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HALIFAX, TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019

Sixty-third General Assembly

Second Session

1:00 P.M.

SPEAKER

Hon. Kevin Murphy

DEPUTY SPEAKERS

Suzanne Lohnes-Croft, Brendan Maguire

THE SPEAKER » : Order, please. We'll 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

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable Premier.

RESOLUTION NO. 719

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

Whereas 301 athletes, coaches, and officials from across our province proudly represented Team Nova Scotia in the 2019 Canada Winter Games, hosted in Red Deer, Alberta, under the remarkable leadership of Chef de Mission Cathy Burton; and

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Whereas the rigorous training, dedication, and talent of these young Nova Scotians propelled Team Nova Scotia to not only compete with the best national athletes in 21 sporting events, but to achieve a record number of personal bests; and

Whereas Team Nova Scotia rose to the podium 11 times to bring home four bronze medals, six silver medals, and one gold medal, with athletes, coaches, and managers demonstrating integrity on and off the playing field while showcasing their competitive spirit;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of the House of Assembly congratulate all of our athletes, coaches, officials, and medal winners on their amazing accomplishments and, once again, for making all Nova Scotians proud.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice and passage without debate.

THE 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 Lands and Forestry.

RESOLUTION NO. 720

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

Whereas the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed Sunday, March 3^rd, as UN World Wildlife Day 2019 to celebrate and raise awareness of the world's wild animals and plants; and

Whereas World Wildlife Day 2019 focused on marine species by celebrating the biodiversity of our planet's oceans, lakes, marshes, streams, and other waterways that are home to the marine life essential to our ecosystem; and

Whereas the sustained health of our marine ecosystem supports a wide range of heritage values and opportunities for outdoor recreation, nature-based education, and tourism;

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Therefore be it resolved that all members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly acknowledge the importance of United Nations World Wildlife Day and the need to protect our wild animals, plants, and ecosystems for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice and passage without debate.

THE SPEAKER « » : There has been a request for waiver.

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs.

RESOLUTION NO. 721

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

Whereas Doreen Gibson Paris, a beloved member of the African Nova Scotian community, recently passed away at the age of 74; and

Whereas Mrs. Gibson Paris from New Glasgow was the recent recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee medals, the recipient of the New Glasgow Human Rights Awards, a member of several boards and committees, an advocate for women's rights, and an active member of the Second United Baptist Church; and

Whereas Mrs. Gibson Paris will always be remembered for being a strong-willed, warm-hearted, and wonderful woman who has touched the lives of many individuals;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House please join me in acknowledging the extraordinary life of Doreen Gibson Paris and her contributions to Nova Scotian society.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice and passage without debate.

THE SPEAKER « » : There has been a request for waiver.

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Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

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

The motion is carried.

The honourable Minister of Immigration.

RESOLUTION NO. 722

HON. LENA METLEGE DIAB « » : Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration has seen a record number of landings in 2018, at 5,970 new permanent residents to call Nova Scotia home; and

Whereas our role in Immigration is under the economic class, and 3,845, or 65 per cent of those permanent resident landings are people who were approved directly through provincial economic programs, including the Provincial Nominee and the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Programs; and

Whereas as Minister of Immigration, I'm pleased with the success we're seeing in attracting more newcomers to live and work in Nova Scotia, as this will strengthen our economy, increase our population, and revitalize our communities;

Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly continue to join me in welcoming newcomers as they settle across the province and congratulate staff at the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration on the success we're seeing in recruiting skilled workers.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice and passage without debate.

THE 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.

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INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable Minister of Municipal Affairs.

HON. CHUCK PORTER « » : Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to make an introduction.

THE SPEAKER « » : Permission granted.

CHUCK PORTER « » : In the gallery opposite, I would like to introduce a few members with us this afternoon from the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities: Mr. Waye Mason, the current president; Juanita Spencer; and Janice Wentzell. A couple of folks from the department who have worked hard on this bill as well: Mark Peck, who would be no stranger to this place, having been around and recognized recently for a few decades of service to the Province of Nova Scotia; and also Mico Schwartzentruber. I would ask the House to give them a warm welcome this afternoon. (Applause)

Bill No. 92 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 18 of the Acts of 1998. The Municipal Government Act, and Chapter 39 of the Acts of 2008. The Halifax Regional Municipality Charter. (Hon. Chuck Porter)

Bill No. 93 - Entitled an Act to Amend Schedule A of Chapter 1 of the Acts of 2018. The Education Act, Respecting a Council on Gaelic Education. (Allan MacMaster)

Bill No. 94 - Entitled an Act Improving Public Access to Automated Defibrillators. (Tammy Martin)

Bill No. 95 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 4 of the Acts of 1992. The Emergency "911" Act. (Hon. Chuck Porter)

Bill No. 96 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 11 of the Acts of 2015. The Universities Accountability and Sustainability Act. (Eddie Orrell)

THE SPEAKER « » : Ordered that these bills be read a second time on a future day.

NOTICES OF MOTION

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Pictou West.

[1:15 p.m.]

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VOLUNS.: COM. INCOME TAX PROG. - RECOG.

KARLA MACFARLANE « » : Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As tax season is upon us, I wish to stand to thank all the wonderful volunteers of the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program for donating their time and expertise with assisting constituents to submit their returns.

The criteria are straightforward for the free clinic - modest income with a simple return. Whether it is through the walk-in, appointment, or drop-off/pick up method - which are all utilized - the volunteers do it with professionalism, kindness, and accuracy.

Pictou West has two main venues: the Pictou Legion and the Seniors New Horizons building. Both of these locations have volunteers who are ready and willing to help and to take the fear and uncertainty out of the process.

Again, I am honoured to stand to recognize these wonderful people.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Halifax Needham.

STANFIELD AIRPORT VOLUNS.: DEDICATION - RECOG.

LISA ROBERTS « » : I happened to be at Halifax Stanfield International Airport last night as my family was arriving - and in fact, they were on the plane that skidded off the end of the runway. I want to express my appreciation for the one gentleman, wearing a tartan vest, who is a volunteer - he was the only one who made it to the airport last night.

I spoke with him briefly at eight o'clock and he'd been on shift since one o'clock and was showing great kindness to an incredible number of frazzled individuals who were being turned back from their expected vacations and those waiting for people to arrive who were diverted mid-flight.

I just want to say how impressed I was and how important that volunteer role is, as many other volunteer roles are, that Nova Scotians are playing across the province. (Applause)

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Halifax Atlantic.

WATTERS, ALEX/TEAM N.S.: 2019 CAN. WINTER GAMES - CONGRATS.

BRENDAN MAGUIRE « » : Mr. Speaker, Red Deer is the setting for the 2019 Canada Games. I want to congratulate all the athletes who represented Nova Scotia at the Games. It's such a huge accomplishment to be chosen to represent your province and it's a testament to all the hard work and training that they undergo to make it to that level.

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In particular, I'd like to thank and recognize Alex Watters from Ketch Harbour. Alex was chosen to be the flag-bearer for Team Nova Scotia. Alex also won a bronze medal in the gymnastics artistic team male event and finished just off the podium in several other events. Alex is an outstanding young man who has a very bright future.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the members to join me in congratulating all of our Nova Scotia athletes who participated in the 2019 Canada Games.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage.

HUDSON, KAREN - PRINCIPAL: INNOVATION/INSIGHT - RECOG.

BARBARA ADAMS « » : Today I rise to bring recognition to Auburn High School Principal Karen Hudson. Karen is the recipient of the Outstanding Principals Award. The recipients will engage in online forums regarding leadership and mentoring colleagues.

Auburn High School has benefited and is actively seeing success with Karen's implemented culturally-responsive Africentric programming. Students are striving and feeling more confident with the increase in academics. Karen's dedication to the school and the entire school body and staff does not go unnoticed.

I ask all members of the Nova Scotia Legislature to join me in acknowledging Principal Karen Hudson for her insight and strength to implement a change in order to achieve success. We applaud Karen for becoming a member of the National Academy of Principals.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Clare-Digby.

RELAY FOR LIFE: CANCER FUNDRAISING - CONGRATS.

GORDON WILSON « » : Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the organizers of the Digby Relay for Life for hosting a great event last June and surpassing their fundraising goal of $18,000. This relay was the twelfth time that I was privileged to be a member of the Municipal Millipedes Team.

As in previous years, it was an evening of fun and support for cancer patients and of touching moments of remembering people who are no longer with us. It was inspiring to see the cancer survivors take the first lap of the relay, cheered on by their family and friends. Friends and families have such an important part and supportive role for anyone going through treatments, and their participation in the relay is one more example of their support and the support of the community in their ongoing challenges.

This year's ambassador, Darlene D'Eon, had been a regular participant in the Relay for Life prior to her diagnosis. In the blink of an eye, she went from a supporter to a cancer patient.

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Her case epitomizes how this disease can affect anyone. Volunteers one year, then needing to lean on friends and families during their ongoing treatment the next. I want to thank the organizers of this event and I look forward to participating again this June.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Victoria-The Lakes

RICHARDS, NICHOLAS - SKIER: MEDALLIST - CONGRATS.

KEITH BAIN « » : Mr. Speaker, Nicholas Richards, a 13-year-old from Big Bras d'Or, began skiing with his family at a young age and always had a passion for speed. It didn't take long for Nicholas and his family to realize skiing was his sport of choice.

On January 13, 2019, Nicholas won a bronze medal at the 24th Jerry Giorno Memorial held at Ben Eoin competing against race clubs across Atlantic Canada. Just recently, Nicholas travelled to Newfoundland to compete in the Marble Cup Race finishing the event with silver and four bronze medals. Nicholas is currently sixth place overall for boys under 14 in the Atlantic Provinces.

I rise today to congratulate Nicholas on his current medal winnings and wish him all the best in his upcoming competitions. Go Nick Go.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Guysborough-Eastern Shore- Tracadie.

MULGRAVE/GUYSBOROUGH/ST. MARYS:

BLUENOSE ACHIEVEMT. AWARD - CONGRATS.

HON. LLOYD HINES « » : Mr. Speaker, annually Recreation Nova Scotia holds its awards event to pay tribute to those exceptional individuals, organizations, facilities and communities who, through their efforts and skills, made outstanding contributions towards the betterment of the recreation movement in Nova Scotia.

One of the awards is the Bluenose Achievement Award. This award recognizes an individual or community group that provides support activities and services that successfully achieves the values and benefits of recreation. This year the recreation departments for the Town of Mulgrave and the Municipalities of Guysborough and St. Mary's, received that award for their group efforts in delivering the very popular Guysborough County 55 Plus Games held at Liscombe Lodge.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my congratulations and gratitude to Kerri Penney, Heather Brennan, Angie Cleary, and the extended recreation staff for providing our seniors with such a successful and delightful event.

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THE SPEAKER « » : The member for Pictou Centre.

MURRAY, ALLAN - RECIPIENT: SENATE 150 MEDAL - CONGRATS.

HON. PAT DUNN « » : Mr. Speaker, our communities rely on the generosity of countless volunteers. On January 12, 2019, Allan Murray, a resident of Stellarton, received national recognition for his numerous years of volunteering in his community.

Senator Michael L. MacDonald presented the Senate 150 Medal to Murray at an event in Pictou County.

Murray has been treasurer for a number of societies, as well as a volunteer to assist seniors with their annual tax returns. Allan is well known for his endless examples of assisting residents in need, regardless if it is transporting them to church, a doctor's appointment, or an event in the community.

Please join me in congratulating Allan Murray for being a recipient of the Senate 150 Medal and his countless years of volunteering in our county.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Dartmouth North.

SPARTANS BASKETBALL: NSSAF CHAMPS - CONGRATS.

SUSAN LEBLANC « » : Mr. Speaker, I would like the House to join me in congratulating the Dartmouth High School Spartans basketball teams. Both the boys and girls teams swept the NSSAF Provincial Championships this past Saturday in Greenwich, with the boys team winning the final game with an 89-73 point lead over Halifax Grammar, while the girls team, who remained undefeated this season, took their final game against Horton in a 72-70 nail-biter.

I want to congratulate all the players on both teams for such an impressive finish this season and to both Jashajaun Downey and Samantha Russell, each team's top scorers this weekend, with 33 points and 17 points respectively. Big kudos go to the two coaches, Lance Sparks and Marika Williams, who have led their teams all season to this victory. They should be very proud of their teams' successes, spirit, and conduct. The teams have done Dartmouth proud. I would like to add that my colleague from Dartmouth South is also super proud of the Spartans. Go Spartans.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Halifax Armdale.

LENT: SEASON OF CHRISTIAN PREPARATION - BLESSINGS

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HON. LENA METLEGE DIAB « » : Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the start of the Holy Lent in the Christian faith.

Yesterday Maronites celebrated Ash Monday. Tomorrow Catholic, Anglican and other Western churches will celebrate Ash Wednesday. And next Monday the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches will celebrate Clean Monday to signal the beginning of the Lenten Season.

Lent is a solemn religious observance in the Christian Liturgical Calendar that begins approximately six weeks before Easter Sunday

Over the coming weeks, families and friends will fast from midnight to noon and enter a period of preparation, self-reflection, repentance, and prayer. It's the time to take on new life-giving practices as we prepare for Easter.

A very important element of the Lenten season is becoming aware of not only the suffering and sacrifice of Christ, but also the suffering of others.

I'd like to wish all Christian communities a blessed Lenten season and let us all continue to honour the values that unite us and put into practice what it means to love our neighbours as ourselves.

THE SPEAKER « » : I just want to remind everyone that there is some talking going on and it is kind of hard to hear people's statements.

The honourable member for Dartmouth East.

KEDDY, JAN: DEDICATED AUTISM ADVOCATE - THANKS

TIM HALMAN « » : I rise today to recognize Jan Keddy, a dedicated advocate for community-based autism services and supports.

Jan is an experienced educator, with specialization for children with autism. Her group, Playing and Learning Together, are committed to evidence-based interventions. Working with parents they provide developmentally-appropriate programming and sensory accommodations, and they promote independence.

