EDDIE ORRELL: ... My question to the minister is, how could anyone trust this government and this minister when these kinds of shady hiring practices and insider jobs can leave a cloud of suspicion around the inner circle?

MR. SPEAKER: I'd like to remind the honourable member the term "shady" is unparliamentary.

HON. ALFIE MACLEOD: Mr. Speaker, when I was growing up I was told to say what you mean and mean what you say.

On June 10^th the members of this government attended a hastily organized press conference about a collaborative health practice for Sydney. This was only a cheap political trick to try to downplay a public meeting June 12^th that was held to voice concern . . .

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. I remind the honourable member that "cheap political trick" is unparliamentary, and I'd ask him to retract that phrase and rephrase his question.

ALLAN MACMASTER: Mr. Speaker, I'm sure there have been lots of phone calls happening, especially yesterday, that triggered the councillors to do that.

The member for Cape Breton-Richmond said it was an honest mistake. If there is anything this scandal, and the way this government has been dealing with it, has been short of, it's honesty. The money belongs to the taxpayers of Richmond County.

HON. STERLING BELLIVEAU: Mr. Speaker, Halloween is only a few days away. Recently, rare scary clown sightings have been witnessed right across Nova Scotia. I, myself, only have to look across this aisle. Last week, this Liberal Government announced . . .

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. I'd like to remind the honourable member we are bordering on unparliamentary comments there, when referencing . . .

MR. BELLIVEAU: I like to live on the edge, Mr. Speaker.

...

p.730

TIMOTHY HOUSTON: Mr. Speaker, I will take the minister up on that and sit down and talk about some of these recommendations and where we're going. I would say today that back in the Fall of 2013, while campaigning, the Premier filled out a survey from the Pictou County Injured Workers Association and the Premier ticked off "yes" to all their statements. One of the statements was a statement that the low level of benefits to workers needs to be addressed. So clearly, while on the campaign trail, the Premier thought we should address the low level of benefits to injured workers.

THE PREMIER [STEVEN MCNEIL]: Mr. Speaker, again, I want to thank the honourable member for the question. The Liberal Party is not under investigation. As much as he wants to continue to repeat falsehoods, there is nothing associated with the Liberal Party.

...

MR. SPEAKER: I'd like to remind the honourable Premier that the term "falsehoods" is unparliamentary.

MR. MACLEOD: My goodness, it is so refreshing to see that the member for Victoria-The Lakes has finally found her voice; Halloween has worked for her. This is more serious than her worrying about my heart because at least I have one. (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. I'll ask the honourable member for Sydney- Whitney Pier to retract that.

MR. MACLEOD: You have to remember, sir - if somebody wants to play that game, I'll play it back with them. I want to talk about doctors . . .

HON. JAMIE BAILLIE: Mr. Speaker, last Spring Nova Scotia taxpayers paid all the bills in the City of Portland to upgrade their ferry terminal, to paint the lines in their parking lot, and so on. Now we know from Portland that they collected $85,000 in fees from the Yarmouth ferry.

Mr. Speaker, they got the gold mine, we got the shaft. Will the Premier explain to the taxpayers of Nova Scotia why it's fair that Portland collects the money and we get the bills?

...

LENORE ZANN: Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that the minister is just avoiding the question. I wonder if she has also heard of "alternative facts," since she and the Premier seem to be quite full of them.

The minister plans to establish a committee, we've heard, and it's not the same as capping class sizes. In New Brunswick, the agreement with the Teachers Federation has an article that specifically addresses class size for all grade levels. It defines the normal class size as 26 students with no class size exceeding 29 - and I'll table that, Mr. Speaker.

JAMIE BAILLIE: ... We have a Premier whose style, to be blunt, is so confrontational and so mean-spirited that people of good faith get pushed away . . .

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. I think "mean-spirited" is just a little bit over the edge.

The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition.

MR. BAILLIE: Let me claw that back closer to the edge, Mr. Speaker.