20 p.m.]

YEAS NAYS

Mr. Landry Ms. Whalen

[Page 1408]

Ms. More Mr. McNeil

Mr. Estabrooks Mr. Manning MacDonald

Ms. Peterson-Rafuse Mr. Scott

Mr. Corbett Ms. Casey

Mr. Steele Mr. Clarke

Ms. Maureen MacDonald Mr. d'Entremont

Mr. Paris Mr. MacLeod

Ms. Jennex Mr. Hurlburt

Mr. MacDonell Mr. Bain

Mr. Belliveau Mr. Porter

Ms. Zann Mr. Younger

Mr. Zinck Ms. Regan

Ms. Conrad Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay)

Mr. MacKinnon Mr. Theriault

Mr. Gosse Mr. Colwell

Mr. David Wilson (Sackville-Cobequid)

Mr. Preyra

Ms. Raymond

Mr. Epstein

Mr. Prest

Mr. Ramey

Mr. Skabar

Mr. Whynott

Mr. Morton

Ms. Birdsall

Mr. Boudreau

Mr. Burrill

THE CLERK: For, 28. Against, 16.

MR. SPEAKER: The motion is carried.

Due to the lateness of the hour, I'll call upon the Government House Leader to move adjournment and to announce the hours and business for tomorrow.

The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. FRANK CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, I move adjournment but, before I do, the business for tomorrow is: Public Bills for Third Reading - the budget - and Bill Nos. 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29 and 30. The hours for tomorrow will be from 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now rise.

[Page 1409]

MR. SPEAKER: The motion is to adjourn.

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

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

The motion is carried.

We stand adjourned until 12:00 noon tomorrow.

[The House rose at 10:24 p.m.]

[Page 1410]

NOTICES OF MOTION UNDER RULE 32(3)

RESOLUTION NO. 692

By: Mr. Andrew Younger (Dartmouth East)

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

Whereas Dalhousie University's honorary degrees are awarded to recognize individuals who by their example provide inspiration and are models of leadership and integrity to Dalhousie's student body; and

Whereas Symphony Nova Scotia has been praised as one of the top orchestras in Canada under the direction of Bernhard Gueller, performing for more than 15,000 young audience members each year through its education and outreach programs; and

Whereas Symphony Nova Scotia's music director Bernhard Gueller was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from Dalhousie University on Saturday, October 17th;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of the House of Assembly join me in congratulating Bernhard Gueller and recognize him for his inspiring leadership of Symphony Nova Scotia.

RESOLUTION NO. 693

By: Ms. Diana Whalen (Halifax Clayton Park)

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

Whereas Easter Seals Nova Scotia is a local charity serving the 152,000 Nova Scotians with physical disabilities; and

Whereas during their 78-year history, the organization has undergone a number of name changes and since 1985 has also been known to many as the Abilities Foundation of Nova Scotia; and

Whereas Easter Seals wanted to clarify and strengthen their identity in the community and have chosen to return to their original name - Easter Seals Nova Scotia;

[Page 1411]

Therefore be it resolved that the members of the House of Assembly congratulate Easter Seals Nova Scotia on their official name and wish this organization continued success in the future.

RESOLUTION NO. 694

By: Hon. Wayne Gaudet (Clare)

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

Whereas Peter McLellan, Q.C., partner of Stewart McKelvey, has been elected President of the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers; and

Whereas Peter is a founding Director of CACE and is recognized as one of the top lawyers in Canada for his work in labour and employment law; and

Whereas CACE was founded in 2004 and has over 300 members including the leading management, labour and employment lawyers in Canada;

Therefore be it resolved that members of this House congratulate Peter McLellan for his election as Atlantic Canada's first President of the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers and recognize the significant contributions Peter has made to the legal profession.