Now retired, Jan continues to provide supports and advocacy for these individuals. Jan and her team create a strategy for individual success.

As a former teacher, I recognize the importance of finding an education strategy for all students.

I would ask that all members of this House thank Jan for the incredible work that she does in Dartmouth and in the HRM.

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THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Cole Harbour-Portland Valley.

DOLE, BLAIR - CST.: PINK TAPE DAY - RECOG.

HON. TONY INCE « » : Mr. Speaker, for many across the Maritimes spending a morning in the hockey rink is a Canadian tradition, but for Constable Blair Dole it is a passion. Constable Dole is a coach in Cole Harbour for the Bel Ayr Minor Hockey Association.

One day while coaching, Blair witnessed some bullying on his team. Blair came up with the idea of putting pink tape on their hockey sticks for the players so that they could be in support and stand together against bullying.

Pink Tape Day was November 24^th and Nova Scotia will continue to celebrate and stand up to bullying on Pink Tape Day.

This is not just a Cole Harbour project anymore. From Cape Breton to Shelburne, pink tape was on the sticks of many hockey players across the province to show their support, and on social media using the hashtag, #PinkTapeCampaign.

I wish to congratulate Constable Dole, the players and all, for their support to stand up against bullying.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley.

BOULTON, JOSH: COACH OF THE MO. - CONGRATS.

LARRY HARRISON « » : Mr. Speaker, the Bernie Lawlor Memorial Coach of the Month Award is awarded by Hockey Nova Scotia to honour exceptional teachers of the game who have helped to make the sport better.

Josh Boulton, a coach in the South Colchester Minor Hockey Association was honoured with December's award.

Previously playing three years of Junior A hockey with the Truro Bear Cats, the Brookfield native now lends his time to two teams in the South Colchester Minor Hockey Association. He is the head coach of South Colchester's Novice Intermediate team and assistant coach of the Novice Development team. He is the coach of my eight-year-old granddaughter and she loves it.

I wish to extend congratulations to Josh Boulton on receiving this well-deserved honour.

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THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Halifax Needham.

MARVAL, BECKY: MOSH TEAM LEAD - BEST WISHES

LISA ROBERTS « » : I rise to congratulate and thank Becky Marval, an occupational therapist who has stepped into the role of team lead of Mobile Outreach Street Health (MOSH). That role was pioneered by the visionary and leader of MOSH, the Order of Nova Scotia recipient, Patti Melanson, who, as I am sure all members are aware, passed away in December.

Becky is one of many service providers based in Halifax Needham who is both grieving and also striving to continue offering continuous and compassionate service to those vulnerable and marginalized Nova Scotians who experience poverty and homelessness or marginalized, precarious housing.

Because of the way Patti worked, her close colleagues are at many different agencies in Halifax Needham - Direction 180, Mainline, Adsum for Women and Children, Welcome Housing & Support Services, the North End Community Health Centre, and elsewhere. I join with them in wishing Becky well as she steps into these huge shoes.

[1:30 p.m.]

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Timberlea-Prospect.

ST. ANDREW'S ANGLICAN CHURCH: 100^th ANNIV. - CONGRATS.

HON. IAIN RANKIN « » : I would like to recognize St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Timberlea. This year will mark an historic milestone as the first Anglican church built in Timberlea celebrates its 100^th Anniversary.

It is interesting to note the historic founding of St. Andrew's. Mr. W. Simms Lee, a chartered accountant who emigrated from England and was also one of the founding members of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, was instrumental in establishing the church. Mr. Lee, along with Charles and Roland Fraser, is credited with building the church in 1919. The Fraser family donated the land and much of the lumber used in the construction of the church, while Mr. Lee led the community participation in raising funds and donating time and labour to the construction.

Over the many years of serving the community, St. Andrew's has been marked by many moments of generosity, and flourishes today with an active congregation and a plethora of groups within the church family. I would also like to recognize Reverend Mark Pretty and Deacon Rev. Marilyn Hamlin, who have carried on with the long tradition of providing a welcoming home of worship.

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I ask the members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly to join me in congratulating St. Andrew's Anglican Church for its long, rich history and success in caring for and serving our community over the past 100 years.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Sackville-Beaver Bank.

OLIVER, PERRY - DIST. GOV.: SACKVILLE LIONS CLUB - RECOG.

BRAD JOHNS « » : Today I rise to recognize the contributions of Sackville Lions Club member Perry Oliver. Mr. Oliver was recently elected district governor of the Lions for all of the Province of Nova Scotia. He has been a member of the Sackville Lions Club for more than 20 years.

During that time, he has been instrumental in raising funds for various causes such as the MS Society of Canada, Sackville's Beacon House Food Bank, and the purchase of dog guides for the blind. This year, he is leading a project to create a treatment room in the oncology unit at the IWK Health Centre.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this House of Assembly to join me in thanking Perry for his decades of charitable service to the people of Nova Scotia.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Dartmouth South.

JOHN'S LUNCH: 50 YRS. IN BUS. - CONGRATS.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : I rise today to recognize the 50^th anniversary of John's Lunch. The legacy restaurant opened in summer 1969 and has been serving up famous seafood and - according to the sign - pizza ever since.

With repeat customers who have been dining there for at least 30 years, John's is a community hub and a landmark. It's a family restaurant in the truest sense of the word, and John's has been recognized nationally as having the very best fish and chips our country has to offer. Diners from Canada, the United States, and even Brazil and India have signed the guestbook, touting the delicious food and friendly hospitality Nova Scotians are known for.

Congratulations to John's Lunch, and thank you for being a staple in our community for all these years.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Sydney-Whitney Pier.

CBRM - HOST: TOURN. OF HEARTS - THANKS

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HON. DEREK MOMBOURQUETTE « » : Mr. Speaker, last month was an exciting time in the CBRM as our community hosted the 2019 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Hundreds of residents from the CBRM took part, along with citizens from across the country.

I rise in my place today to thank a few folks: Paul MacDonald, Jennifer Collins, and Mary Tulle, who were the chairs of the organization committee; all the staff from the CBRM; and the over 300 volunteers who participated to ensure that the CBRM hosted a world-class event.

I ask all the members of this House to congratulate the CBRM on hosting the 2019 Scotties Tournament of Hearts and thank all citizens of Nova Scotia for participating.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Kings North.

WEISNER, RICK: RETIREMENT - CONGRATS.

JOHN LOHR « » : Mr. Speaker, our volunteer firefighters are a rare breed. They give up their time and risk their own well-being to ensure the safety of others. At a moment's notice, they drop the comfort and safety of their own lives to answer the call.

Mr. Rick Weisner of the Canning Volunteer Fire Department is one of these men, and after 31 years of service - eight as deputy chief and 10 as chief - he has decided to retire from his role as chief. During his tenure as chief, he oversaw the fundraising for and construction of the new Canning Volunteer Fire Department building. He will, however, continue as a volunteer firefighter.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating and thanking Rick Weisner for his years of service with the Canning Volunteer Fire Department.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River.

UNIV. TUITION FEES: N.S. STUDENT ADVOCATES - SUPPORT

LENORE ZANN « » : Mr. Speaker, a rally was held March 4^th by student activists outside the downtown Halifax building where university presidents were meeting with provincial officials. The students were calling for a halt to rising tuition fees.

Aidan McNally, chairperson of the N.S. chapter of the Canadian Federation of Students, says that tuition fees have never been higher, and placed the blame on the Liberal Government. Statistics Canada data released in the Fall shows that Nova Scotia tuition fees are among the highest in the country and students are asking for an immediate 10 per cent reduction in fees, plus a commitment to work towards a framework to eliminate tuition fees within ten years.

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Mr. Speaker, I support the students in their requests and Nova Scotians need to get the education that they need in order to survive in today's economy, where 70 per cent of jobs require some form of post-secondary education. Good luck to the students and we'll be here to fight the good fight for them.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Fairview-Clayton Park.

KAYINAMURA, CHADIA: SOC. JUST. IN FOCUS - BEST WISHES

HON. PATRICIA ARAB « » : Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding young lady from my community. Chadia Kayinamura has overcome many overcome many obstacles in her 23 years. She was born in Congo but fled to Uganda with her family at the age of seven to escape war. Once there, she and her family lived in a refugee camp for the next 13 years. Two years ago, she arrived in Canada to make a better life for herself.

Now, she is sharing her experience through art. Through the Social Justice in Focus project, young refugees participated in a series of workshops that showcased social issues through different art mediums. Chadia was one of four presenters at the Social Justice in Focus forum. Chadia hopes to help other young refugees navigate a new language, a new school system, and a new way of life in Canada. In the meantime, she is working as a teacher's assistant at a daycare and studying to be an LPN.

I ask that the members of the House of Assembly join me in wishing Chadia the best in her future endeavours. She certainly inspires us all.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Queens-Shelburne.

RAMEY, JULIE /GR. 9 STUDENTS: RED DRESS PROJ. - COMMEND

KIM MASLAND « » : Mr. Speaker, this week at the North Queens Community School in Caledonia, students in Julie Ramey's Grade 9 Citizenship class are raising awareness about murdered and missing indigenous women and girls. Inspired by Winnipeg-based Métis artist Jamie Black's Red Dress Project, students have collected and repaired red dresses for three events this week leading up to International Women's Day 2019, this Friday on March 8^th.

I would like to recognize and commend both Miss Ramey and her students for their motivation and determination to highlight and start conversation about the tragic crimes that have silenced the voices of so many indigenous women and girls across Canada.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank.

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N.S. ATHLETES: CAN. WINTER GAMES SUCCESS - CONGRATS.

BILL HORNE « » : Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and offer best wishes to the following residents of Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank who are representing Nova Scotia at this year's Canada Winter Games in Red Deer: Kai Dwyer of Fall River for trampoline; Scott-Robert Denyes of Beaver Bank for figure skating and silver medalist; Cole Foston of Beaver Bank for hockey; Grace McIntyre of Fall River for cross-country skiing; Rory White of Fall River for badminton; Jillian Langille of Windsor Junction for artistic gymnastics; Michael Sack of Wellington for hockey; Madison Tajaard of Fall River for biathlon; David Kaguchi of Waverly for the coaching-artistic gymnastics; and Cathy Burton, former vice-principal of Lockview High, for chef de mission, Canada Games.

Congratulations to all your success in representing Nova Scotia and good luck to all for the future.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Northside-Westmount.

YOUNG LEE, LISA: HEALING GEMS AT OSCARS - CONGRATS.

EDDIE ORRELL « » : Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lisa Young Lee, a North Sydney jewelry designer who had her healing gemstone pieces distributed at a gifting suite for Oscar nominees and presenters in Los Angeles. Lisa's jewelry is infused with Reiki healing energy and are said to treat stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and sleep disorders. A limited number of gifters are chosen every year to attend this event from around the world.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish Lisa Young Lee a great deal of success as she takes her healing gemstones to this rather prestigious stage.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Chester-St. Margaret's.

LOBSTER CRAWL: 2^nd ANNIV. - CONGRATS.

HUGH MACKAY « » : Mr. Speaker, those of us fortunate to live on Nova Scotia's beautiful South Shore often say that we have three seasons: summer, Fall, and lobster. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that the South Shore Tourism Co-operative created the annual Lobster Crawl celebrated from Peggy's Cove to Barrington to highlight our lobster season.

The second annual Lobster Crawl featuring over 100 savoury events and experiences including art shows, live music events, getaway packages, and lobster-inspired food and beverage events took place this February. Lucy the Lobster crawled out of the ocean to join her groundhog colleagues in weather prediction. Sadly, Lucy forecasted another six weeks of winter.

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Happily, lobster enthusiasts were treated to a superb afternoon at Oak Island Resort and Conference Centre sampling and voting for lobster chowders from area restaurants, in the Lobster Chowder Chowdown Showdown, sponsored by Tourism Chester, the Golden Ladle was awarded to the iconic Fo'c'sle Tavern of Chester, followed closely by the Rope Loft Restaurant at Oak Island Resort.

Mr. Speaker, we on the South Shore recognize the key role the lobster fishing industry plays in our economy and we thank all participants.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Cape Breton-Richmond.

BEATON, MALCOLM: DEATH OF - TRIBUTE

ALANA PAON « » : Mr. Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge the contributions of former Richmond County Warden, Deputy Warden and long-time Councillor Mr. Malcolm Beaton, who passed away on February 5, 2019. Malcolm served the municipality of Richmond County for almost 30 years. He was instrumental in the development of the Strait Area Transit, as well as a volunteer with Meals on Wheels. He served on the board of the D'Escousse Civic Improvement Society, VON Antigonish, the Strait Richmond Hospital, the Canadian Cancer Society and the East Novability Society.

Malcolm and his wife Martha owned a general store in Poulamon for many years. I remember him best in that setting, always with a warm smile, a calming voice and a gentle demeanor. He served his community with utmost integrity.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my heartfelt condolences to Malcolm's loving wife Martha and their children, Dorothy and John.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Lunenburg.

N. GERMANY ENVIRO CTR.: DEPOT OF THE YR. - CONGRATS.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT « » : Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Shelley Zinck, the owner and operator of the New Germany Enviro Centre, for winning the 2018 Enviro-Depot of the Year Award. This award came from Divert Nova Scotia in recognition of the outstanding achievement for a small enviro-depot. It recognizes depots that go above and beyond in customer service and employee relations, engage and support their community and participate in Divert Nova Scotia depot initiatives.

The New Germany Enviro Centre has outstanding customer service and cleanliness. The depot also gives back to the community through donations they collect for the Lions Club and the local elementary school's Hot Breakfast Program. Customers can even use their bottle money to purchase locally-baked goods on their way out the door.

[Page 1776]

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that you and the members of this House of Assembly please join me in congratulating Shelley Zinck on her recent achievement.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Dartmouth East.

TIM HALMAN « » : Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to make an introduction.

THE SPEAKER « » : Granted.

TIM HALMAN « » : In the West Gallery, we have Dartmouth East Community Outreach Coordinator Claire Belliveau. Claire has done an outstanding job for her community of Dartmouth East and I think all members of this Chamber would freely admit that we would be nowhere, absolutely nowhere, without the great work of our staff back at our constituencies.

