Published by Order of the Legislature by Hansard Reporting Services and printed by the Queen's Printer.
Available on INTERNET at http://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/hansard-debates/
| TABLE OF CONTENTS | PAGE | |||
| TABLING REPORTS, REGULATIONS AND OTHER PAPERS: | ||||
| Serv. N.S & Mun. Rel. : Capped Assessment | ||||
| Program, Hon. J. Muir | 4031 | |||
| INTRODUCTION OF BILLS: | ||||
| No. 168, Motor Vehicle Act, Hon. A. MacIsaac | 4032 | |||
| No. 169, Insurance Act, Mr. G. Steele | 4032 | |||
| No. 170, Provincial Parks Act, Mr. W. Estabrooks | 4032 | |||
| No. 171, Palliative Care Strategy Act, | ||||
| Mr. David Wilson (Sackville-Cobequid) | 4032 | |||
| NOTICES OF MOTION: | ||||
| Res. 2326, Manley, Susan Tisley: Artistic Talents - Congrats., | ||||
| Mr. C. Parker | 4032 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 4033 | |||
| Res. 2327, Small, Cecil: Caring Canadian Award - Congrats., | ||||
| Mr. E. Fage | 4033 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 4034 | |||
| Res. 2328, Boys & Girls Club (E. Dart.): Breakfast Fundraiser - | ||||
| Congrats., Ms. J. Massey | 4034 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 4035 | |||
| Res. 2329, Allison, Heather, Cpl. Karri, Alexei: Serv.(Can.) - | ||||
| Thank, Mr. L. Glavine | 4035 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 4035 | |||
| Res. 2330, Pictou Co. Commun. Orchestra: Dedication - Commend, | ||||
| Mr. C. MacKinnon | 4035 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 4036 | |||
| Res. 2331, Queens Co. Timberwolves Floor Hockey Team - Special | ||||
| Olympics Team of Yr., Ms. V. Conrad | 4036 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 4037 | |||
| Res. 2332, Bourgeois, Fred/Atl. Superstore - Kennedy Family: | ||||
| Assistance - Congrats., Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay) | 4037 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 4038 | |||
| Res. 2333, Shad Bay/Terence Bay - SS Atlantic: Memories - | ||||
| Commend, Mr. W. Estabrooks | 4038 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 4038 | |||
| Res. 2334, Environ. & Lbr. - Vancouver/Kentville: Idling | ||||
| Bylaws - Recognize, Mr. K. Colwell | 4039 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 4039 | |||
| GOVERNMENT BUSINESS: | ||||
| GOVERNMENT MOTIONS: | ||||
| ON MOTION FOR SUPPLY: | ||||
| Mr. P. Paris | 4040 | |||
| HOUSE RESOLVED INTO CWH ON SUPPLY AT 9:33 a.m. | 4043 | |||
| HOUSE RECONVENED AT 1:39 p.m. | 4043 | |||
| ADJOURNMENT, House rose to meet again on Mon., Apr. 2nd, at 2:00 p.m. | 4044 | |||
| NOTICES OF MOTION UNDER RULE (32)3: | ||||
| Res. 2335, Banfield, Jack-Palliative Care Patients (C.B. Reg. Hosp.): | ||||
| Compassion - Recognize, Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay) | 4045 | |||
HALIFAX, FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2007
Sixtieth General Assembly
First Session
9:00 A.M.
SPEAKER
Hon. Cecil Clarke
DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr. Wayne Gaudet
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. We will begin the daily routine.
PRESENTING AND READING PETITIONS
PRESENTING REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
TABLING REPORTS, REGULATIONS AND OTHER PAPERS
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.
HON. JAMES MUIR: Mr. Speaker, pursuant to an Act to Amend Chapter 23 of the Revised Statutes of 1989, the Assessment Act, I am tabling the report, the assessment of the Capped Assessment Program.
MR. SPEAKER: The report is tabled.
STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS
GOVERNMENT NOTICES OF MOTION
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
Bill No. 168 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 293 of the Revised Statutes of 1989. The Motor Vehicle Act. (Hon. Angus MacIsaac)
Bill No. 169 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 231 of the Revised Statutes of 1989. The Insurance Act. (Mr. Graham Steele)
Bill No. 170 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 367 of the Revised Statutes of 1989. The Provincial Parks Act. (Mr. William Estabrooks)
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Sackville-Cobequid on an introduction before a bill.
