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 | |||
| GOVERNMENT NOTICES OF MOTION: | ||||
| Res. 2608, LeBlanc, Bea: CBU - Hon. Deg., | ||||
| Hon. J. Streatch | 2987 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2988 | |||
| Res. 2609, Forsdike, Cpl. Frank - Medals (Posthumous): | ||||
| Family - Salute, The Premier | 2988 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2989 | |||
| Res. 2610, Health - Public Health Workers: Contribution - Honour, | ||||
| Hon. C. d'Entremont | 2989 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2990 | |||
| Res. 2611, Fish. & Aquaculture - Learn to Fish Prog., | ||||
| Hon. R. Chisholm | 2990 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2990 | |||
| INTRODUCTION OF BILLS: | ||||
| No. 167, Technical Safety Act, Hon. M. Parent | 2991 | |||
| No. 168, House of Assembly Act, Hon. L. Goucher | 2991 | |||
| NOTICES OF MOTION: | ||||
| Res. 2612, Sokolow, Alan: East. Reg. Conf. of Coun. of State Gov'ts. - | ||||
| Accomplishments, Mr. D. Dexter | 2991 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2992 | |||
| Res. 2613, Hfx. West - Head for a Cure Event: Leadership - Congrats., | ||||
| Ms. D. Whalen | 2992 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2992 | |||
| Res. 2614, MacIvor, Jim: Real Estate Ind. - Serv. (40 Yrs.), | ||||
| Mr. P. Dunn | 2993 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2993 | |||
| Res. 2615, McElheran/Estabrooks Families: Granddaughter - Congrats., | ||||
| Mr. F. Corbett | 2994 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2995 | |||
| Res. 2616, Amethyst Chap. Order of East. Star - Anniv. (60th), | ||||
| Mr. K. Colwell | 2995 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2995 | |||
| Res. 2617, Stonehouse, Ted - Bell Bay Golf Club Jr. Prog.: | ||||
| Growth - Applaud, Mr. K. Bain | 2996 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2996 | |||
| Res. 2618, École Burton Ettinger Grade 5 Class: Legislature - | ||||
| Interest Thank, Mr. G. Steele | 2997 | |||
| Res. 2619, Glace Bay Miners Bantam Girls Hockey Team - | ||||
| Championship, Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay) | 2998 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2998 | |||
| Res. 2620, Dillman, Elwood: History Publication - Congrats., | ||||
| Mr. C. Porter | 2998 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 2999 | |||
| Res. 2621, LeBlanc, Bea: CBU - Hon. Deg., | ||||
| Ms. M. More | 2999 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3000 | |||
| Res. 2622, Quebec & B.C.: Anniv. Celebrations - Best Wishes, | ||||
| Mr. W. Gaudet | 3000 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3000 | |||
| Res. 2623, MacKinnon, Cindy - Trenton Rep. Vol. Award, | ||||
| Mr. P. Dunn | 3001 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3001 | |||
| Res. 2624, Peters, Melissa - Youth Vol. of Yr., | ||||
| Mr. J. MacDonell | 3001 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3002 | |||
| Res. 2625, W. Kings Envirothon Team: North American Comp. - | ||||
| Success Wish, Mr. L. Glavine | 3002 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3003 | |||
| Res. 2626, Blue Beach Fossil Museum - Support, | ||||
| Hon. D. Morse | 3003 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3004 | |||
| Res. 2627, Aucoin, Craig: Studies - Success Wish, | ||||
| Mr. C. Parker | 3004 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3004 | |||
| Res. 2628, Reid, Tanya/Willman, Leona - Digby Meals on Wheels: | ||||
| Creation - Congrats., Mr. H. Theriault | 3005 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3005 | |||
| Res. 2629, Leah Dugas Mem. Hockey Kids Against Cancer Tournament: | ||||
| Vols./Players/Coaches - Congrats., Hon. C. Clarke | 3005 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3006 | |||
| Res. 2630, Intl. Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (05/17/08) - | ||||
| Recognize, Mr. L. Preyra | 3006 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3007 | |||
| Res. 2631, Morrison, Brittany/McCarron, Kayla - Sydney Acad. | ||||
| Wildcats Basketball Awards, Mr. Manning MacDonald | 3007 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3008 | |||
| Res. 2632, Boudreau, Désiré: Vol. Work - Congrats., | ||||
| Hon. C. d'Entremont | 3008 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3009 | |||
| Res. 2633, Williams Lake Conservation Co. - Anniv. (40th), | ||||
