HON. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, on a point of privilege. The discussion that has taken place regarding the Law Amendments Committee, there seems to be some confusion in government's responses to the questions asked today. It is still unclear how many the government has relented on that will be heard from tomorrow. I put this in written form, so you can rule on it at your leisure and there will be a form for the Clerk.

HON. CHRISTOPHER D'ENTREMONT: Mr. Speaker, on a point of privilege. The member opposite knows full well that it was our government and this minister that got
Bayside started. If he wants to finish it, that is fine. If this minister wants to finish it, that is fine. But this minister, when I was a minister (Interruptions) Because he's lying to people.

MR. SPEAKER: Honourable member, that language is not acceptable here in this House. You know that, I know that, all the members of this House know that.

HON. MICHEL SAMSON: Mr. Speaker, I'm rising on a point of privilege. Do you wish me to go to that now or do you wish me to wait to do it later?

MR. SPEAKER: You might as well do it at this time.

SPEAKER'S RULING: LIEB Fiscal Policy Formulation (Pt. of Privilege by Hon. M. Samson [Hansard p. 29, 03/26/10]) not a matter of privilege

Secondly, I have a Speaker's Ruling I want to read from an issue that was raised here in the House the other day. The honourable member for Richmond rose on a matter of privilege on Friday, March 26, 2010. The Chair reserved dealing with the matter and indicated a decision would be provided at a later date.

HON. MURRAY SCOTT: Mr. Speaker, on a point of personal privilege. I want to table here, in a moment, a memorandum that was faxed to our caucus office at 9:52 this morning, and I'll read it in the interests of the House being aware of what it says. It says:

"Please be advised that Premier Darrell Dexter will be absent from the Legislative Assembly on Friday, April 23rd, 2010."

HON. MURRAY SCOTT: Mr. Speaker, yesterday I rose in my place regarding a point of personal privilege. As you'll recall, I brought the issue before the House that we had been informed an hour before the House opened that the Premier would not be available for estimates today, that he would not be here, and I brought that forward as a point of privilege.

SPEAKER'S RULING: A minister ought not to absent himself or herself from CWH on Supply if that minister's estimates are on the floor of the committee (Pt. of Privilege by Hon. M. Scott [Hansard p. 1247, 04/23/10]) Members have not been subject to an actual loss of time, but if the situation were otherwise that a member could be obstructed in his or her rights as a member, in effect that would amount to a matter of privilege.

MR. KEITH BAIN: Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of privilege. Yesterday at the Law Amendments Committee we had many presenters appear before us and a request was made by our caucus, as well as the Liberal caucus, to have the opportunity to bring some of those concerns back to our caucus. That was denied - and I would like to table many bills that were at the Law Amendments Committee that were referred back to caucus - and the Law Amendments Committee met the next day.

MR. SPEAKER: Honourable members, we'll call our session to order for a brand new week and a brand new month. I hope everybody had a good weekend. Before we go to the daily routine, I have a Speaker's Ruling here I'm going to read on the issue that arose on Friday.

HON. MICHEL SAMSON: Mr. Speaker, I rise on another point of privilege. As members of this House it is essential that we have access to all available information in order to represent Nova Scotians and hold government accountable.