I'll ask this House to please welcome Claire to the House of Assembly. It is also Claire's 19^th birthday, so I'll ask the House to wish her a happy birthday. (Applause)

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Cumberland North.

COULSON, RAY - RECIPIENT: SENATE 150 MEDAL - RECOG.

ELIZABETH SMITH-MCCROSSIN « » : Today I'd like to recognize Mr. Ray Coulson, who is a retired Regimental Sergeant Major with the Nova Scotia Highlanders. Mr. Coulson was presented with a Senate 150 Medal by Senator Mike MacDonald on January 12, 2019.

Mr. Coulson started the Regimental Museum in 1986 to help honour 486 North Nova Scotia Highlanders who trained at the Amherst Armouries. They went overseas and lost their lives. The average age of these men was 19. There were 1,044 young men who left the Amherst Armouries who went to England and 486 never returned.

Mr. Ray Coulson has worked tirelessly to keep the museum and the Amherst Armouries part of our community. Ray recognizes the importance of this great part of our history and his commitment over the years is something to be proud of.

Please join me and the many others who have recognized Ray for his valued work in our community.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Clayton Park West.

BERMUNDO, GERALD: FILIPINO ASSOC. - THANKS

[Page 1777]

RAFAH DICOSTANZO « » : Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a man from my riding who has over three decades of volunteering experience. Gerald Bermundo has been with the Filipino Association of Nova Scotia for over 30 years. He was president for five years and recently hosted their 50^th celebration gala. He has volunteered his time to many multicultural events in the HRM, such as the Mozaic Festival and Fiesta Filipino which took place at the Bella Rose Arts Centre.

Gerald helped the Health and Wellness Program for the Filipino Association by receiving a grant from the Cobequid and Chebucto West Community Health Boards.

He's a member of Symcor's Signature Cause Committee, a group that created the Possibilities program, which promotes pathways for education in Canada. Gerald says from a very young age he was taught to help others. After becoming a father last year, Gerald hopes to be a great example of generosity.

Will this House of Assembly join me in thanking Gerald for all he has done for the riding of Clayton Park West. Thank you.

[1:45 p.m.]

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Cumberland South.

HAMEL, ASHLEY - ARCHER: CAN. WINTER GAMES - CONGRATS.

TORY RUSHTON « » : Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 19-year-old Ashley Hamel from Parrsboro who competed in the archery competitions in the 2019 Winter Games in Red Deer, Alberta. Ashley is studying to be a teacher at Mount Allison University while keeping up her archery practice of shooting more than 140 arrows a day.

Ashley first became interested in archery seven years ago after a school presentation at a health fair introducing archery as a part of a mentor program. Ashley has also represented Nova Scotia during other national competitions in Truro and has won other youth provincial club titles. She also pioneered a youth archery mentorship program to help shape up-and-coming archers.

Please join me in congratulating Ashley for her representation of Nova Scotia at the archery competition at the 2019 Canada Winter Games.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Kings South.

BROOME, SCOTIA - SWIMMER: BIG SWIM - CONGRATS.

[Page 1778]

KEITH IRVING « » : Mr. Speaker, today I want to highlight a remarkable young athlete from Wolfville. This past August, Scotia Broome, a 15-year-old member of the Wolfville Tritons Swim Club, took on the challenge of 19.9-kilometre swim from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island. The Big Swim is an annual fundraiser for Brigadoon Village, an extraordinary summer camp for kids with chronic illnesses. Scotia trained for up to nine times a week with her swim team in preparation for the event. She also actively fundraised $1,670 by picking up roadside garbage and bagging groceries.

Scotia completed the swim in 5.5 hours and as one of the youngest of the 49 swimmers in the challenge, she finished an impressive third place. I ask the members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly to join me in congratulating Scotia Broome on this remarkable athletic achievement and thank her for her fundraising efforts for the kids of Brigadoon Village.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Pictou East.

JOHNS, BRAD - MLA: BIRTHDAY WISHES

TIM HOUSTON « » : Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago the world watched in amazement as Neil Armstrong took those first few steps on the moon, the first human steps on the moon. And although at this time of the year, Bryan Adams didn't quite have a chance to sing the Summer of '69; that hadn't happened yet. But somewhere a small group of people on this day 50 years ago, possibly in Woodstock, gathered around and celebrated the birth of our very own friend here, Mr. Brad Johns, the MLA for Sackville-Beaver Bank. (Applause)

Happy birthday, sir. You do a wonderful job for your constituents. Glad to be your colleague.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Lunenburg West.

RODENHISER, ASHTON: AFTERGLOW ART FEST. - THANKS

HON. MARK FUREY « » : Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ashton Rhodenhiser. In 2012, inspired by Nocturne Halifax, Ashton brought the Afterglow Art Festival, a free art at night celebration, to Bridgewater's downtown core. This annual autumn event brings over 40 unique exhibits and projects and 150-plus paid artists together to create a magical night for our community and visitors.

Afterglow was born from Ashton's love and passion for the arts and by her desire to support artists and bring the community together. Ashton's drive, and an "if you can believe it, you can achieve it" attitude, is the sole reason this event has taken place over the past seven years. This warm-hearted, free-spirited individual who is also chair of Art Happening, a thriving community art space, is an inspiration to many.

[Page 1779]

I ask all members of the Nova Scotia Legislature to join me in thanking Ashton Rhodenhiser for inspiring the growth of arts in Bridgewater and for helping change the story of our community's future.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Pictou West.

SONG, MUNGIL: PICTOU LUNCH BOX FUNDRAISER - THANKS

KARLA MACFARLANE « » : Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize Mungil Song, the owner and chef at Pictou Lunch Box located in Lyons Brook for her immense generosity and community spirit. An immigrant from Korea and relatively new to Pictou County, Mungil recognized she could make a difference for her new-found church family as well as promote her business. For the first 100 purchases of a take-out or eat-in meal, half of the sales went towards the church organ restoration committee to help them purchase a new organ. This benefited Mungil's restaurant, the committee, and the greater church community.

I would encourage anyone who is a resident or visiting Pictou to sample some of Mungil's authentic and delicious Korean menu. I wish her all the best and success on her endeavour.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Fairview-Clayton Park.

FAMILY TWINS - BIRTHDAY WISHES

HON. PATRICIA ARAB « » : Mr. Speaker, 1987 has a lot of meaning for most Nova Scotians. The number 87 we pretty much associate that with our famous hockey player Sidney Crosby. But in my family and in Fairview-Clayton Park, 1987 has a different significance.

That is because it was the year our twins were born in our family, Monique and Maurice Fares. From the moment they were born, they have brought us great joy, and the fact that today they are both 32 is pretty remarkable and scary. They are two of the most wonderful, compassionate, dedicated, and motivated individuals I have ever met. Anybody who has come across them, either in pleasure or in work, knows how much fun they can be, how serious they can be when they need to, and how loving they are to all who come across them.

I'm wishing both my M&Ms a very happy birthday.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley.

COLCHESTER FOOD BANK: NEW SPACE - CONGRATS.

[Page 1780]

LARRY HARRISON « » : Years of planning and preparation, and plenty of community support has paid off for the Colchester Food Bank, as it recently opened the doors of a new permanent location.

The new facility offers more than 6,000 square feet of space, and is entirely wheelchair accessible, making it easier to accommodate the approximately 800 families a month it serves. It is equipped with a large food storage and preparation area, a side entrance and waiting room for clients, a food donation weigh-in and reception area, and a private registration room. A walk-in cooler and separate freezer are also being installed.

Congratulations to the staff and volunteers of the Colchester Food Bank on the successful opening of their new facility.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Antigonish.

WIFE - BIRTHDAY WISHES

HON. RANDY DELOREY « » : Not to be overdone by the members for Dartmouth East, Sackville-Beaver Bank, and Fairview-Clayton Park, it does seem to be the day of birthdays.

Given that I had to leave home this morning, we didn't have time to celebrate my wife's birthday. She's not 32, but I won't disclose which birthday it is today. I do wish her the best today and hope she enjoys it with the kids back home.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Bedford.

BEDFORD RINGETTE ATHLETES: CAN. WINTER GAMES - CONGRATS.

HON. KELLY REGAN « » : Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate three Bedford athletes and their coach on competing at the Canada Games held this past February in Red Deer, Alberta.

Bedford residents Elizabeth Welsh, Meredith Tulloch, and Emma Kelly were all on Nova Scotia's ringette team. They were coached by a long-time Bedford ringette coach, Tracey Tulloch. In fact, she coached my children in this sport starting long before she gave birth to Meredith. Tracey was a fantastic coach back then, so I'm not surprised she was Nova Scotia's coach this year.

Nova Scotia came sixth in the country this time, up four places from last year's national championships. Elizabeth plays goal; it's always a tough position. But I must tell you, her friends and family were so excited after they won their first game. Meredith was the second-highest-scoring Nova Scotian, with 12 points. Emma scored twice and assisted twice in her tourney.

[Page 1781]

I want to congratulate coach Tracey Tulloch and players Emma Kelly, Meredith Tulloch, and Elizabeth Welsh on participating in the Canada Winter Games and making their hometown proud.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Kings West.

RECIPIENTS, DUKE OF ED. AWARDS - CONGRATS.

HON. LEO GLAVINE « » : Mr. Speaker, the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award program challenges young people to dream big and empowers them to achieve their goals. Through the bronze-, silver-, and gold-medal levels, participants partake in volunteer service, physical recreation skills, and adventurous journey.

Several young people within the Kings West area have been recognized for completing this award, including Sarah Albert, who received her silver award February 28^th at Government House.

Behind every participant is a committed volunteer who contributes to their success and achievement. Don Hyslop is recognized as one of less than a dozen program volunteers to receive a 20-year volunteer recognition award signed by the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Secretary General, which was presented to Mr. Hyslop on February 28^th at Government House by His Honour, the Honourable Arthur J. LeBlanc.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask all members of the House to join me in congratulating Sarah Albert on receiving her silver award, and all Duke of Edinburgh's Award recipients, all award volunteers, and notably, Don Hyslop on his dedication and service to assist participants achieve award success for over 20 years.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Sackville-Beaver Bank.

NEWTON, SAVANNAH - HOCKEY: DRAFTED BY SWEDEN - CONGRATS.

BRAD JOHNS « » : Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Middle Sackville resident Savannah Newton. The 22-year-old hockey player has signed a contract to play professionally in Gavle, Sweden.

Mr. Speaker, Ms. Newton is believed to be the first Nova Scotia woman to play in the Swedish professional league. She made her professional debut this past September.

I ask all present to join me in congratulating Savannah on this great achievement.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Preston-Dartmouth.

THOMAS, TERRY - BASKETBALL: JOINS HFX. HURRICANES - CONGRATS.

[Page 1782]

HON. KEITH COLWELL « » : Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Mr. Terry Thomas of East Preston. The six-foot-four shooting guard, formerly of the Moncton Magic, was acquired by the Halifax Hurricanes.

Mr. Thomas played professionally in Taiwan and China, as well as a top scorer for the Moncton Magic in the 2017-18 season. Mr. Thomas is well respected in the NBL Canada league and is a welcome addition to the Halifax Hurricanes.

I want to recognize and congratulate Mr. Terry Thomas on his many achievements and wish him continued success with the Halifax Hurricanes.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Kings North.

FRECKER, TEMMA: GG'S AWARD FOR TEACHING - RECOG.

JOHN LOHR « » : Mr. Speaker, on January 28, 2019, the 2018 Governor General's Award for Teaching Excellence in History was awarded to Ms. Temma Frecker of the Booker School in Port Williams, Nova Scotia. The Booker School introduces the International Baccalaureate program for children ages 4 to 14.

Ms. Frecker led her Grade 6 to 8 students in a collaborative proposal surrounding the Cornwallis statue issue. The judges were impressed by the work created by her group stating: "Their unique and creative proposal for the Cornwallis statue, reflected their ability to address a complex and relevant issue with maturity and understanding."

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Ms. Frecker for the recognition of her excellence in teaching.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Hants East.

CHEHA: GUINNESS WORLD RECORD, WASHER TOSS - CONGRATS.

HON. MARGARET MILLER « » : Mr. Speaker, in July 2017, the Come Home East Hants Association held their inaugural Tide Fest East Hants' Homecoming Weekend, at the East Hants Sportsplex in Lantz.

As part of the event, the association decided to hold a washer toss tournament and tried to break the Guinness World Record set in 2014, in Wise County, Texas, where they had 486 participants. Once their group submitted the application to Guinness and it was accepted, they started the several months of planning that it took to make Tide Fest and the washer toss tournament an incredible success.

Along with the application, Guinness required the association to submit pictures of all 608 participants, videotaped evidence of the entire tournament, witness statements, signatures, and sign-offs from all participants. Eighteen months after the submission, the Come Home East Hants Association received notice from Guinness that East Hants now holds the world record for the largest washer toss tournament.

[Page 1783]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank and congratulate the Come Home East Hants Association, the community volunteers, and the tournament players who earned East Hants' second world record.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Queens-Shelburne.

HILLCREST ACAD.: FINGER PUPPET KNITTERS - COMMEND

KIM MASLAND « » : Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Grade 6 students of Hillcrest Academy and local volunteers in Shelburne, who have been knitting finger puppets for hospitalized children at the IWK, Yarmouth, Bridgewater, and Roseway hospitals for 20-plus years.

Recently the students had the making of finger puppets incorporated into their art and social studies curriculum and became involved as a way of paying it forward in memory of five-year-old Carmen Faith Huskilson, who sadly passed away in 2016.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the volunteers, teacher Jodi MacMaster, and her students on learning how to make finger puppets and thereby making hospital stays for those children who are hospitalized a little more bearable.

THE SPEAKER « » : Order, please. The time allotted for Statements by Members has expired.

[2:00 p.m.]