| Ms. M. Raymond | 3009 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3010 | |||
| Res. 2634, Natl. Nursing Wk. (05/12-05/18/08) - Recognize, | ||||
| Mr. S. McNeil | 3010 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3011 | |||
| Res. 2635, Tatamagouche - Lt.-Gov's Commun. Spirit Award, | ||||
| Hon. K. Casey | 3011 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3011 | |||
| Res. 2636, Davis, Taylor - Heritage Intl. Music Fest.: Achievements - | ||||
| Congrats., Mr. P. Paris | 3011 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3012 | |||
| Res. 2637, Surgent, Shirley: Volunteerism - Recognize, | ||||
| Mr. K. Colwell | 3012 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3013 | |||
| Res. 2638, Hutt, Wendy: Bedford Players - Congrats., | ||||
| Hon. L. Goucher | 3013 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3014 | |||
| Res. 2639, Econ. Dev. - Commun. Partnerships: Importance - | ||||
| Recognize, Ms. V. Conrad | 3014 | |||
| Res. 2640, Robinson, Karen: Environmental Achievements - Congrats., | ||||
| Ms. D. Whalen | 3014 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3015 | |||
| Res. 2641, Joudrey, Jeff/Hfx. Camerata Singers - Galaxie Rising | ||||
| Star Award, Hon. J. Muir | 3015 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3016 | |||
| Res. 2642, Butler, Ken: Firefighter Serv. (30 Yrs.) - Congrats., | ||||
| Mr. W. Estabrooks | 3016 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3017 | |||
| Res. 2643, NSCC Kingstec/New Minas Rotary Club: Fundraising - | ||||
| Congrats., Hon. M. Parent | 3017 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3017 | |||
| Res. 2644, NSCC - Reach Out to N.S. Prog.: Staff/Students - Commend, | ||||
| Mr. S. Belliveau | 3017 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3018 | |||
| Res. 2645, MacKinnon, Cindy: Trenton - Rep. Vol. of Yr., | ||||
| Mr. C. MacKinnon | 3018 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3019 | |||
| Res. 2646, Crossley, Alexis - Shattuck-St. Mary's: Scholarship - | ||||
| Congrats., Ms. B. Kent | 3019 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3020 | |||
| Res. 2647, Gallant, Dennis - Chess Championship, | ||||
| Ms. M. More | 3020 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3021 | |||
| Res. 2648, Queens Bantam "B" Hockey Team: Accomplishments - | ||||
| Congrats., Ms. V. Conrad | 3021 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3021 | |||
| Res. 2649, Saito, Tiffany/E. Passage Educ. Ctr.: Spread the Net Campaign - | ||||
| Commend, Ms. B. Kent | 3022 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3022 | |||
| Res. 2650, Josey, Maria - Duke of Edinburgh's Award, | ||||
| Mr. W. Estabrooks | 3022 | |||
| Vote - Affirmative | 3023 | |||
| GOVERNMENT BUSINESS: | ||||
| GOVERNMENT MOTIONS: | ||||
| ON SUPPLY MOTION: | ||||
| Mr. C. MacKinnon | 3024 | |||
| Ms. D. Whalen | 3027 | |||
| HOUSE RESOLVED INTO CWH ON SUPPLY AT 4:30 P.M. | 3032 | |||
| HOUSE RECONVENED AT 8:37 P.M. | 3032 | |||
| ADJOURNMENT, House rose to meet again on Tue., May 13th at 12:00 noon | 3033 | |||
| NOTICES OF MOTION UNDER RULE 32(3): | ||||
| Res. 2651, Justice - Police Officers: Efforts - Recognize, | ||||
| Mr. M. Samson | 3034 | |||
| Res. 2652, W. Hants Jr. HS Girls Basketball Sabres: Season - | ||||
| Congrats., Mr. C. Porter | 3034 | |||
| Res. 2653, Clark's Hbr. Ctr.: Grand Opening - Congrats., | ||||
| Mr. S. Belliveau | 3035 | |||
| Res. 2654, Richardson, Kyle - "No Sex Please, We're British": Role - | ||||
| Congrats., Hon. L. Goucher | 3035 | |||
| Res. 2655, Waterfield, Karen/Bedford Players: Successful Production - | ||||
| Congrats., Hon. L. Goucher | 3036 | |||
| Res. 2656, Saywood, Robin - "No Sex Please, We're British": Role - | ||||
| Congrats., Hon. L. Goucher | 3036 | |||
| Res. 2657, Rolands, Bryn - "No Sex Please, We're British": Role - | ||||
| Congrats., Hon. L. Goucher | 3036 | |||
| Res. 2658, Leahy, Miles - "No Sex Please, We're British": Role - | ||||
| Congrats., Hon. L. Goucher | 3037 | |||
| Res. 2659, Tidgwell, Allan - "No Sex Please, We're British": Role - | ||||
| Congrats., Hon. L. Goucher | 3037 | |||
| Res. 2660, Curley, Jill - "No Sex Please, We're British": Role - | ||||
| Congrats., Hon. L. Goucher | 3038 | |||
| Res. 2661, O'Brien, Adam - "No Sex Please, We're British": Role - | ||||
| Congrats., Hon. L. Goucher | 3038 | |||
HALIFAX, MONDAY, MAY 12, 2008
Sixtieth General Assembly
Second Session
3:00 P.M.
