THE SPEAKER: Order.

The motion is to adjourn debate on the resolution.

All those in favour? Contrary minded? Thank you.

The motion is carried.

I'm following the rules. If the member for Halifax Needham did not see that I brought the Chief Clerk up here to understand how to proceed, then the member can rewind the tape.

The honourable member for Halifax Citadel-Sable Island.

LISA LACHANCE: I am rising on a point of order just to try to clarify what's going on. It's not direct. I'm just going to try to get there.

LISA LACHANCE: For Opposition Day tomorrow, we plan to call Bill No. 2, as well as Resolution No. 8, which was tabled by the member for Halifax Armdale today, and Resolution No. 10, which was tabled by the member for Sackville-Cobequid.

THE SPEAKER: Just a quick reminder that you have to have two days' notice for resolutions. Do you have any bills to call?

LISA LACHANCE: Thank you, Speaker, for the clarification. Just to confirm, we will call Bill No. 2 and other bills as time permits.

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

Whereas Stephen Harper's federal government recently announced the closure of 12 regional Status of Women Canada offices, including the Halifax location, as part of the overall budget cutback of $5 million announced in September; and

THE SPEAKER: Just with regard to the use of electronic equipment, and while I admire the ingenuity and I would note from yesterday in debate in the House, there was use of a computer in referencing a Web site. The difficulty with that is, while it may be practical for use for your own purposes, during the course of debate there's no ability to table what is being seen from an electronic device in the House, should someone question the information that's submitted.

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

Whereas the Premier was Nova Scotia's first Minister of Immigration; and

Whereas the untendered contract to Cornwallis Financial to manage the province's economic immigration program was never properly explained; and

Whereas the donations to the Progressive Conservative Party of almost $5,000 a year from Cornwallis Financial could continue without a ban on corporate donations to political Parties;

MR. GRAHAM STEELE: Mr. Speaker, in light of your earlier rulings, I rather fear that my resolution as written would have been out of order, so I have rewritten it, and I want to make sure that you listen very carefully to the 'therefore be it resolved', because (Interruptions)

I'm quite confident, Mr. Speaker . . .

[10:00 a.m.]

MR. SPEAKER: Order. Order, please. Order. Order, please.

The honourable Speaker listens carefully to all members in this House.

Next speaker.

...

[a different resolution was read]

...

GARY BURRILL: Speaker, I wonder if you would be good enough to grant us, at this point in the debate, a five-minute recess.

THE SPEAKER: I would need unanimous consent. Do I have unanimous consent for a five-minute recess?

There has not been unanimous consent.

The honourable member for Halifax Chebucto.

GARY BURRILL: Am I wrong to think that you, in fact, do have the capacity to rule unilaterally for a recess?

THE SPEAKER: I cannot force a recess if people object on it. We could have a motion on it, but there would have to be unanimous consent.

MR. SPEAKER: Before we get down to the Opposition Members' Business today, I noticed that earlier the member for Pictou East had put an attachment or tabled something with a resolution. You're not allowed to table attachments or anything with that. I'm therefore directing the document which the honourable member sought to have accompanying the notice of motion be struck from the record of the House. It does not form a part of the record of the proceedings of this House. Thank you.

THE SPEAKER: Order. Before I begin the daily routine, I am going to remove myself from the Chair and ask that the Deputy Speaker, the member for Shelburne, come forward and make a decision on a ruling of last week. I will remove myself from the Chair and allow the Deputy Speaker to come forward.

I will allow the honourable member for Cumberland North on a point of order.

ELIZABETH SMITH-MCCROSSIN: Speaker, I rise on a point of order with regard to a motion currently on the order paper: Resolution No. 598 of April 3, 2023.

THE SPEAKER: Sorry to the honourable member for Cumberland North. I believe that I've been made aware of what this point of order is. I'm going to excuse myself from the Chair, and I would ask my Deputy Speaker to please come forward and assume the Chair.

[The Deputy Speaker assumes the Chair.]

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