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ORAL QUESTIONS PUT BY MEMBERS TO MINISTERS

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

H&W - COB. COM. HEALTH CTR.: PATIENT PLACEMENT - CRISIS

TIM HOUSTON « » : Mr. Speaker, the Cobequid Community Health Centre doesn't have any in-patient beds. It's not supposed to stay open all night, but over the last month the Cobequid Community Health Centre has had to stay open 11 times. It has stayed open all night because there was nowhere else to put the patients. Imagine the stress on the health care workers when they're trying to scramble to find places to house patients overnight. It's not a good thing.

[Page 1784]

I'd like to ask the Premier: When health care workers are scrambling to find places to house patients, is that enough to acknowledge that the system is in crisis?

THE PREMIER » : Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the honourable member for the question. That's exactly why we continue to make the major capital investments we're making. When it comes to the redevelopment of health care delivery in our capital region, the redevelopment of health care in CBRM, those are all positive investments to deal with the very issues the honourable member is talking about.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, successive governments ignored the real challenge when it comes to health care infrastructure. These investments, quite frankly, should've been made back in mid-2000s when the Progressive Conservatives actually had an opportunity to make those investments. We've taken it straight on and we're making those investments and we're going to continue to work with our health care providers.

I want to say thank you to the people at Cobequid who are part of ensuring that people access primary health care in the region. When we require support, they're there to step up, as they always are.

TIM HOUSTON « » : Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think what the Premier fails to recognize is that this is a successive government and they haven't taken any real action.

Yesterday, Dartmouth General had 60 patients waiting in the emergency room and staff had to go ask people to go home and come back later. Yesterday, there were 14 stretchers tied up for emergency offload at the QEII. Yesterday, a critically ill patient on the Eastern Shore needed to be transferred to the QEII, but there wasn't a doctor to requisition the transfer. These are all things that happened yesterday, and all of these things lead to the need for the Cobequid Health Centre to spring into action and do more than it's currently set up to do.

The Premier talks about his capital investment. I wonder if the Premier can tell us: Is there a plan to give the Cobequid Health Centre the capital improvements that it needs to meet the stresses it's placed under?

THE PREMIER « » : Mr. Speaker, it is certainly part of looking at how we look at the capital region when it comes to delivering health care. There's been a number of times people have suggested in this House that it should be open 24/7. The people who run the organization have suggested that's not appropriate. We're continuing, though, in the conversation - whether that has changed.

Any time we can make investments in infrastructure, we'll continue to do so. It's why we've taken on some of the challenges that people have avoided for decades, quite frankly, in this province. We've gone in to make sure that we've made the appropriate investments in health care infrastructure that meet the needs of our families today. The honourable member raised his concerns. That's why we continue, day after day, to try to work with our partners to provide the quality care that Nova Scotians are looking for.

[Page 1785]

TIM HOUSTON « » : Mr. Speaker, the Cobequid Community Health Centre is able to spring into action and help with some of the patients, but people are worried that there's no real plan. What will happen when Northside is closed and New Waterford's closed and they can't just spring into action? People are waiting to see a real plan from the government.

I've asked the Premier if he would take responsibility for the state of health care in the province, and he wouldn't. We've asked the minister if we're in a crisis. He won't acknowledge that we're in a crisis, yet we have paramedics stuck with stretchers at the hospitals. We have Code Census and no ambulance availability in many parts of this province.

I'd like to ask the Premier: If he doesn't consider this a health care crisis, can the Premier please define for us what he would consider a health care crisis?

THE PREMIER « » : Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the honourable member for the question. Our government actually has taken on this issue. It's why we're going to increase the emergency department at Cape Breton Regional by almost 50 per cent. It's why we're seeing an increase in the emergency department in Glace Bay. The honourable member is standing up and defending the status quo, which has failed Nova Scotians.

Government has to not avoid problems but take them on to solve them on behalf of hard-working Nova Scotians. The honourable member wants to live in the past. That infrastructure doesn't meet the needs of the next 60 years. That's why we're making the kinds of investments in the capital region, in Cape Breton, and it's why we're going to continue to work with communities across this province to provide them with the primary care portal that reflects today's reality, not the one the honourable member is stuck in.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable Leader of the New Democratic Party.

H&W - BUCHANAN MEM. HOSP.: LAB TECHS. - IMPORTANCE

GARY BURRILL « » : Every week, front-line health care workers are proposing solutions to the health care crisis, and just as often, these solutions are being overruled or overlooked.

At Buchanan Memorial Hospital in Neils Harbour, Dr. Bernard Buffett has explained recently how it's important to have a lab technologist position there from the point of view of the retention and the recruitment of physicians, but the NSHA is eliminating that position.

[Page 1786]

Dr. Buffett has worked at that hospital for 34 years. His mother was a nurse there, his father helped build it, and he himself was born there.

My question to the Premier is: Doesn't the Premier suppose that Dr. Buffett might know a little something about health care in Neils Harbour that the NSHA does not?

THE PREMIER « » : I want to thank the honourable member for the question and I certainly want to thank the physician for his tremendous work he has been doing in supporting that community. Obviously, it sounds like a family that has committed themselves to delivering health care.

I think what the honourable member is talking about is the point-of-care testing when it comes to blood work. This change that is taking place right now actually started under the NDP when they were in power. It started in ridings outside of the capital region.

What's happening is the continuing implementation of their policy. Have they changed their mind at this point? I'm just curious.

GARY BURRILL « » : Unscheduled emergency room closures have more than doubled in the last year and the Nova Scotia Nurses' Union made the suggestion to have nurse practitioners staff emergency rooms as a solution to the problem.

Nurse practitioners, they've said, could work alongside advanced care paramedics under the supervision of doctors to provide the emergency care that's needed.

My question to the Premier is: Can the Premier offer a single, solid reason why his government is not moving immediately to adopt this sensible suggestion?

THE PREMIER « » : I want to thank the honourable member for the question. He said the very nub of the issue. All health care providers need to practice the full scope of the training they received.

The suggestion has been brought forward. I am sure it will be part of what the Department of Health and Wellness looks at and how can we best make sure all our health care providers are working to the maximum scope of their training to ensure Nova Scotians get access to the primary care in their communities.

GARY BURRILL « » : In January the expert panel on long-term care reported on the difficulties that are imposed by the shortage of continuing care assistants. CCAs themselves, through their union, have suggested an approach to this problem would be for the government to establish a granting program for those going into the CCA field where tuition is around $7,000.

[Page 1787]

These are the people who are talking all the time to people who might be reasonably expected to consider going into this line of work.

My question to the Premier is: Why doesn't the government simply follow their advice?

THE PREMIER « » : We are looking forward to implementing the recommendations of that committee.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Sackville-Beaver Bank.

H&W - COB. COM. HEALTH CTR.: EXTENDED HRS. - FOOD SERV.

BRAD JOHNS « » : Mr. Speaker, my office obviously has been hearing complaints for well over a year now about issues at the Cobequid Community Health Centre emergency department. We've heard stories about patients, doctors, nurses, all having to wait for long hours after midnight because patients are either needing to be transported or because of lack of beds at the QEII.

We recently received a call this weekend from Cynthia Conrad, who has given her name to be mentioned here in the House, who had to wait at Cobequid for over 48 hours before being transferred to the QEII where she is at the emergency right now as I speak. According to CBC, she is obviously not alone on this.

Keeping in mind that Cobequid Community Health Care is an emergency department and health care centre - it's not a hospital - with very limited food services.

My question to the minister is: How are patients being fed there? Are we ordering pizza? Are we getting Uber Eats? How are we feeding them?

HON. RANDY DELOREY « » : I thank the member for his question. What I can assure the member in terms of the decisions being made by the Nova Scotia Health Authority to maintain patients at the Cobequid Community Health Centre, the fact is that in their clinical opinion, given the circumstances, maintaining the health care professionals with the patients at that time that that is the best location given the circumstances they were presented with to ensure that their health care needs were looked after. As soon as the opportunity presents itself to move over to the HI or another facility, they complete that task.

BRAD JOHNS « » : Mr. Speaker, that doesn't actually answer the question that I asked. Cobequid is an emergency department, it doesn't have the facilities there required to keep patients more than 12 hours, 12:00 at night. I've asked this, raised this before. I'm serious, I want to know how they're feeding the patients that are there for three days. Are there vending machines, what are they doing, how are they feeding them?

[Page 1788]

RANDY DELOREY « » : Mr. Speaker, as the member noted, the notion of opening or maintaining Cobequid 24/7 facility and designing the site for that type of care is something he has previously asked. As noted in my response then, again, the questions get raised. The decision has been not to do that at this point, in terms of recommendations coming through to government, but obviously we're seeing a situation particularly through February where the use of that facility after the scheduled hours has extended. If we have to re-look at that, we will do so.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Cape Breton Centre.

H&W: ER BACKLOGS - PLAN

TAMMY MARTIN « » : Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and Wellness.

It was reported last night that patients are being kept overnight at the Cobequid hospital, a facility that is not equipped to handle such cases. The Cobequid has no kitchen and can't properly nourish patients if they are admitted for longer than a few hours. The site stayed open overnight 11 times in the last month. There is a direct correlation between the problems of offload delays and lack of availability with long waits in emergency departments and the need for overflow facilities, and Nova Scotians know that they need their government to be committed in solving these issues.

Why doesn't the minister have a plan for fixing the backlog of our emergency rooms?

HON. RANDY DELOREY « » : Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for the question. As I've previously indicated, the work is under way with the Nova Scotia Health Authority, the EHS, the partners who provide that emergency care. Obviously and in terms of the process and the flow of multiple partners, EHS transferring from paramedics into the hospitals, steps involved, and work has been ongoing for the last number of months to come up with a recommendation. I anticipate further information as to what steps the NSHA will be taking to improve that flow in very short order.

TAMMY MARTIN « » : Mr. Speaker, that's a good segue into an article that was published last night. The director of the NSHA's emergency program said she believes that patients are "better off remaining in patient beds than on an ambulance stretcher in the hallway." I'll table that - and I couldn't agree with her more. With visits going up and hospitals clogged with people waiting for long-term care, we need additional resources to deal with the bottleneck that has been caused by this government's refusal to invest in health care, with this government's refusal to invest in long-term care, and I think the one solution is staring us in the face.

[Page 1789]

I'd like to ask the minister: Will he commit today to properly resourcing the Cobequid Community Health Centre and keep it open 24 hours?

RANDY DELOREY « » : Mr. Speaker, as had been noted previously, both today and in previous sessions of the Legislature, looking at the Cobequid Community Health Centre as we look at the entire QEII redevelopment project here in the capital region, looking forward to what and how resources would be deployed, that was part of the questioning, a recommendation did not come in to restructure. The status of that particular facility, while it continues to be looked at for services as they continue the details around what services will be offered exactly where, that work is ongoing and Cobequid is still part of that work within the NSHA and the QEII redevelopment project team.

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

PREM. - LOBBYING REGISTRY: CHANGES NEEDED - RESPOND

TIM HOUSTON « » : Canadians are watching with great interest as events unfold in Ottawa surrounding the SNC-Lavalin affair. Ministers are resigning, Prime Minister's staff being called to testify before committees, and speculation is really running wild. At the root of it all? Lobbying. Lobbying is at the root of it all.

My question for the Premier: Given the current state of the lobbyist registry in legislation, if a company was applying pressure to the Government of Nova Scotia, how would anyone ever know?

THE PREMIER « » : Mr. Speaker, I thank the honourable gentleman for the question. I want to take the opportunity to talk to the honourable member about the important investments that are taking place in our province. We're proud of the work many major companies are looking at. We're very proud of the fact that we've been able to continue to build our exports because global markets recognize that we have world-class products.

We're seeing companies recognize the affordability of living and working in this province over and above other major cities in this country. All of that points to a growing population, more young people willing to stay here, continues to make investments.

I want to assure the honourable member every opportunity we get to work with businesses across this province to continue to create good jobs in this province, we are going to do so. We'll make sure that we inform not only him, but all Nova Scotians.

TIM HOUSTON « » : Well, Mr. Speaker, I didn't hear too much about lobbying in there. What I heard was maybe another game show reference: if the Price is Right. That's really the issue we're talking about here.

[Page 1790]

There are reports of considerable political pressure put on to interfere in a matter that is really to do with the justice system and we should never have that type of interference. At a time when the whole nation is watching, Canadians are realizing they don't like political interference in the justice system. Canadians are realizing they need their politicians to be more transparent and more open.

This is an opportunity for the Premier to not hide information from Nova Scotians. The Premier of this province used to disclose who they were meeting with and had their daily schedule published.

I'd like to ask the Premier: Would he commit to once again withholding that tradition, providing regular notices as to who he is meeting with?

THE PREMIER « » : Mr. Speaker, the honourable member in his preamble talked about the Price is Right - that's the old days. That's when the Tories were in power. They wrote a cheque for every issue that was facing government, followed by successive governments.

The results show the fact of the matter is, you are continuing to see the province continuing to grow. This province will lead the country in wage growth next year. We'll continue to see population growth. We'll continue to see young people choose to live here. Those are all positives things.

For the third consecutive year, a record tourism season. The honourable member is attacking the people in the tourism sector to drive it down. (Applause) Let me be open and transparent as I am every day. We'll continue to grow in this province so hardworking Nova Scotians see a future here, not unlike when they were in power when saw a future somewhere else.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Northside-Westmount.

LAE - N.S. UNIVERSITIES: DROPOUT INCREASE - EXPLAIN

EDDIE ORRELL « » : Mr. Speaker, all I can hear over there is Let's Make a Deal.

Yesterday, Students Nova Scotia highlighted the fact that as many as 31 per cent of students who enroll in a Maritime university don't end up graduating. I'll table that article. Nova Scotia accounts for a substantial number of these students. The report doesn't get into causes for this high number, but I can guess it's partially because the government hasn't been listening to students for quite some time.

My question to the Minister of Labour and Advanced Education is: What does he feel accounts for the significant, above-average number of university dropouts in this province?

[Page 1791]

HON. LABI KOUSOULIS » : Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank the member for the question. Since 2013 when our government came into govern in Nova Scotia, the dropout rates in universities have fallen.

