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HALIFAX, MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016

Sixty-second General Assembly

Third Session

10:00 A.M.

SPEAKER

Hon. Kevin Murphy

DEPUTY SPEAKERS

Mr. Gordon Wilson, Mr. Keith Irving

MR. SPEAKER « » : Order, please. We'll begin the daily routine.

The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. MICHEL SAMSON « » : Mr. Speaker, as you know, today our schoolchildren are not in school due to safety concerns that were raised by superintendents throughout the province. I've been advised there are ongoing discussions as we speak, regarding the Nova Scotia Teachers Union and officials, to address the safety concerns that have been raised.

In light of that, Mr. Speaker, I would move that the House now recess and that we will provide one hour notice, minimum, to the House Leaders and to the Whips of each caucus prior to the House being brought back into session.

I realize that the hours are until 11:59 p.m. As soon as we have a better sense of how things are proceeding, I will certainly reach out to my colleagues, the House Leaders, to let them know, and share with their colleagues as to how the day might unfold. Merci.

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

HON. JAMIE BAILLIE « » : This is a farce. This government is creating a farce today and I encourage you, as an Officer of this Legislature, to deny the request for a recess by the Government House Leader. It is bad enough that they closed the schools, Mr. Speaker. It's bad enough that they are hiding behind safety concerns, but I want to be clear - those safety concerns do not rely on this House sitting or not sitting. You should not allow the Government House Leader, for his own political means, to recess the business of this House on such an important day for political purposes.

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Mr. Speaker, we have important business to discuss, the students are outside, 120,000 who are not in class . . .

MR. SPEAKER « » : It is not a point of order; it's a disagreement of facts.

The motion is for recess. Would all those in favour of the motion, the recess on one hour notice, please say Aye.

There has been a request for a recorded vote.

We'll ring the bells for one hour.

[10:04 a.m.]

[The Division bells were rung.]

MR. SPEAKER « » : Are the Whips satisfied?

Before we proceed with the recorded vote, I'll just remind all members to remain completely silent while the Clerks record your vote. I'll remind all members to stand up with a simple "yea" or "nay."

The Clerks will now proceed with the recorded vote on the motion to recess.

[The Clerk calls the roll.]

[11:04 a.m.]

YEAS	NAYS
Mr. Churchill	Mr. MacLeod
Ms. Bernard	Mr. Dunn
Ms. Regan	Mr. Bailey
Mr. Samson	Mr. d'Entremont
Mr. Glavine	Mr. David Wilson
Mr. Delorey	Mr. Belliveau

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Mr. MacLellan	Ms. Zann
Mr. Colwell	Ms. Peterson-Rafuse
Mr. Horne	Ms. Roberts
Mr. Stroink	Ms. Mancini
Ms. Miller	Mr. Orrell
Mr. Hines	Ms. MacFarlane
Ms. Diab	Mr. Houston
Mr. Ince	Mr. MacMaster
Mr. Kousoulis	Mr. Harrison
Mr. Furey	Mr. Lohr
Mr. Farrell
Mr. Maguire
Mr. Porter
Mr. Jessome
Ms. Lohnes-Croft
Ms. Eyking
Mr. Irving
Mr. Gough
Ms. Treen
Mr. Wilton
Mr. Rankin
Mr. Gordon Wilson
Mr. Mombourquette

THE CLERK » : For, 29. Against, 16.

MR. SPEAKER « » : The motion is carried.

The House now stands recessed.

The Government House Leader will provide one hour's notice to the House Leaders and Opposition Whips. (Interruptions) Order, please.

The House now stands recessed.

[11:08 a.m. The House recessed.]

[2:34 p.m. The House reconvened.]

MR. SPEAKER « » : Order, please.

The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. MICHEL SAMSON « » : Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn, to meet again at the call of the Speaker.

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MR. SPEAKER « » : The motion is for the House to meet again at the call of the Speaker. Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

The House now stands adjourned until the call of the Speaker.

[The House rose at 2:35 p.m.]

NOTICES OF MOTION UNDER RULE 32(3)

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RESOLUTION NO. 884

By: Hon. Jamie Baillie « » (Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party)

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

Whereas the education of thousands of Nova Scotia children is at risk because the McNeil Liberals locked them out of their classrooms; and

Whereas the Liberal Government's ability to negotiate has created a mess in our education system, and students and their families are paying the price for this Liberal incompetence; and

Whereas it is now clear that under this government classroom conditions will not get better, student outcomes will not improve, and the working relationship with teachers is poisoned;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of the House of Assembly remind the Premier and the entire Liberal caucus that dealing with teachers is not about winning, it's about the education of our children.

RESOLUTION NO. 885

By: Hon. Christopher d'Entremont « » (Argyle-Barrington)

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

Whereas thousands of parents spent the weekend searching for safe child care for their children because the McNeil Liberals locked kids out of their schools; and

Whereas those parents lucky enough to find a safe, child-care option for their children will incur an unwanted, unexpected, and unnecessary expense just weeks before Christmas; and

Whereas it is only because of the Liberal Government's complete inability to negotiate or plan for contingencies that parents and children find themselves in this terrible situation;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this Legislature condemn the McNeil Government for their incompetence and for making life even more difficult for thousands of kids and their families.

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RESOLUTION NO. 886

By: Hon. Christopher d'Entremont « » (Argyle-Barrington)

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

Whereas when children have disagreements at home or on the playground, adults tell them to keep calm, listen to the other person, compromise, and work the problem out; and

Whereas the government should strive to model these behaviours for children to set a good example; and

Whereas when the McNeil Government proved too incompetent to work out its differences with the province's teachers, they ordered school kids to stay out of school;

Therefore be it resolved that members of the McNeil Liberal Government apologize to children and their parents for their incompetent handling of their dispute with teachers, get back to the bargaining table, and get kids back to school.