SPEAKER
Hon. Alfie MacLeod
DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr. Wayne Gaudet
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. We will commence the daily routine.
PRESENTING AND READING PETITIONS
PRESENTING REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
TABLING REPORTS, REGULATIONS AND OTHER PAPERS
STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS
GOVERNMENT NOTICES OF MOTION
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Community Services.
HON. JUDY STREATCH: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Bea LeBlanc, long-time executive director of the Cape Breton Transition House Association, received an honorary Doctorate of Law at Cape Breton University's Spring Convocation last weekend; and
Whereas Bea LeBlanc, a humanitarian and advocate for women and children in the Cape Breton area who have been impacted by abuse, will be delivering the convocation address; and
Whereas the Department of Community Services is proud to be a partner with the Cape Breton Transition House Association, making lives easier for women and families;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House join me in congratulating Dr. Bea LeBlanc on her most recent and distinguished honour.
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 Premier.
HON. RODNEY MACDONALD (The Premier): Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas so many young men sacrificed their lives and their future with young families in the Great War of 1914 to 1918; and
Whereas one of those men was Corporal Frank Forsdike who, killed in the line of duty at the front lines in Belgium 92 years ago, left behind a wife and two-year-old daughter, Florence; and
Whereas thanks to the work by the Forsdike family of Nova Scotia and a distant cousin in England, Berwick's Royal Canadian Legion was finally able to present Corporal Forsdike's unclaimed service medals to his daughter, who never had a chance to know him;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House salute the bravery of Corporal Forsdike over nine decades ago and commend his daughter and family for ensuring his memory and well-earned medals have at last found their way home.
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 Minister of Health.
HON. CHRISTOPHER D'ENTREMONT: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas May 12th is Canada Health Day, a day to celebrate health care in Canada; and
Whereas for over 100 years, public health in Canada has helped individuals take care of themselves, their families and their communities; and
Whereas the major advances in life expectancy, overall health and the quality of life that occurred in the 20th Century were the result of public health initiatives such as producing vaccines, clean water, pasteurization, and better living conditions;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House join with me and with health facilities and agencies, community health organizations, and Public Health in honouring the contributions of Public Health and Public Health workers to the optimal health of Canadians and Nova Scotians.
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 Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
HON. RONALD CHISHOLM: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture introduced a program two years ago to promote interest in sport fishing among young people aged eight to 12 in the province; and
Whereas the Learn to Fish program is offered to schools, youth groups, clubs and recreation camps across the province, teaching them how to use a fishing rod, tie knots and attach spinners and bobbers; and
Whereas the youth then get to try their hand at sport fishing at a nearby pond or lake, learning how to bait and set their hook and reel in their catch;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this Legislature recognize the Learn to Fish program provides our youth with everything they need to make sport fishing a memorable activity and that this is a healthy activity that can be enjoyed at any age.
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 Halifax Needham on an introduction.
MS. MAUREEN MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw the attention of members of the House to a new Page we have here today with us. This is Lydia MacDonell, the daughter of the honourable member for Hants East. I would like to extend a warm welcome to her and all of the others. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: We also have several other new Pages and we welcome them as well. (Applause)
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
Bill No. 167 - Entitled an Act to Improve and Promote Technical Safety in the Province. (Hon. Mark Parent)
Bill No. 168 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 1 (1992 Supplement) of the Revised Statutes of 1989. The House of Assembly Act. (Hon. Leonard Goucher)
MR. SPEAKER: Ordered that these bills be read a second time on a future day.
NOTICES OF MOTION
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition.