I will also add that at that time our government brought in tuition forgiveness, which means in Nova Scotia students attending university can have their tuition forgiven for their Nova Scotia student loan, making their university education much more affordable for them. As well, we also have been increasing the university budgets. We have brought back all the cuts that the NDP did, which decimated our universities.

EDDIE ORRELL « » : Mr. Speaker, we regularly hear from students that this government isn't doing enough to help post-secondary students. We hear that international students can't get sufficient medical coverage. We hear that sexual violence prevention isn't being taken seriously enough. We hear that not nearly enough is being done to address mental health needs in our universities and that government answers the same way they answer a lot of inconvenient arguments - they just ignore them, Mr. Speaker.

So will the minister commit to including these student priorities in the upcoming MOU between government and universities, or will they continue to allow students just to drift away?

LABI KOUSOULIS « » : Mr. Speaker, if the honourable member had read the last MOU, he would have seen that sexual violence was addressed in it. As well, in terms of mental health supports on campuses, last year's budget . . . (Interruption)

THE SPEAKER « » : Order please. The honourable Minister of Labour and Advanced Education has the floor.

LABI KOUSOULIS « » : Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last year's budget actually provided half a million dollars to funding for mental health support for universities, and the pilot program was done the year before at Acadia University and showed great promise and great results.

Mr. Speaker, as well in the Department of Labour and Advanced Education, I meet with student leaders on a quarterly basis and we also meet with our university presidents on a quarterly basis. Our department is open to student leadership. Whenever I am on campus, I seek out the presidents of the university student leadership and have meetings with them - and I hope that the Progressive Conservatives support that because their counterparts in Ontario have been attacking student unions. I hope they can stand up and support student unions like we do.

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

[Page 1792]

IMMIG. - NEW IMMIGRANTS: RURAL AREAS - ENCOURAGE

TIM HOUSTON « » : Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Immigration.

Recently, we have heard this government applauding the number of new immigrants who came to Nova Scotia in 2018 - and I'll admit, the positive momentum is a good thing for this province. But, on second glance, once you get past the shine of the headline you realize that there is something hiding below. What's hiding below is that 84 per cent of the new immigrants to this province - 84 per cent - settle in Halifax.

My question for the Minister of Immigration is: What is the government doing to encourage immigrants to settle outside of HRM?

HON. LENA METLEGE DIAB « » : Mr. Speaker, thank you for the question. It gives me the opportunity to tell the honourable member, as well as everyone in the House, of the record-setting year that we had in 2018.

Not only did we have the greatest number of landings in the province, we had the greatest approved applications. We created two streams, the physician stream and the labour market impact stream. We have recruited more international students who decided to gain permanent residency to the province than ever before, and we've also nominated the first entrepreneurs under our business stream that we've created. These are all record- setting numbers.

We're also very excited to work at the Atlantic Immigration Pilot and I'll explain that to you in the next question. Go ahead.

TIM HOUSTON « » : I think there was a truth there in the end, Mr. Speaker. The minister is going to give me an answer no matter what I ask, because none of the answers correspond to the questions.

I am asking: Why aren't we getting people to the rural areas? In 2018, 4,700 people settled in the Halifax area, but only 70 in Kentville; less than 100 in each of Truro and New Glasgow; fewer than all of Cape Breton, 200; and the rest of the province combined, just 500 people.

This is an imbalance that is not sustainable if our province is to thrive. The minister can ignore it and come up with some accolades, but it will not lead to success for this province. So, a successful rural Nova Scotia is a successful Nova Scotia.

I am going to ask the question again: What is the minister doing to boost immigration to the rural areas of our province?

LENA METLEGE DIAB « » : Mr. Speaker, we've been working extremely hard with all the communities across the province. We've entered into partnership with the Cape Breton Partnership, with the western region, as well as the various streams across the province, we have been having one-on-one discussions with a number of players. We work with all university campuses and attend in person - I, as the minister, and my staff - a number of times throughout the year.

[Page 1793]

Let me tell you about our success in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot. We have 40 per cent that are outside of the Halifax County that have subscribed to that. That it is record numbers because we know globally that newcomers tend to come to large urban centres. So, we are very pleased that over 40 per cent of businesses that have been endorsed come from outside Halifax County.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable Leader of the New Democratic Party.

PREM. - NORTHERN PULP CLEANUP: PROPOSAL DELAY - FAILURE

GARY BURRILL « » : My question is for the Premier. Sometime in the period between the Boat Harbour Act and when Northern Pulp brought forward its proposal some five weeks ago, it must have begun to become apparent to the government - certainly it was pointed out by us in the Opposition - that the company was running out of time to bring forward a proposal that would allow for both a fulsome environmental assessment and the honouring of the Boat Harbour deadline. Yet the government, through that time, did nothing to ensure that a proposal was being brought forward.

Can the Premier explain or account for the government's failure to ensure that a Northern Pulp proposal was brought forward in time to save the thousands of families and the many, many communities that are under a great cloud of uncertainty today?

THE PREMIER « » : I want to assure the honourable member that I appreciate the support of all members of this House for the Boat Harbour Act. Some are looking to renege on that. Mr. Speaker, we think it's an important piece of legislation that allows us to continue to deal with the challenges that are associated with Boat Harbour. The fact is that Pictou Landing has been dealing with this issue for decades. We are the first government to put a timeline on cleaning it up.

We also believe, Mr. Speaker, that that mill can co-exist. I want to remind the honourable member that it is a private entity. It is up to that company to determine what decisions it makes, whether or not it's going to actually do the treatments. I can't force them to do it. It's up to them to make that decision.

I think, fortunately for all of us, they have made that decision. Now it will go through an environmental review to see if it actually can be sited where they are looking, whether or not it would actually pass that environmental assessment.

GARY BURRILL « » : Mr. Speaker, it seems to me fair to say that there is an element missing in the Premier's response here, and that is the element of the capital-R responsibility of the government in such an important matter.

[Page 1794]

Thousands of people in woods-related work today at work are talking about nothing else other than this issue because they're living under a cloud of uncertainty which is the result of the government's having failed to exercise its responsibility to make sure that a proposal was brought forward by Northern Pulp on time.

I would like, in light of this, to ask the Premier to offer an apology to all those thousands of people who are living under that cloud of uncertainty in woods-related business for the government's mishandling of the whole situation at Northern Pulp.

THE PREMIER « » : Mr. Speaker, we're continuing to look forward to having this go through the process the honourable member is referring to. There is now an EA before the government. It will go through its normal process to determine whether or not that will pass, whether or not that can be sited. If that happens, we will continue to move forward. If it doesn't, we're looking at how to best address the challenges that he has referred to.

It's important to note - I think I heard the honourable member suggest that the mill should close. I don't want to misquote him. The fact of the matter is, we believe these can co-exist, and we're looking forward to seeing what can happen.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Inverness.

H&W - FOYER PERE FISET HOME: REPAIRS NEEDED - RESPOND

ALLAN MACMASTER « » : Mr. Speaker, a question for the Minister of Health and Wellness about the Foyer Pere Fiset nursing home in Cheticamp. This facility is almost 50 years old. They have what I would consider reasonable requests before government: a bedpan sanitizer, replacement beds, roof repairs, plumbing repairs, and air-quality improvements.

I would expect these would be pretty basic requests to make of government. How does the minister evaluate these kinds of capital requests?

HON. RANDY DELOREY « » : As the member has asked, the process when facilities or facility operators file a request with their capital needs, particularly emergency-based ones - they do go into the department. Staff review those based upon the needs of the facilities and of the requests that come in, and decisions are made accordingly. That's the process that that goes through. There's a budget allocated for that work. There's a significant amount of money that's put forward to our long-term care facilities to help improve their capital situation.

[2:30 p.m.]

[Page 1795]

ALLAN MACMASTER « » : Mr. Speaker, residents have experienced being moved out of their rooms to uncomfortable locations due to plumbing issues, enduring last summer's heat wave without proper air conditioning. When I think of a bedpan sanitizer, I think about how important it is to minimize the spread of C. difficile, and to consider the cost if that were to spread and the harm that would do to the residents of the nursing home.

I think these are reasonable requests. Would it be reasonable to expect that these funding requests will be included in the 2019-20 budget?

RANDY DELOREY « » : As my colleague, the Minister of Finance and Treasury Board, announced earlier this session, the budget, the provincial budget will be introduced later this month and we'll have our budget allocations go through at that time.

I hope the member opposite will support the budget that is tabled because it does include funding for the Department of Health and Wellness' priorities and investments that we need to make across this province for long-term-care services as well as other health care services for Nova Scotians from one end of the province to the other.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley.

TIR - HWY. NO. 289: NEEDED REPAIRS - UPDATE

LARRY HARRISON « » : Mr. Speaker, my question through you is to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. Highway No. 289 is a major artery in my constituency that spans 98 kilometres and touches 20 rural communities from Brookfield to New Glasgow. This is maintained in sections and the road between Brookfield and Upper Stewiacke has been in disrepair now for a number of years and vehicles have been damaged. I can't go anywhere where someone who lives on that road does not mention that road to me.

What is the status for getting work done on Highway No. 289 between Brookfield and Upper Stewiacke?

HON. LLOYD HINES « » : Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for the question. The challenge, of course, in Nova Scotia is that we have significant roads in the 22,000-kilometre range and they're all requiring attention at one time or another. We have a very good scientific process that brings forward the most pressing requirements that identify to the department the most pressing requirements that we have. The member is bringing forward one I'll be more than happy to look at, to speak with him and see where that fits in the overall plan for the department.

LARRY HARRISON « » : I have more bad news for Highway No. 289. There is a bridge on Highway No. 289 that divides the community of Brookfield and the citizens are very concerned about the safety of that bridge and I have received correspondence from several community groups because they are concerned about the children and the vehicles on that bridge. So, is there a time frame in place for getting repairs done to that bridge?

[Page 1796]

LLOYD HINES « » : I thank the member opposite for the question. We have a significant inventory of structures in the province on the basis of, I'm thinking, around 4,000. Let me assure the member and the House and all Nova Scotians that we have a very rigorous testing process to ensure that the bridges are suitable for the loads that are being carried. You'll see across the province when our inspection teams pick up safety problems in these bridges, we don't waste any time in closing them even if it's not a planned closure.

I have one in my own riding that has been closed now since three months, and there's one in the Leader of the Official Opposition's riding that I'm happy to report is moving forward in terms of the review. Be assured that safety is our biggest consideration and we will make sure that those bridges are suitable.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Dartmouth East.

H&W - ER PRESSURES: PLAN TO RELIEVE - INFORM

TIM HALMAN « » : Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and Wellness. I often hear from constituents about the doctor shortage and concerns that 40 per cent of Dartmouth's family doctors will retire in the next five years. Our emergency department at the Dartmouth General Hospital is lined up with patients, frequently with only one doctor working. The solution so far has been to ask doctors to work more so as to get through more patients. Health care professionals like triage nurses and paramedics are left to navigate a system with too-few available beds.

My question for the minister is: What is his plan to take pressure off ERs so as to allow them to function more efficiently and encourage health care workers to stay on the job?

HON. RANDY DELOREY « » : Mr. Speaker, as I have previously indicated, work is under way with the Nova Scotia Health Authority and EHS service providers to work on our emergency department to make improvements. I think that is in line with improvements we've been seeing over our efforts around supporting recruitment and collaborative care. We're seeing improvements with the attachment of Nova Scotians for the last three to four months in the province, their attachment with primary care providers.

This is what I've been indicating throughout the Fall session: that we had a plan, we made investments, we listened to front-line workers to get those changes implemented. As I've mentioned to the member opposite, we've seen 10 new doctors in the Dartmouth area since April of last year and two more have accepted offers.

[Page 1797]

TIM HALMAN « » : Mr. Speaker, residents of Dartmouth East, including my own outreach coordinator, have expressed to me that they've witnessed nurses at their wits' end. As was mentioned earlier by the Leader of the Official Opposition, the Dartmouth General emergency room recently had 60 patients waiting to be seen and staff asked these people if any could go home and come back the next day. Let that sink in for a moment.

When ER staff are in tears because they are overworked, burdened, and feeling vulnerable, the minister must acknowledge that there is a crisis in our health care system.

My question is this: What will the minister do to make front-line health care professionals feel protected on the job, and how will he encourage health care workers to stay on the job amid so much chaos in the system?

RANDY DELOREY « » : Mr. Speaker, as mentioned previously, I believe the member likely would have heard from some physicians as well that one of the challenges with the volume in our emergency departments relates to people going to emergency departments who require primary care. That's why, for the last period of time, we've had a sustained and focused effort on improving primary care access. We've been investing in collaborative care practices and introduced new recruitment initiatives - including, with my colleague the Minister of Immigration, a new immigration stream that she talked about earlier.

We have seen success through that program. Five international doctors went to Dartmouth. I had an opportunity to meet with them just last week to talk about their experience and the fact that they're already, after only starting late in the Fall, seeing upward of 1,400 patients each in their clinic.

We see a lot of potential in providing better primary care to all Nova Scotians. That will help reduce pressure in our emergency departments.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Cape Breton-Richmond.

H&W - C.B. ORAL SURGERY: INEQUITY - ADDRESS

ALANA PAON « » : That was a long one, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, Nova Scotians expect a basic uniform standard of health care in this province. We're certainly not getting it.

I was recently contacted by an oral surgery cancer patient who paid $300 for a visit with the oral surgeon in CBRM. Oral surgeons with offices outside of hospital settings do not have their office visits covered by MSI. There is one oral surgeon in Cape Breton, and this oral surgeon has hospital privileges but not a hospital office. This means patients in Cape Breton pay per visit to the oral surgeon. In Halifax, that same visit is covered by MSI.

[Page 1798]

Does the minister agree that it is unfair to have Cape Bretoners pay for services that are otherwise covered by MSI in other areas of this province?

HON. RANDY DELOREY « » : Mr. Speaker, the MSI program is established in accordance with the Canada Health Act. That's where publicly insured health services really got established and the rules and parameters around coverage are largely governed by that process. I'm sure the member appreciates the fact that we continue to adhere to the Canada Health Act.