MR. DAVID WILSON (Sackville-Cobequid): I'd like to draw the attention of all members to the gallery. In the gallery today, we have members of the Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association. This association has members from Sydney to Yarmouth and between those areas. I ask the association members to rise and receive the warm welcome of the House. (Applause)
Bill No. 171 - Entitled an Act to Require the Development and Implementation of a Palliative Care Strategy for Nova Scotia. (Mr. David Wilson, Sackville-Cobequid)
MR. SPEAKER: Ordered that these bills be read for a second time on a future day.
While we enjoy the enthusiasm as all legislation moves forward, I would just remind our honourable guests in the gallery that guests are not allowed to respond favourably or negatively to any of the motions or activity on the floor.
NOTICES OF MOTION
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Pictou West.
RESOLUTION NO. 2326
MR. CHARLES PARKER: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Susan Tilsley Manley of Durham, Pictou County, has been an artist from her earliest memories in childhood; and
Whereas Susan is widely recognized for her talent, and dabbles in all types of artwork including acrylic painting, leather work, dying fabrics, sculpture, altered books, and quilting; and
Whereas Ms. Tilsley Manley, while busy as a wife and mother of two small children, has just completed a quilt depicting the images of men in her life - her father, her husband, her son, and her nephew - and is now working on an altered book project on the old Durham bridge;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Susan Tilsley Manley on her many artistic talents, and wish Susan continued success.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. 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 member for Cumberland North.
RESOLUTION NO. 2327
MR. ERNEST FAGE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Cecil Small of Amherst was honoured on February 13, 2007, by the Governor General, Michaëlle Jean, when she presented Cecil with the Caring Canadian Award; and
Whereas Cecil earned this prestigious award for his work with the Amherst Lions Club over the past 47 years; and
Whereas Little League was, and still is, his passion, he also played a major part in constructing the Ernie Landry Ball Park - other club involvement includes a drug awareness program which sponsors a poster contest each year for the past 17 years;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House join me in sending our congratulations to Mr. Cecil Small for his Caring Canadian Award in recognition of his generous community giving.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. 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 member for Dartmouth East.
RESOLUTION NO. 2328
MS. JOAN MASSEY: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas on January 8, 2007, I had the pleasure to attend the Boys and Girls Club of East Dartmouth 5th Annual Community Breakfast fundraiser; and
Whereas the fundraiser was held at the Nova Scotia Community College Akerley
Campus Cafeteria where we were entertained by the guest speaker, Steve Murphy, and had a wonderful breakfast; and
Whereas this fundraiser requires much work by many people who deserve the community's thanks;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate the Boys and Girls Club of East Dartmouth on another successful breakfast fundraiser and thank all those who helped to make it possible.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. 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 member for Kings West.
RESOLUTION NO. 2329
MR. LEO GLAVINE: Mr. Speaker I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas since 1981 Heather Allison, of Aylesford, has continually raised awareness of our men and women serving in war-torn regions; and
Whereas Heather has become an outstanding advocate for families separated by deployment, providing comfort and peace of mind to Canadian Armed Forces members while they are far from home; and
Whereas Heather's daughter, Corporal Karri Allison, has recently returned home to her family after her deployment to Afghanistan;
Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly extend to Heather and to her daughter, Corporal Karri Allison and Karri's son, Alexei, for outstanding service to their country.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. 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 member for Pictou East.
RESOLUTION NO. 2330
MR. CLARRIE MACKINNON: Mr. Speaker I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Pictou County Community Orchestra was founded in 1989, by Allister Fraser and Libby Fraser to provide an opportunity for local musicians to play classical music, the initial conductor being Vesta Mosher and now conducted by Libby Fraser; and
Whereas the orchestra membership has included and does include musicians from Shubenacadie, Tatamagouche, and Antigonish as well as the Pictou County area, ranging in age from teens to seniors; and
Whereas the desire to play string quartet music resulted in the formation of the string quartet, who are regularly sought to play at weddings and community events;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly commend the Pictou County Community Orchestra for their dedication in bringing classical instrumental music to music lovers in northern Nova Scotia, and extend best wishes to this talented group of musicians.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. 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.