MR. DARRELL DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Alan Sokolow has served as executive director of the Council of State Governments/Eastern Regional Conference since 1972; and
Whereas under his direction, the Eastern Regional Conference was the first office to gain international associates, including Canada's six eastern-most provinces; and
Whereas his tenure included destruction of the CSG Office in the 9/11 tragedy, funding of a rail passenger service, low-income home energy assistance, farm conservation support, model legislation on electronic waste recycling, and successful support of cross-border trade and tourism;
Therefore be it resolved that upon the occasion of his impending retirement, the Nova Scotia House of Assembly congratulate Alan Sokolow on his many accomplishments as executive director of the Eastern Regional Conference of the Council of State Governments, accomplishments which demonstrate how he has been both a true patriot and a great friend to America's neighbours.
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 Halifax Clayton Park.
RESOLUTION NO. 2613
MS. DIANA WHALEN: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas on April 17, 2008, Halifax West High School was the scene of a spirited assembly where students and family cheered on the volunteers participating in the fifth annual Head for a Cure for the Cancer Society of Nova Scotia; and
Whereas this year's event involved 40 students, staff and police officers who shaved their heads and raised a record $12,000 for the fight against cancer; and
Whereas the event was broadcast throughout the school and was a true demonstration of the amazing spirit at the West, as additional students were inspired by others to step forward and join in the fundraising efforts;
Therefore be it resolved that members of the Legislature congratulate the student council's ministers of volunteerism - Shiva Kale, Nabhan Chowdhury and Betty Eghan - for their leadership in this year's Head for a Cure event, and wish them every success in the future.
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 Centre.
RESOLUTION NO. 2614
MR. PATRICK DUNN: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Jim MacIvor was recognized recently for his 40 years of service in the real estate industry; and
Whereas Mr. MacIvor entered the real estate industry in 1969 and now holds a broker's licence for MacIvor Properties; and
Whereas Jim is a long-time member of the Realtors Land Institute, a candidate of the Canadian Commercial and Investment Institute, and a member of the Canadian Real Estate Association;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Jim MacIvor for his four decades of service in the real estate industry and his honorary membership in the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors.
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 Shelburne on an introduction.
[3:15 p.m.]
MR. STERLING BELLIVEAU: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to take the members' attention to the west gallery. In the west gallery we have four teachers from
Lockeport High School and also from a Quebec high school - I ask them to stand: Anne Slauenwhite, Natalie Williams, Nathalie Gauvin and Martin St-Pierre. We also have 13 Grade 10 students from Lockeport High School and 17 Grade 10 students from Quebec. Please, the House, give a warm welcome to our friends. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Labour and Workforce Development on an introduction.
HON. MARK PARENT: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the indulgence of the House. I didn't see my guests up in the gallery before tabling the bill, but I would like to draw the attention of the gallery to four individuals up in the gallery who worked very hard on this new Technical Safety Act: Robert Cormier, who is director of Public Safety and fire marshal for the province; Dave Wigmore who is risk manager with Labour and Workforce Development; Lia Thibault, who is a policy analyst with Labour and Workforce Development; and then Carol MacCulloch, the president of the Construction Association of Nova Scotia. I'd ask them to stand and receive the warm welcome of the House. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Cape Breton Centre.
RESOLUTION NO. 2615
MR. FRANK CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, this notice of motion falls under the category of "you can pick your friends but you can't pick your grandfather";
I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Estabrooks family of Nova Scotia and the McElheran family of Alberta are pleased to announce the birth of their new granddaughter; and
Whereas Ella Grace was born in Edmonton on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11, 2008; and
Whereas proud parents Trisha and Graeme have made Nancy and Bill McElheran and Carolyn and Bill Estabrooks even prouder grandparents;
Therefore be it resolved this House of Assembly congratulate the McElheran family and the Estabrooks family on the arrival of Ella Grace on May 11, 2008.
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. (Applause)
The honourable member for Preston.
RESOLUTION NO. 2616
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 Amethyst Chapter No. 28 Order of Eastern Star of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island was instituted on January 24, 1948 with 37 charter members and constituted on October 22, 1948; and
Whereas the Amethyst Chapter has been involved in many aspects of the community helping raise funds for many charitable organizations; and
Whereas the Amethyst Chapter celebrated its 60th Anniversary on January 24, 2008 with a banquet;
Therefore be it resolved the members of this House recognize the contributions made by Amethyst Chapter No. 28 Order of Eastern Star over the past 60 years to our communities and wish them every success in the future.