ALANA PAON « » : Mr. Speaker, many of my constituents who suffer from an illness are under an extraordinary amount of stress and many are on a limited or fixed income. Private health insurance is not an option, nor should it have to be, as our provincially-funded medical services insurance should not be picking winners and losers. Here we have a situation where the inability to pay often means an inability to receive care. It's shameful and it's inequitable.

What steps will the minister take today to ensure that patients in Cape Breton receive the same MSI benefits as patients fortunate enough to live on the mainland?

RANDY DELOREY « » : Mr. Speaker, as I've already mentioned, MSI services and policies are applied the same for all Nova Scotians, regardless of where they reside. The foundation of the MSI program is grounded in the Canada Health Act, which is the foundation of our universal health care coverage. That's where and how our health services insurance program - as it is in other provinces - has evolved over time.

I assure the member and all Nova Scotians that the MSI coverage that is available is equitably applied for the services as covered by MSI.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River.

LAE: TUITION FEES - REDUCE

LENORE ZANN « » : Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Labour and Advanced Education. Yesterday the minister's department met with university presidents about funding and tuition fees while university students rallied outside despite a snowstorm. They braved the elements to make it clear, once again, that tuition fees are just way too high in Nova Scotia.

Now, before the minister starts blaming the NDP or starts spouting off a list of current programs, just let me note that the Canadian Federation of Students reports that those programs still leave many students shut out of higher education, or else saddled with too much debt.

[Page 1799]

I'd like to ask the minister today: After six years in power, will 2019 finally be the year that his government starts listening to students and reduces tuition fees?

HON. LABI KOUSOULIS « » : Mr. Speaker, I will reiterate once again that our government has been meeting with student leaders every quarter since we've been elected. The member points out why university tuition rose. It rose because of actions of the NDP, and that member and the Leader were members of that government. You cannot expect to cut funding to universities by 10 per cent, because at that point the universities have two other streams to get money: either raise tuition or add debt.

As has been witnessed over the last two years in this province, we've supported universities that could not be sustained because the debt load went too high because of cuts made by the NDP.

LENORE ZANN « » : Oh my gosh, Mr. Speaker. Sometimes I have to call this place the funhouse because people are so full of funny remarks. It has been - let me repeat - six years, and this minister is still going to blame the NDP? Give me a break.

I really have no better response than to quote Aidan McNally, Nova Scotia chairperson for the Canadian Federation of Students, about why students rallied in the cold yesterday. She said, "This government has implemented the most regressive tuition fee policy, which in 2015 effectively deregulated tuition fees for students, which has led to skyrocketing amounts of tuition fees and the reality is that we are seeing students dropping out because of these increases." I will table that, Mr. Speaker.

Will the minister, as the minister responsible for post-secondary education, admit that at a time when we need to invest in Nova Scotia's youth, this government's policies are actually holding them back?

LABI KOUSOULIS « » : Once again, as I said earlier, tuition in this province - the formula followed was the NDP formula. (Interruption)

THE SPEAKER « » : Order, please. The honourable Minister of Labour and Advanced Education has the floor.

LABI KOUSOULIS « » : . . . since the NDP have left government, Mr. Speaker. As well, our most vulnerable students, our most needy students, have access to post-secondary. They have full loan tuition. The other students also have free interest on their student loans.

The NDP's approach was to cut 10 per cent funding. Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that our government has restored all that funding and continues to invest in universities.

[Page 1800]

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Argyle-Barrington.

TIR - EXIT 32 (HWY. NO. 103): PLANNED REPAIRS - UPDATE

HON. CHRISTOPHER D'ENTREMONT « » : I loved that exchange, Mr. Speaker. That was great.

Today my question - as I would every first question in this House of Assembly, when we open up a new session, I ask a question of the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. I've asked this question a number of times to previous ministers, and it revolves around Exit 32 on Highway No.103.

[2:45 p.m.]

Back in 2016 the former minister, now the Minister of Business - a pretty good guy, not a bad guy - said that the intersection mattered, and it was seen as a priority by the district director. I can let you have that Hansard, as well.

As we sit here today, no apparent work has been done at Exit 32. My question to the minster is: If this intersection was a priority over two years ago, why hasn't it been improved yet?

HON. LLOYD HINES « » : Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for the question. I note that he set the bar pretty high in his preamble, but as a matter of fact, we are looking very closely at that significant connector down there. There are actually three intersections that we're hoping to come up with a very comprehensive solution for and I'd like to assure the member, and the people of those communities, that it is on our radar and that it is moving forward and it's in consideration for not too distant future work that will be completed.

CHRIS D'ENTREMONT « » : Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues are trying to tell me to tell a joke about a Scud missile, but I'm going to stay away from it.

Exit 32 is a flat crossing that accesses the community of Argyle Head and the long-term care facility of Nakile Home. The former minister said the sight lines were a concern for safety. The former minister said that he intended to look at some of the programming to see what the short-term and medium-term fixes could be. The residents have been looking for a long time for this to get fixed.

Would the minister please tell the House the cost of the short- and medium-term fixes and let us know when that work might begin?

LLOYD HINES « » : Mr. Speaker, yes, we are looking at short-term fixes and also long-term fixes. We see the opportunity there to solve the problem once and for all. In the meantime our people are looking, in the Spring, at enhanced signage in that area to help the situation out as a short-term fix, and in the medium-term would be the design for the overall correction for those three intersections that are connected into Exit 32.

[Page 1801]

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Kings North.

TIR - HANTSPORT ABOITEAU: REPLACEMENT - UPDATE

JOHN LOHR « » : Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minster of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.

Last spring, I visited Hantsport and saw first-hand the destruction caused by the broken aboiteau; in fact, it looked like it had been hit by a Scud missile. Irreparable damage was caused to properties and months went by before the government committed to helping, so it was a relief to hear the local MLA announce that the government would repair the aboiteau.

My question for the minster is: When was the decision made for the government to replace the aboiteau?

HON. LLOYD HINES « » : Mr. Speaker, I'm very happy to report to the House and to the folks of Hantsport that the repair for that particular facility is well under way as we speak here today.

Last year in, I believe it was August or early September, I had an opportunity to visit the site. I spent quite a bit of time with a local councillor, who was a great guide, who showed me around there and explained the issues and the problems very clearly. So at that point in time, we decided that we would move forward with a plan to effect those repairs on that aboiteau.

JOHN LOHR « » : Well, that's an interesting answer, Mr. Speaker, because a FOIPOP obtained by our office indicates there was no correspondence about the aboiteau between the local MLA and the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal before the announcement on January 4^th - and I'll table that.

It seems irresponsible for a local MLA to make a serious funding announcement to a crowd of concerned citizens without having discussed the matter with the minister responsible. My question is: When was the first time the local MLA brought the matter up to the minister and when did the minister commit to the funding?

LLOYD HINES « » : Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate the opportunity to explain how effective our internal communication is - we don't have to wait for formal correspondences; we talk to each other.

[Page 1802]

THE SPEAKER « » : Order please. The time allotted for Oral Questions Put by Members to Minsters has expired.

The honourable House Leader for the New Democratic Party.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, I would like to raise a point of order. In response to the NDP Leader's question earlier in Question Period about the government's apparent failure to ensure Northern Pulp made the deadline imposed by the Boat Harbour Act, the Premier misrepresented that question as advocating for closure of the mill.

THE SPEAKER « » : That is not a point of order, that is a disagreement on facts.

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. GEOFF MACLELLAN » : Mr. Speaker, would you please call Public Bills for Second Reading.

PUBLIC BILLS FOR SECOND READING

GEOFF MACLELLAN « » : Mr. Speaker, would you please call Bill No. 90.

Bill No. 90 - Boxing Authority Act.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage.

HON. LEO GLAVINE « » : Mr. Speaker, I move that Bill No. 90 - an Act to Amend Chapter 43 of the Revised Statutes of 1989, the Boxing Authority Act - be now read a second time.

The Nova Scotia Combat Sports Authority plays a critical role in the world of boxing and combat sports in Nova Scotia. The authority works to foster and grow combat sports such as boxing, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts here in the province. It supports and regulates athletes, managers, and promoters participating in combat sports.

In regulating these sports, they work to ensure the safety of all participants while allowing athletes to fully enjoy the events. The authority works with officials and medical staff to make sure they are up to date with best practices from across the country.

Mr. Speaker, the amendments that I introduced last week to the Boxing Authority Act will modernize financial oversight and align practices with those of the Combat Sports Authority itself. Specifically, the changes will allow the authority to invest any generated revenue in programming that fits within the authority's mandate, such as safety. This will make it easier for them to continue to make sure we are current with the country's best practices in combat sports. It will make training opportunities more accessible and would help further the work of the authority.

[Page 1803]

The existing legislation requires all revenue by the authority to flow directly to the province. The amendments will also modernize the financial oversight of the boxing authority by allowing the authority to choose its own auditor on an annual basis.

Mr. Speaker, it's been 30 years since this legislation was last updated and these changes will bring the Boxing Authority Act into the 21^st century. They will allow the authority to modernize their practices and will play a significant role in the progress of the organization, the sports it supports and regulates, and in the development of our athletes.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to bring forward these amendments for the consideration of the House.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage.

BARBARA ADAMS « » : Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to have the opportunity to speak to Bill No. 90. I realize it's fairly brief, more of a housekeeping bill, but there are just a few comments that I wanted to make.

I understand this is a bill that hasn't been looked at in over 30 years so, obviously we want to modernize the financial oversight and some of the other issues that are raised. One of the questions I do have for the minister, and perhaps it could be addressed later - in the amendments and introduction here, it says that, "The Authority shall prepare and submit to the Minister an annual budget as prescribed by the regulations." It also suggests that, "The Authority shall submit to the Minister such business plans as may be prescribed by the regulations."

What I don't see in here, maybe it's somewhere else, is the requirement for an annual report to be submitted to the minister. I'm not sure if it's in previous legislation - I couldn't find any - so I wonder if the minister could address that for us in his closing remarks.

Second thing that I wanted to bring up is in the Boxing Authority Regulations from 2002, which is a much more detailed document, it talks about the annual medical examination. I am wondering if the minister had considered reviewing the annual medical examination and the guidelines surrounding that, because they were from 15 or 16 years ago.

One of the things I noted, is that for a boxing match to take place, you need two physicians to be present as well as at least two para-medical personnel. If I'm reading that correctly, my initial reaction was that I don't get that kind of attendance in the emergency department. So although we want to keep our boxers and anybody else involved in this industry, I am wondering who pays for those people to be in attendance.

[Page 1804]

I am also wondering, under the examination where it says, "Boxers, referees, and judges shall have annual medical examinations by a Medical Advisor or a medical doctor," what happens if one of those people doesn't happen to have a family doctor? Where do they go to get that evaluation done and what happens if they can't get in to get it done? I'm wondering if the minister could address that for us, as well.

The next thing that I wanted to talk about is the fact that in one of the Hansard documents from October 20, 2017, the Minister for Communities, Culture and Heritage at the time stated, "I want to assure the member for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley that changes to the Act will allow for updating of regulations, where protocols that are in the best interests of the health and safety of contestants are first and foremost."

I'm wondering if the minister could comment as well on whether any regulations have been updated because he referred to that a couple of years ago and I am wondering what has happened since.

Further down, just shortly after that the minister said, "Separately, Mr. Speaker, sport-related concussions have been recognized as a public health issue and there is ongoing collaborative work being done in this area at the federal, provincial, and territorial level."

As a health professional who has taken additional training in the management of concussions, I am well aware of what's been going on in our province, but I wanted to point out that in Ontario on March 7, 2018, the Ontario government passed Rowan's Law to improve concussion safety. I am wondering if the minister has considered that when he was looking at this legislation and what his government might be doing to look at this particular issue because other provinces are also starting to do so.

The final question I have for the minister is with all the changes that are going on, has there been any review of all the other things in the regulations with respect to the other areas in terms of what constitutes a knockout? What constitutes appropriate gloves? A lot of things have changed since 2002.

I just want to close by saying that I have four sons and I've seen my fair share of boxing matches and mixed martial arts and kickboxing. I would hope that the minister would have looked at all the regulations to see if there is anything else that we might need to update beyond the financial oversight and some of the other regulations.

I thank the minister for bringing this forward and I look forward to his comments.

[Page 1805]

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Dartmouth North.

[3:00 p.m.]

SUSAN LEBLANC « » : Mr. Speaker, I am happy also to speak to Bill 90. I think that any bill that serves to modernize the financial systems with sport and recreation to make it easier for the actual athletes and sports organizations to have their money reinvested into the programming is a good idea.

Boxing - though I've never boxed myself, I'm not going to say that I won't have boxed by the time third reading comes along. I think it's a really great sport, especially for communities where the boxing clubs can bring youth and other people who want to get fit. Bring them in and give them skills that they can use outside of the ring, as well. Specifically, in Dartmouth North we have the Tribal Boxing Club which is doing really, really good work with the youth in the community and others. There are champions coming out of that club and working at that club and I think it's awesome.

I will leave it there and if there is anyone speaking at Law Amendments Committee, I look forward to hearing what people have to say and will talk further on third reading.

THE SPEAKER « » : If I recognize the minister, it will be to close the debate.

The honourable Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage.

HON. LEO GLAVINE « » : I thank my colleagues in the House and members opposite for their comments and also questions around this particular piece of legislation. It was brought forward originally a couple of years ago, and as regulations were being finalized, there were a few areas, the auditing being one, that did stand out.

In the old Act, the original Act of 1989, it said that the Auditor General would do the auditing of the Boxing Authority, but because it's such a very small amount of money, that did not take place. However, audited statements were required by the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage. Now we will put that right into regulation, that the Boxing Authority and the new Combat Sports Authority Act will make sure that they select an auditor and bring forward their statement each and every year. In fact, I believe it strengthens the accountability of the Boxing Authority.

One of the areas where there is a great deal of emphasis in boxing and combat sports is safety. This is why there are designated doctors to actually do the evaluation and assessment of the fitness of a boxer or an MMA athlete before they would go into the ring. But also, they have been trained in best practices around when an intervention is required during a match, and this is why doctors must be on hand at these sanctioned events.