[9:15 a.m.]
The honourable member for Queens.
RESOLUTION NO. 2331
MS. VICKI CONRAD: Mr. Speaker I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Special Olympics are such an important part of the lives of some of the residents of Queens County; and
Whereas the Queens County Timberwolves Special Olympics Floor Hockey Team became provincial award winners in January of this year; and
Whereas the 15 athletes and three coaches attended the Sports Celebrities Dinner and Auction recently held at the Cunard Centre in Halifax;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly recognize the Queens County Timberwolves Special Olympics Floor Hockey Team for receiving this Special Olympics Nova Scotia Team of the Year 2006 Award.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. 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 member for Glace Bay.
RESOLUTION NO. 2332
MR. DAVID WILSON (Glace Bay): Mr. Speaker I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the manager of the Atlantic Superstore in Glace Bay assisted a local family to add an addition to their home, making life easier for the family's 18-year-old daughter Carol Anne; and
Whereas Mr. Paul Kennedy and his wife Linda of Glace Bay received a donation in the amount of $20,000 from the President's Choice Children's Charity, which is dedicated to helping children across Canada who are physically or developmentally challenged; and
Whereas Mr. Fred Bourgeois and Atlantic Superstore allow many groups who are looking to raise monies for their local sports teams or charities by bagging groceries and 20 per cent of the money goes toward President's Choice Children's Charity;
Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly congratulate Mr. Fred Bourgeois and Glace Bay Atlantic Superstore for helping the Kennedy family and making life easier for their daughter, Carol Anne.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. 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 member for Timberlea-Prospect.
MR. WILLIAM ESTABROOKS: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas on April 1, 1870, two hundred and seventy-seven souls perished during the sinking of the SS Atlantic in the waters off Lower Prospect; and
Whereas this tragedy and the valiant rescue efforts of local residents are remembered each year by the students of Atlantic Memorial and Terence Bay Schools; and
Whereas community volunteers have demonstrated great initiative in the creation of the S.S. Atlantic Memorial Park and Interpretive Centre in Terence Bay;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly recognize the efforts of all involved in the Shad Bay and Terence Bay area on their continuing efforts to remember the sinking of the SS Atlantic.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. 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 member for Preston.
MR. KEITH COLWELL: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the City of Vancouver passed a bylaw that prohibits parked cars from idling for more than three minutes, in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and
Whereas the city conducted a six-month education and awareness campaign and is now enforcing the bylaw by fining violators with a fine of up to $100; and
Whereas the City of Vancouver is following the lead of Nova Scotia municipal units such as Kentville, which has a similar bylaw, to provide cleaner air and a healthier environment for its citizens;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House of Assembly recognize that Vancouver and Kentville are leading their respective provinces in efforts to protect air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce urban noise, and help their citizens save money on fuel.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. 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.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
GOVERNMENT MOTIONS
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Deputy Government House Leader.
MR. PATRICK DUNN: Mr. Speaker, I move that you do now leave the Chair and the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on Supply unto Her Majesty.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank.
MR. PERCY PARIS: Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to stand in my place today to talk a little bit about Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank. Over the course of the last - what has it been now? - nine months since the election, I know I have risen in my place a number of times and I've talked about all the good things about Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank and spokeN about how fast the riding is growing. One of the main reasons that that riding is growing so fast is because of the people who live there - generations of good people who are attracting more good people.
With development though, do come issues. And I don't want this to be doom and gloom, but it surprises me that in 2007 with such a beautiful riding, one of the nicest and most beautiful ridings - and I'm going to say this side of Cape Breton - with all of its lakes, waterways, and certainly good people, but the riding, when it comes to development and infrastructure money, or I should say lack of, there seems to be a huge discrepancy. It would appear to me that infrastructure has not kept pace with development.
I could go on and I could start off by talking about the schools in the riding. Probably we have one of the nicest schools in the entire Province of Nova Scotia, maybe two of the nicest schools, in Lockview and Ash-Lee Jefferson. These schools are fairly new schools. Ash-Lee Jefferson is probably the most diverse school in the Province of Nova Scotia in terms of the amenities and the services that it offers its students, especially those students with disabilities. Every week I get a phone call from somebody who doesn't live in the area, who's contemplating or thinking about moving into the riding, and the first thing they ask me about is the schools because they've heard so much about Ash-Lee Jefferson.