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 Hants West on an introduction.
MR. CHUCK PORTER: Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to welcome to the House today from the Wolfville Rotary Club Mr. Jim Frazee who's here with four international exchange students representing New Minas, Kentville and Windsor and the Halifax area. We have Liang, AnnaLena, Patricia and Kentaro - Kentaro is with the group I belong to in Windsor as a Rotarian. Please stand and get a warm welcome. (Applause)
Also in the gallery this afternoon is a somewhat smaller contingent of kids that came in to watch the hockey game earlier this afternoon between Norway and the U.S. from Hants West and we would welcome all those kids and their parents here as well this afternoon to the Chamber. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Victoria-The Lakes.
RESOLUTION NO. 2617
MR. KEITH BAIN: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Baddeck's Bell Bay Golf Club general manager and head professional, Ted Stonehouse, was recently named the 2007 Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year by the Canadian Professional Golfers' Association; and
Whereas Bell Bay's junior program has seen enormous growth since Ted began work at Bell Bay in 1999 and it now includes 160 juniors from across Cape Breton; and
Whereas the award garnered by Ted was his third national honour in recent years, having been named the CPGA's Golf Club Professional of the Year in 2002, and Merchandiser of the Year in 2003;
Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs in this House of Assembly today applaud the ability and keen awareness of Ted Stonehouse for the significant growth in Bell Bay Golf Club's Junior Program in recent years.
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 Halifax Fairview.
RESOLUTION NO. 2618
MR. GRAHAM STEELE: Monsieur le Président, à une date ultérieure, je demanderai l'adoption de la résolution suivante:
Attendu que la classe d'immersion française de cinquième année de M. Wall à l'École Burton Ettinger à Fairview est en train d'étudier notre système de gouvernement; et
Attendu que la classe a reçu plusieurs visiteurs pour discuter notre système de gouvernement, y compris le premier ministre de la Nouvelle-Écosse et, ce matin, le député provincial de Halifax Fairview; et
Attendu que après une vive discussion ce matin sur le gouvernement minoritaire, des impôts et des priorités, la classe a choisi comme leur priorité la plus importante une nouvelle patinoire, de préférence située sur les terrains publics de Mainland North, et a demandé à leur député de soulever cette priorité à l'Assemblée législative;
Qu'il soit donc résolu que cette Assemblée remercie la classe de cinquième année de M. Wall à l'École Burton Ettinger pour son interêt aux travaux de l'Assemblée, et demande au Ministre de la promotion de la santé de faire attention à la recommendation de la classe pour une nouvelle patinoire, lorsque le Ministre se penche sur la contribution de la Province à la construction de nouvelles installations de récréation sur les terrains publics de Mainland North.
Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Mr. Wall's Grade 5 French immersion class at École Burton Ettinger School in Fairview is studying our system of government; and
Whereas the class has received several visitors to discuss our system of government, including the Premier of Nova Scotia and, this morning, the MLA for Halifax Fairview; and
Whereas after a lively discussion this morning about minority government, taxes and priorities, the class chose as their top local priority a new skating rink, preferably on the Mainland Common, and asked their MLA to raise this priority in the House of Assembly;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly thank the students of Mr. Wall's Grade 5 class at École Burton Ettinger School for their interest in the work of this House and request that the Minister of Health Promotion and Protection take the class's recommendation for a new skating rink into account when he is deciding on the province's contribution to the construction of new recreation facilities on the Mainland Common.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Glace Bay.
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 Glace Bay Miners Bantam Girls hockey team has had an outstanding season; and
Whereas the team competed in the 2008 Nova Scotia Bantam Girls Tier 1 Provincial Hockey Championships in Glace Bay; and
Whereas this was the first time the championship was held in the Glace Bay area, and the event was made sweeter by having the home team win the title;
Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House of Assembly congratulate the Glace Bay Miners Bantam Girls hockey team on winning the 2008 Nova Scotia Bantam Girls Tier 1 Championship and thank the many volunteers who made the event 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 Hants West.
MR. CHUCK PORTER: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Hantsport author Elwood Dillman spoke at a recent meeting of the Hantsport and Area Historical Society on his book All our yesterdays; and
Whereas Mr. Dillman's book deals with growing up in East Hants between 1930 and 1950, with Elwood writing it in hopes of having people understand what it was like to grow up at that time compared to today; and
Whereas in his book Elwood distinctly remembered the old-fashioned Christmas Eve blizzard of 1947 when his parents' house was filled with strangers - a storm that is still discussed today, as it was even larger than White Juan in February 2004;
Therefore be it resolved that all MLAs in this House of Assembly congratulate Elwood Dillman for his penmanship on history and for sharing, with the Hantsport and Area Historical Society, the common values of all Nova Scotians from decades ago.