We wanted to finalize this Act in the Spring session. In regard to the regulations being developed, that has been ongoing for the past two years. They will be brought forward because the Act has not yet been proclaimed. As we tidy up through this amendment to the bill, Bill No. 90, that will finalize the regulations for the Boxing Authority.

[Page 1806]

I was pleased that members brought out the concern around concussions. That is a major concern in any sport, but boxing and combat sports in particular. Protocols have indeed changed. Two years ago, at the Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg, this was a day-long topic, especially since we had a couple of tragedies, in particular in Ontario with the rugby player.

They ended up bringing into legislation Rowan's Law. It's one that we actually had looked at, but Sport Nova Scotia had already done some interventions with all sports under their authorization to bring in the latest protocols in regard to safety with head injuries, especially concussions. It is an area that has been looked at extensively in our province. Because of the work done to date, we didn't feel that legislation would be required to have the strongest measures around education of our coaches and appropriate interventions with head injuries, one of the areas that is so important to recognize.

A lot used to talk about how it was only a minor injury. Well, when it comes to a head injury, they are not minor injuries. Coaches in our province, all the way down to those who supervise playgrounds, have been getting some instruction around how to deal with a head injury but, more importantly, taking all the preventions and precautions so that children do not incur head injuries.

While this is about boxing and combat sports, of course, as soon as you start to talk about concussions, it takes on a much broader aspect of participation in sport and in many outside activities in particular.

I thank the members for the points that were brought up today, and we look forward to getting this bill into legislation. I look forward to moving it on to Law Amendments Committee.

THE SPEAKER « » : The motion is for second reading of Bill No. 90. Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

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

The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. GEOFF MACLELLAN « » : Mr. Speaker, would you please call Bill No. 91.

Bill No. 91 - Nova Scotia Museum Act.

[Page 1807]

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage.

HON. LEO GLAVINE « » : Mr. Speaker, I move that Bill No. 91, an Act Respecting the Nova Scotia Museum, now be read a second time.

I am pleased to provide comments today on proposed amendments to the Nova Scotia Museum Act. These amendments will allow our provincial museum to modernize its governance structure.

As I am sure you would all agree, museums are important institutions which contribute greatly to our social fabric. They ensure understanding and appreciation for various groups and cultures, they promote better appreciation of our collective heritage, and they help foster curiosity. Furthermore, they serve to help future generations see and understand our history and recognize the achievements of those who came before them.

Mr. Speaker, the Nova Scotia Museum is a rich resource for the people of our province. Many may not be aware that the museum consists of 28 museum sites and is one of the oldest provincial museum systems in the country. It is responsible for the provincial collection of over one million artifacts and specimens. As well, it oversees the maintenance of more than 210 buildings, four floating vessels, and nine locomotives.

However, Mr. Speaker, our museum system, as robust as it is, also needs to keep pace with changing times. The legislation introduced last Friday will modernize the governance of the Nova Scotia Museum and will lay the groundwork for a more diverse and sustainable museum system. Most significantly, the proposed changes will enhance the mandate of the Museum Board of Governors and allow the board to have more direct oversight of museum operations. Currently, the work of the board revolves around advancing the research agenda of the museum and overseeing supporting special projects.

Amendments will require that members of the board be appointed by a nominating committee consisting of the board chair and three other members. The nominating committee will, when possible, recommend candidates that reflect Nova Scotia's cultural, generational, geographic, gender, and ability diversity. The experience and expertise these candidates bring will, I believe, strengthen the provincial museum system.

Currently, the board of our provincial museum is required to meet four times per year. Under the new amendments, the board will be required to meet eight times per year, which will enhance their oversight of the museum.

In addition, the amendments will allow the board of governors to prescribe visitor fees. Currently, museum fees are set as part of the larger list of government user fees. These amendments will put them instead under the jurisdiction of the museum board.

I want to emphasize that I believe that everyone - both citizens and visitors to our province - should have access to the Nova Scotia Museum. Any potential fee increase will not be prohibitive.

[Page 1808]

The proposed changes will also give the board of governors the mandate to fundraise and to more effectively market the museum's unique offerings. Fundraising could allow for the museum to help fund new, innovative programming, exhibit development, and collection of acquisitions.

I should add, Mr. Speaker, all these amendments were developed as a result of consultations with the people of our province. In March 2017, the government was told by museum visitors and non-visitor museums that we should look to attract new and exciting exhibits. A small fee increase would be acceptable as long as admission is still affordable. And third, the museum should be permitted to form partnerships with foundations and private individuals to attract travelling exhibits.

I believe the changes we are making to the legislation will help our museum meet the wishes of Nova Scotians. I want to be clear, Mr. Speaker, government oversite of our provincial museum will not be compromised because of these amendments. It is important to note the Deputy Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage will guide the transition of the board in order to help them fulfill their new mandate. Part of this work will be the creation of guiding bylaws, which will be approved by government. Likewise, government retains the ability to create any regulations necessary in the future or even to further amend the Act if this should be necessary.

A notable new accountability measure will be that the board of governors will be required to provide a formal accountability report to government on an annual basis. In addition, the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage will have representation on the board, and the director of the museum will work closely with and support the board of governors as its secretary.

As I mentioned above, the Nova Scotia Museum is an important institution that reflects the incredible diversity of our province's human and natural histories. I believe that the changes we are proposing will help us in our efforts to reposition the system to attract broader and bigger audiences and tell the compelling stories Nova Scotians want to see and hear.

I'm sure there will be a number that would like to speak to this proposed legislation, and with that, I take my place.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage.

BARBARA ADAMS « » : Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to speak on Bill No. 91. I have some comments I want to read, but I wanted to address the minister's introduction to the bill and just have a couple of questions for him to consider.

[Page 1809]

The first thing he said, if I got it correctly, is that the board of governors were going to meet more frequently from, I believe, four to eight meetings per year, and he said that that would ensure greater government oversite. I just want to go on the record as saying that eight is more than four, so, when we look at the Public Accounts Committee going from once a week to once a month, that that means he would concede that that is less government oversite. I just wanted to make that point that, when it comes to museums, we are increasing the oversite, but when it comes to health care and the Public Accounts Committee, we're reducing it.

One of the things I wanted to ask about is he mentioned in his opening remarks that the changes that were proposed - and there are quite a number of them. There's a whole whack of things that are being introduced and a whole bunch of things that are being taken out, and that there were consultations with people around the province. The first question that I hope the minister will address is - he talked to people about the changes to put into this bill - did he share with all the museums and the employees, who will be directly affected on a daily basis, the bill before he introduced it today?

I realize the Law Amendments Committee is in part for that, but some of the people that I talked to - I spent yesterday calling all the museums that I could get hold of and they were not aware of the bill being introduced. These are the people who are going to be directly affected by this bill and they hadn't heard about it, so I'm wondering why that is. There are 28 museums. That's not a lot of them. I'm wondering if the minister can tell us why they weren't aware of this, and some of them read it in the news.

[3:15 p.m.]

So, I agree wholeheartedly with the minister about the value of our museums. I don't have a museum in my community, but I do have the Fishermen's Cove Heritage Centre and I know how much we value that. Of course, after 30 years, most bills need a second look.

One of the things that people might not be aware of is that in addition to the 28 museums, there are 210 buildings, four floating vessels, and nine locomotives - which is a rich history that we are very proud of. But, when we get down to changing governance, we need to look at how we're going to do that and who will be impacted and are they going to buy into this or are they going to be told, this is what you're doing, like it or not.

One of the things that we know is that the museums have improved over the years. We've made them accessible to people of all ages and they're incredibly important to our schools and to our heritage. I just want to put a shout-out to the fact that the museum has a pass that's a great deal. I wasn't aware of this until recently, but you can visit and revisit as many of the 28 Nova Scotia museums for a family pass of only $92.65. That's a real steal, and I encourage everyone in the province to take advantage of that.

[Page 1810]

One of the things that I know is that these museums help us to preserve our language and our customs for generations to come, and I'm wondering, what in the bill speaks to preserving our heritage and our customs and our language? I didn't really see a whole lot in the bill that ensures that - and I realize there's a Cultural Action Plan which may address it in a greater way, but I wonder if it's not time to include it in something like this. We know how vital museums are for Nova Scotians for their employment, their education, for future career aspirations, and for the maintenance of all of the heritage items that we have collected over the past couple of decades.

I want to talk about the bill specifically right now. As the museum people whom I talked to will say, the museum system is very complex in Nova Scotia. Some are open all year round, some are open only seasonally. The eight that are open all year long already have their own board of directors. I wonder, when we're talking about increasing the oversight of the board of governors, how does that impact those museums that already have their own board of directors who are currently not responsible to the board of governors - does this mean that those boards of directors are now going to be directly responsible to the board of governors and have to supply them with information? I'm not saying it's wrong, I'm just asking the minister to clarify that.

We understand that some of the changes are meant to help with compliance with all of the things that are offered around the province, but there are some pros and cons to the legislation that were brought forward to me by some of the museum staff I spoke with. One comment that I received was that the board of governors had been largely a figurehead for decades, so will this give them a more relevant role in terms of raising money - but at what cost? If these museums are given a mandate to raise money, does this mean that the government intends to cut back on funding? We know that several years ago the budgets to the museums were cut, does this mean the government intends to require all of these museums to do their own fundraising, because it's going to continue to either freeze the funds that these museums are given or, in fact, reduce those funds over time.

As the museums reminded me, they are entirely dependent on the money given to them by the government - approximately 75 to 80 per cent sustains them. Their staff want to know that their jobs are secure and not dependent on fundraising. The capacity to fundraise to bring in extra funds for anything is incredibly limiting right now because their experience with fundraising already is that this is government funded, aren't I in fact fundraising for the government? I wonder, if we're increasing the mandate on these museum managers to increase funding, how are we going to sell that to the public who believe that these are government funded?

Some of the museums also mentioned to me that they believe that the current funding model is not a healthy one because they are currently not being funded at a level needed for growth. They're wondering how they expand and grow in the future unless their funds are increased even along with the cost of living.

[Page 1811]

In terms of accountability, one of the comments I heard was that the bulk of the museums were put in place in the 1970s, and 30 years later we're trying to improve the museum structure. One of the things that several mentioned to me is that they have been waiting since the 1970s for a licensing agreement with the province. My understanding is that that is under way. I'm wondering how this legislation will impact the licensing agreement negotiations between the museums and the province. I wonder if the minister could comment on that.

In terms of funding, the museum managers or staff have said they have been hindered in terms of fundraising, and so they're looking forward to this change that will make it easier for them. They want to know that there is a sustainable future for all of them, not just perhaps the ones with the best exhibits in certain regions that have the greatest number of visitors.

One of the things I wanted to ask is: The complex collection of all of the museums, the floating vessels, and the nine locomotives, what is the plan in place for them once the licensing agreements are in place? Who is going to pay for what? One of the questions I was advised to ask you right now is: Will the government and TIR, once the licensing agreements are in place, place complete control over how the money is spent at the TIR level, or will the museum still have some ability to make decisions as to where they would like to see the money spent?

Finally, the last thing that was in the bill - Clause 15, says that a report must not be made public without the minister's approval. What I am wondering is, why was it worded that way, that the minister has to approve it? Could it not have been worded that a report must not be made public until the minister has had a chance to read it? I think if we are looking at transparency and accountability, then there should be something in this bill that allows that report, for sure, to be released to the public, since they are the ones paying our salaries.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, there are issues around letting the museum staff affected by this bill know about it through social media. There are issues around transparency in terms of reports that are going to be released or maybe not. There are issues around governance, powers, and funding models changing the way our museums are going to be run. Therefore, we are concerned that the museums will not be given enough time to make sufficient comments, but we'll wait to see what discussions come forth at Law Amendments Committee.

I would encourage this government to give the museum staff a heads-up next time so that they can more adequately prepare for Law Amendments Committee.

[Page 1812]

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable member for Dartmouth North.

SUSAN LEBLANC « » : I am also very happy to speak to Bill No. 91, the amendments to the Nova Scotia Museum Act. Museums, Mr. Speaker, are some of my favourite places in this province. In any little town you can go into, any little rural area, there is often a small museum that gives the visitor insight into the area, into the history of the peoples there, and insight into the culture of the people.

Museums are also a place where arts and culture can be displayed in a meaningful way. I appreciate places like the Africville Museum down in Africville, places like the Centre de la Mi-Carȇme in Cheticamp, which is an amazing museum - everyone should go to it all the time, it's very cool - and places all over the province. There are tons of little places in the Valley that I also love. Anything that can strengthen the way museums can function in the province is okay by me.

I am really glad this bill is coming forward for a variety of reasons. I have a couple of concerns. I really do hope that because this bill is coming forward that this is a sign that the government is serious about the funding of our museums. I hope that we will see increased funding in the upcoming budget.

One of the concerns I do have, my colleague did mention this, is around the fundraising for museums. I think the ability to fundraise for a small, not-for-profit organization is obviously an important one. But we have to remember that, especially for the small institutions, the small little places, the Prescott House Museums of the world, I hope their ability now to do some robust fundraising doesn't mean the responsibility for making those museums survive will now lie on the shoulders of those volunteers who run those museums or the very slim staff who run those museums. I hope the government is making these changes to benefit the museums and not to somehow let the volunteers shoulder some of the responsibility that really is the government's.

I do think that clarifying the structure and reporting practices of the board of governors is a good one. It is a helpful and standard accountability measure and I also think an annual report is very important. I am surprised there was not one before. I also think allowing the board to recommend its own chair and vice chair is an important change.

The really big change I think is important is adding these diversity provisions. I am happy the minister is talking about cultural, generational, gender, and geographical diversity, especially for a provincial overseeing board it is important. I hope the minister and the deputy minister will work very hard to ensure that those diversity positions, or however the board is structured, those will be fulfilled, and that proper work goes into making it possible for the board to actually be a diverse one, and not just successfully diverse on paper.