That's not to take anything away from the other schools that exist in the area, but on the flip side of that, I rose in my place yesterday and I talked about Lockview High. I made a point about Lockview High School in 2007. The point that I made yesterday, and I don't know if I went over, was the fact that in 2007, we have a necessity of a food bank in such a prosperous riding as Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank. Feed Nova Scotia is involved in the school at Lockview High School and through this food bank, every week, there are hundreds of kids who are being fed.
We can stand here and we can boast about that and we can pat one another on the back and say how good that is and how proactive that is, but I think it raises another issue. It raises another concern for me, as a member of the House. It raises the issue of poverty. Here I am talking about poverty in one of the wealthiest ridings in the province and that does raise some concern to me.
Also, when we talked about Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank, we talked about development, I can't help but think about recreation facilities. Again, I want to bring to the attention of the House, and certainly to anyone who may be listening on Legislative TV, that in this riding we do not have one legal ballfield in the entire riding. To me that's a shame. We have individuals and children now, to enjoy recreational facilities, whether it be baseball, whether it be soccer, whether it be ice hockey, they have to go outside of their riding. I have
kids in the riding who play a home game, they are the home team and they are playing in somebody else's recreational venue. Mr. Speaker, to me there is something grossly wrong about that and there is balance here that is just certainly not fair.
When I talked about development - I think we have to keep in consideration a riding that is growing so fast. I spoke yesterday to the Minister of Environment and Labour. Again, one of my concerns is, with the vast development that is going on in this riding, I have a concern with respect to the water table. There are people in the riding whose main source of water coming into their house is from natural water, from either surface water or below-ground water. Some of those people who have been getting their water from these sources for generation after generation, with the rapid development, now these people in the riding don't have water, people who used to get water from underground water supplies. The water has run out.
Now this may be more related to the municipality of HRM, but my point here is one around capacity building and one around partnerships, because as we look at the environment, and even if we stay on the theme of water, for those residents to get HRM water, the minimum amount of dollars that we are looking at is $20,000 per household. I want to repeat that, Mr. Speaker, $20,000 per household.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. Would the honourable Minister of Energy like to take his discussion outside the House? It is too loud and it's interrupting the Speaker's ability to hear.
The honourable member for Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank has the floor.
MR. PARIS: Mr. Speaker, $20,000 per household to have water installed in various areas of the riding is very expensive by any account and $20,000 may be more of a modest amount as opposed - because I know for some households that $20,000 is more like $25,000 or it could even be higher. For those families that are on fixed or modest incomes, that's a lot of money by anybody's account. For us to expect taxpayers who are already footing the bill for so many other things, so many other things in a riding so close to downtown Halifax, that they don't have, I think is an unreasonable expectation.
We have area rates like everybody else in the Province of Nova Scotia. Our area rates just keep going up and up and up. What we are looking for and what we are seeking is a thing called fairness and I mean fairness in the true sense of the word. As we grow and as we develop, what we find is those things that should be growing and developing with us in and around us, it's just not happening. We have also, throughout the Province of Nova Scotia, what is considered an aging population. We have a number of residents in the riding of Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank who are at the age now where they are either retired, considering retirement, or have been retired for some number of years. One of the things that I know, during June 2006, that was on a lot of people's minds as I went door-to-door was the lack of seniors' facilities in the riding. We can build or we can talk about the potential
of building seniors' facilities in other parts of the province but in the riding of Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank there is not one that I would consider adequate housing for seniors.
Mr. Speaker, I think all MLAs in this House have been confronted with the situation where we've had seniors who have been forced - and I say literally forced - to move out of their homes as a result of high taxes, not able to keep up with the assessments and leaving their homes, leaving the homestead after generations and generations of raising families there, under the family names, and they end up in a seniors' facility in either Windsor or Ecum Secum, whatever the case may be. It is by the luck of the draw.