[Page 1813]

I also think that the fact that the museums can prescribe their own visitor fees is important. Every little town, every museum will have a different reason for a different type of fee structure, but I also am very hopeful the minister will abide by his comments to keep Nova Scotia museums accessible. One of the best things about being in England and touring around England and the U.K is that the museums there are free, the national museums. It is amazing. They are full of people all the time. If we could move to a system like that in Nova Scotia and in Canada, I think we would be doing everyone a service.

Thank you for bringing this bill forward. I look forward to hearing what people have to say in Law Amendments Committee and talking more about it more in third reading.

THE SPEAKER « » : If I recognize the minister it will be to close the debate.

The honourable Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage.

HON. LEO GLAVINE « » : Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate the comments made by members opposite. It always helps to have that kind of critical review of a piece of legislation. Also, of course, we being one of the few provinces that have Law Amendments Committee and an opportunity for the public to have their say, and to bring forth a change in the bill.

I do want to very strongly emphasize the draft bill did go to museum staff at the provincial museums. Now, whether every single staff person saw it, maybe not. But I guarantee it did go forward in terms of a draft piece of legislation. What we also have to realize is some of the museums, one of our 28 that are part of the provincial system, because we also have 69 CMAPs, which are community supported museums across the province. Then we have another category of community or individually owned museums. We have a very elaborate and complex system here in the province.

This is one of the reasons why we needed to update the legislation and to bring forward a governance model that would provide the kind of leadership direction to our 28 museums that make up the provincial system. This will not negate the museums that do have a small board for directing specific aspects of the operations of their museum. This will be oversight on our 28 museums making up the provincial system.

Currently, the Deputy Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage is the chair of the museum board. Everyone who gave input felt that it was time to look at a board more apart from the department oversight and to have a board chair and a board that would reflect, as was pointed out, many elements of diversity in our province. That certainly will be one of the strongest directions.

[3:30 p.m.]

[Page 1814]

In terms of fundraising endeavours, museums and art galleries in jurisdictions around the world will have targeted fundraising to develop a particular exhibit or to draw a particular exhibit into their museum. This is certainly not new, but it's not in any way to replace the funding that is provided by the provincial government.

We also have a number of museums that will get significant capital funding, just as our Museum of Industry in Stellarton needed about $2-million worth of repairs, primarily to the roof of that building to make sure that its integrity was kept intact. Each year, we will have specific capital projects, whether it's the CSS Acadia or a small community museum or our Maritime Museum of the Atlantic or the Museum of Natural History. They all do require repairs and maintenance. That very often can be a separate ask for a capital infusion.

One of the areas that changes with this piece of legislation is the setting of fees. This is primarily to look at a very special world-class museum such as Body Works, which came to Nova Scotia last year. The charge was substantially below what the market was able to ask for that particular exhibit as it went around the world. When exhibits like that come around - and certainly getting a world-class exhibit each and every year is one of the goals of the museum system - then fees could be set.

We all know that to keep fees at a very, very affordable price is the goal of the museum system. Our current prices are very competitive, I think, with other jurisdictions in Canada. Wednesday nights, for example, at the Museum of Natural History are free for anybody to go and take in whatever is available at a particular time. I know right now there is an exhibit that is catching the interest of children in Nova Scotia, and I'm sure that during the March Break we'll see a big run-up to take in the current dinosaur exhibit that is at the museum.

I know a member opposite also brought up the licensing agreements - these will stay on track. These are certainly an important part of the operations for our museum. We also are not shifting any of the funds required by museums for operations, to switch over to a fundraising endeavour. Also, no staff will be impacted by this piece of legislation.

One of the main thrusts of the legislation was to modernize. There's no question that across the province as we look at our museums, attendance has been going down except for a few museums. So, to now make them more interactive; to bring in some of the digital world; to keep exhibits moving around the province, which is something we have not been doing, I believe is an important part of that modernization; and, to bring Nova Scotians back into the museums so that our unique and special stories and accounts of our over 13,000 years of history can be available to all Nova Scotians.

I know there was a question around the report being made public. In fact, it may be the wording there more than anything. It's obviously so that the minister is well aware of the annual report and that he would have read it before being asked about it by Nova Scotians.

[Page 1815]

I think that covers a good number of the areas that were raised by Opposition. I look forward to those who will have some concerns or an interest in this piece of legislation coming in to the Committee on Law Amendments and, with that, Mr. Speaker, I look forward to it going to Law Amendments Committee.

THE SPEAKER « » : The motion is for second reading of Bill No. 91. Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

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

The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. GEOFF MACLELLAN « » : Mr. Speaker that concludes government business for today. Don't be sad, everyone. We'll be back again soon.

I move that the House do now rise to sit again tomorrow, Wednesday, March 6^th between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and, with Wednesday being Opposition Day, it's my pleasure to give the floor over to the New Democratic Party House Leader for a call of tomorrow's business.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable House Leader for the New Democratic Party.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, following daily routine and Question Period tomorrow, we'll call the following Opposition Business: Bill No. 98, an Act to Amend the Worker's Compensation Act; followed by Bill No. 86, the Emergency Department Standards Act.

I now move that we rise to meet again tomorrow between the hours of 1:00 and 5:30.

THE SPEAKER « » : The motion is for the House to adjourn to rise again tomorrow, Wednesday, March 6^th between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

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

The motion is carried.

The House now stands adjourned until tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.

[Page 1816]

[The House rose at 3:39 p.m.]

NOTICES OF MOTION UNDER RULE 32(3)

[Page 1817]

RESOLUTION NO. 723

By: Gordon Wilson (Clare-Digby)

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

Whereas the 2018 Digby and Area Board of Trade Awards dinner was held on June 20, 2018; and

Whereas Webber's Bottle Exchange received the Environmental Service Award; and

Whereas this award recognizes the individual or business that has demonstrated outstanding dedication, involvement in, and accomplishment of environmental goals with a particular emphasis on proper solid waste management or waste reduction initiative;

Therefore be it resolved that the House of Assembly congratulate Webber's Bottle Exchange on receiving this award and wish them continued success.

RESOLUTION NO. 724

By: Gordon Wilson (Clare-Digby)

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

Whereas the 2018 Digby and Area Board of Trade Awards dinner was held on June 20, 2018; and

Whereas Kevin Ellis received the Area Ambassador Award; and

Whereas this award is presented to an individual who has gone above and beyond the limits of their business to promote and enhance the value of our community, increasing prosperity and enriching our local industries;

Therefore be it resolved that the House of Assembly congratulate Kevin Ellis on receiving this award and wish him continued success.

RESOLUTION NO. 725

[Page 1818]

By: Gordon Wilson (Clare-Digby)

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

Whereas Birch Street Seafood received the Export Achievement Award; and

Whereas this award is presented to a business individual that adds value to our local community by simulating economic prosperity in our region and their exports are raising the profile and reputation of our natural and human resources internationally;

Therefore be it resolved that the House of Assembly congratulate Birch Street Seafood on receiving this award and wish them continued success.

RESOLUTION NO. 726

By: Claudia Chender (Dartmouth North)

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

Whereas for the last three years, eight hockey players from HRM have played in the Maine Pond Hockey Classic, raising $40,000 per year in support of the Alfond Youth Centre to provide a free afterschool program and meals to school-aged children in the Waterville, Maine, area; and

Whereas the team from HRM known as the Old Buzzards is the only Canadian team to participate and actively builds awareness about Nova Scotia through gift bags, which have led to numerous visits by New Englanders to Nova Scotia; and

Whereas this year the Old Buzzards were able to finally lift their hands in victory for winning in their division;

Therefore be it resolved that the House of Assembly congratulate team member Steve Hollis for his effort to support communities abroad and at home and on his win at the 2019 Maine Pond Hockey Classic with the Old Buzzards.

RESOLUTION NO. 727

By: Claudia Chender (Dartmouth North)

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

Whereas for the last three years, eight hockey players from HRM have played in the Maine Pond Hockey Classic, raising $40,000 per year in support of the Alfond Youth Centre to provide a free afterschool program and meals to school-aged children in the Waterville, Maine, area; and

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Whereas the team from HRM known as the Old Buzzards is the only Canadian team to participate and actively builds awareness about Nova Scotia through gift bags, which have led to numerous visits by New Englanders to Nova Scotia; and

Whereas this year the Old Buzzards were able to finally lift their hands in victory for winning in their division;

Therefore be it resolved that the House of Assembly congratulate team member Troy Droesbeck for his effort to support communities abroad and at home and on his win at the 2019 Maine Pond Hockey Classic with the Old Buzzards.

RESOLUTION NO. 728

By: Claudia Chender (Dartmouth North)

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

Whereas for the last three years, eight hockey players from HRM have played in the Maine Pond Hockey Classic, raising $40,000 per year in support of the Alfond Youth Centre to provide a free afterschool program and meals to school-aged children in the Waterville, Maine, area; and

Whereas the team from HRM known as the Old Buzzards is the only Canadian team to participate and actively builds awareness about Nova Scotia through gift bags, which have led to numerous visits by New Englanders to Nova Scotia; and

Whereas this year the Old Buzzards were able to finally lift their hands in victory for winning in their division;

Therefore be it resolved that the House of Assembly congratulate team member Kevin Thompson for his effort to support communities abroad and at home and on his win at the 2019 Maine Pond Hockey Classic with the Old Buzzards.

RESOLUTION NO. 729

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By: Claudia Chender (Dartmouth North)

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

Whereas for the last three years, eight hockey players from HRM have played in the Maine Pond Hockey Classic, raising $40,000 per year in support of the Alfond Youth Centre to provide a free afterschool program and meals to school-aged children in the Waterville, Maine, area; and

Whereas the team from HRM known as the Old Buzzards is the only Canadian team to participate and actively builds awareness about Nova Scotia through gift bags, which have led to numerous visits by New Englanders to Nova Scotia; and

Whereas this year the Old Buzzards were able to finally lift their hands in victory for winning in their division;

Therefore be it resolved that the House of Assembly congratulate team member Roger Boutique for his effort to support communities abroad and at home and on his win at the 2019 Maine Pond Hockey Classic with the Old Buzzards.

RESOLUTION NO. 730

By: Claudia Chender (Dartmouth North)

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

Whereas for the last three years, eight hockey players from HRM have played in the Maine Pond Hockey Classic, raising $40,000 per year in support of the Alfond Youth Centre to provide a free afterschool program and meals to school-aged children in the Waterville, Maine, area; and

Whereas the team from HRM known as the Old Buzzards is the only Canadian team to participate and actively builds awareness about Nova Scotia through gift bags, which have led to numerous visits by New Englanders to Nova Scotia; and

Whereas this year the Old Buzzards were able to finally lift their hands in victory for winning in their division;

Therefore be it resolved that the House of Assembly congratulate team member Tony Wilcox for his effort to support communities abroad and at home and on his win at the 2019 Maine Pond Hockey Classic with the Old Buzzards.

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RESOLUTION NO. 731

By: Claudia Chender (Dartmouth North)

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

Whereas for the last three years, eight hockey players from HRM have played in the Maine Pond Hockey Classic, raising $40,000 per year in support of the Alfond Youth Centre to provide a free afterschool program and meals to school-aged children in the Waterville, Maine, area; and

Whereas the team from HRM known as the Old Buzzards is the only Canadian team to participate and actively builds awareness about Nova Scotia through gift bags, which have led to numerous visits by New Englanders to Nova Scotia; and

Whereas this year the Old Buzzards were able to finally lift their hands in victory for winning in their division;

Therefore be it resolved that the House of Assembly congratulate team member Damon Jordan for his effort to support communities abroad and at home and on his win at the 2019 Maine Pond Hockey Classic with the Old Buzzards.

RESOLUTION NO. 732

By: Claudia Chender (Dartmouth North)

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

Whereas for the last three years, eight hockey players from HRM have played in the Maine Pond Hockey Classic, raising $40,000 per year in support of the Alfond Youth Centre to provide a free afterschool program and meals to school-aged children in the Waterville, Maine, area; and

Whereas the team from HRM known as the Old Buzzards is the only Canadian team to participate and actively builds awareness about Nova Scotia through gift bags, which have led to numerous visits by New Englanders to Nova Scotia; and

Whereas this year the Old Buzzards were able to finally lift their hands in victory for winning in their division;

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Therefore be it resolved that the House of Assembly congratulate team member Dan McAllister for his effort to support communities abroad and at home and on his win at the 2019 Maine Pond Hockey Classic with the Old Buzzards.

RESOLUTION NO. 733

By: Claudia Chender (Dartmouth North)

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

Whereas for the last three years, eight hockey players from HRM have played in the Maine Pond Hockey Classic, raising $40,000 per year in support of the Alfond Youth Centre to provide a free afterschool program and meals to school-aged children in the Waterville, Maine, area; and

Whereas the team from HRM known as the Old Buzzards is the only Canadian team to participate and actively builds awareness about Nova Scotia through gift bags, which have led to numerous visits by New Englanders to Nova Scotia; and

Whereas this year the Old Buzzards were able to finally lift their hands in victory for winning in their division;

Therefore be it resolved that the House of Assembly congratulate team member Dan Didham for his effort to support communities abroad and at home and on his win at the 2019 Maine Pond Hockey Classic with the Old Buzzards.

RESOLUTION NO. 734

By: Hon. Karen Casey (Colchester North)

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

Whereas Sherry Martell, Executive Director of the Truro and Colchester Chamber of Commerce, received national recognition for her efforts supporting member initiatives at the AGM of the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada Conference in Thunder Bay, Ontario; and

Whereas Sherry was among the elite group of 30 chamber professionals from across the country to be recognized as an Accredited Chamber Executive, the first time this designation was awarded by the organization to qualifying staff across Canada; and

Whereas Sherry was also presented with the national honour for chambers of less than 500 members, giving credit to the dedicated professional staff, directors past and present, and the more than 400 members of the chamber whose passion for their community is a source of inspiration for her;

Therefore be it resolved that the House of Assembly extend their congratulations to Sherry Martell, and wish her and the Truro and Colchester Chamber of Commerce continued success.

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