Although I could certainly stand here all day and talk about all the pluses - and there are a number of pluses about Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank and that is why it is growing so fast, so rapidly - but we have to look on the flip side of the coin, we have to take everything into consideration. One of my roles here is to advocate on behalf of, and speak for, those residents. That is why they put me here - those recreation facilities, those seniors' facilities, partnerships.
One of the things that disappoints me very much when I listen to municipal politicians, and I listen to provincial politicians and I listen to politicians at the federal level, is that rightly or wrongly we've got into this habit of playing the blame game. The feds want to blame the municipalities, the municipalities want to blame the province, the province wants to blame - it's the blame game. I often wondered, before I was elected to the House, once the problem is identified, instead of people pointing fingers at one another, why don't we all sit down and just fix whatever the problem is?
[9:30 a.m.]
We want to spend more money pointing fingers back and forth at one another instead of addressing the real issue. One of the things I would hope that is going to happen, certainly over the terms that I am going to be elected to the House, is that we have more collaboration and that collaboration should go even further than just us, as politicians. We don't do enough consultation with the communities. Too often what I hear when we walk into the House of Assembly or we talk to our colleagues, we say we've consulted with the community and this is what the community says.
Usually what that consultation looks like is we as politicians and as MLAs going out to the community and saying this is what we're going to do for you. We've already made up our mind - so that is not true consultation. What I'm looking for is that we do more in the way of consultation with receiving input and doing with, as opposed to doing for.
I'd like to also - within this riding of Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank, and I know we often talk about crime. I can stand here in my place and honestly say that we're probably very, very fortunate in Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank because we don't have a high crime rate. What gets media attention for us, or what certainly gets the attention of the press
and of our neighbours - and I don't know what the police term would be - it is the reaction time, because it is such a large riding and police services are spread out over a wide area, by the time that vehicle, wherever it may be, receives the call, oftentimes it will take 20 minutes for the person to get from one end of the riding to the other end of the riding - and that's with lights flashing and going at a high rate of speed. So the reaction time is one of concern - not that we have a high crime rate, but it's just the reaction time itself.
One of the things I did hear when the House opened was there was going to be more money available for police officers, and I certainly hope that will be reflected in the Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank riding - and I'll probably speak more on that at another session.
When I think about Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank, obviously there are many, many good things about this riding and the fact that it is such a fast and rapidly growing riding speaks volumes for how good a place it is to live, however, taking that into consideration I always look at the flip side of the coin and that's not one of doom and gloom, but it's one dealing with reality. Thank you.
MR. SPEAKER: The motion is carried.
[9:33 a.m. The House resolved itself into a CWH on Supply with Acting Deputy Speaker Mr. Chuck Porter in the Chair.]
[1:39 p.m. CWH on Supply rose and the House reconvened. Mr. Speaker, Hon. Cecil Clarke, resumed the Chair.]
MR. SPEAKER: The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House on Supply reports:
THE CLERK: That the committee has met and made some progress in considering Supply and asks leave to sit again.
MR. SPEAKER: Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
The honourable Deputy Government House Leader.
MR. PATRICK DUNN: Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now rise, to sit again on Monday at 2:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. Following the daily routine, we will go into the Committee of the Whole House on Supply and then Public Bills for Second Reading.
MR. SPEAKER: The motion is for the House to now rise and meet again on Monday at the hour of 2:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The House stands adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on Monday.
[The House rose at 1:40 p.m.]
NOTICES OF MOTION UNDER RULE 32(3)
RESOLUTION NO. 2335
By: Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay)
I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Mr. Jack Banfield, a retired member of the Cape Breton Regional Police was approached by Ms. Lisa Roach, a Grade 8 teacher at St. Michael's Junior High School, to visit her class to explain the details about his very personal project - he has been raising funds to assist palliative care patients of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital; and
Whereas in 1993, the Palliative Care Society provided help for Mr. Banfield's wife, Jeanette, and his family until her passing in July 1994 and at Christmas 1994, Mr. Banfield began his Christmas Gift Project for the palliative care patients; and
Whereas Mr. Banfield has quietly been providing Christmas for the palliative care patients for 12 years;
Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly recognize Jack Banfield for his compassion and generosity over the past 12 years to the palliative care patients for the Cape Breton Regional Hospital and also to Ms. Lisa Roach for helping to bring awareness of this project to her Grade 8 students at St. Michael's Junior High School.