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 South-Portland Valley.
MS. MARILYN MORE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Bea LeBlanc is the respected and dedicated executive director of the Cape Breton Transition House Association in Sydney; and
Whereas she is committed to improving opportunities and supports for women and children threatened by abuse; and
Whereas her humanitarian and advocacy work has been recognized by Cape Breton University with an honorary degree and invitation to address the 2009 graduating class;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Bea LeBlanc on receiving an Honorary Doctor of Laws, May 10, 2008, by Cape Breton University in recognition of her outstanding leadership and many contributions to her profession and to the community.
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 Clare.
MR. WAYNE GAUDET: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas 2008 is an important year for Nova Scotia, with our province celebrating 250 years of democracy; and
Whereas throughout Canada, Nova Scotia is only one of three provinces celebrating special anniversaries this year; and
Whereas 2008 also marks the 400th Anniversary of Quebec City and the 150th Anniversary of the Province of British Columbia;
Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House of Assembly send their best wishes to our fellow provinces, Quebec and British Columbia, and congratulate them on these important milestones.
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 Centre.
MR. PATRICK DUNN: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Town of Trenton was pleased to present Cindy MacKinnon as its 2008 Representative Volunteer; and
Whereas Ms. MacKinnon was an integral part of the Home and School Association, volunteering at a majority of school events and oversaw sometimes the arduous task of putting together the school yearbook; and
Whereas a working mother who juggles work, family and volunteer commitments with grace, she found time to organize pancake breakfasts for the students of Trenton Elementary and for arranging a visit from Santa Claus during the Christmas season;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House send their appreciation and congratulations to Cindy MacKinnon for her tireless support of the school communities, providing us with yet another example of the vital importance of volunteers in Nova Scotian communities.
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 Hants East.
MR. JOHN MACDONELL: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas no age is too young to begin volunteering to help out in the community; and
Whereas the Municipality of East Hants acknowledges this fact by rewarding a young person every year; and
Whereas on May 9, 2008, Ms. Melissa Peters of Rawdon was recognized as Youth Volunteer of the Year;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Melissa Peters and thank her on her unselfish giving of her precious time to others in need.
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.
MR. LEO GLAVINE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Envirothon is a hands-on environmental education program of the Nova Scotia Forestry Association, emphasizing the importance of natural resource sensitivity and stressing a need to achieve a social, ecologic and economic balance in life; and
Whereas under the guidance of teacher Catherine Crook, West Kings District High School students Macall Robinson, Christa Skinner, Nick Coombs, Breanna Coombs and Sherry Carter represented the school at this year's competition; and
Whereas for the first time in 16 years, West Kings placed first overall, earning the team a spot at the North American competition in Arizona this summer;
Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly congratulate the West Kings Envirothon team on their outstanding accomplishment and wish them success in their upcoming competition in Arizona.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
[3:30 p.m.]
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 Minister of Natural Resources.
HON. DAVID MORSE: Mr. Speaker, I would like to just echo the member for Hants West's introduction to my friend and constituent, Jim Frazee, and the four international students. I just want to point out that Jim and his wife, Daphne, open their home to international students and have for some time. It's great that they do this and it's also great that they bring their guests here today to the Legislature.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Natural Resources.
HON. DAVID MORSE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Sonya Wood owns property at Blue Beach, Hantsport, containing fossils like no other place in the world, revealing the earliest known community of terrestrial vertebrates on earth; and
Whereas Sonya built the Blue Beach Fossil Museum and Research Centre, displaying 350-million-year-old fossils for the benefit of the public; and
Whereas paleontologists, and indeed experts from all over the world, were impressed to learn of the collection of several hundreds of specimens at the museum, citing her museum internationally as "the world's oldest collection of footprints";
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House support this home-based museum in its evolution to a world-class institution.
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 West.
MR. CHARLES PARKER: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Craig Aucoin of Pictou will soon be the first visually impaired person to graduate from the cooking program offered at the Nova Scotia Community College, Pictou Campus; and
Whereas Craig, age 32, and who has been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa for more than 15 years, was assisted in his schooling by specially-designed instruments and by a computer software program that translates his textbooks from written to audio, and by his guide dog, Xerox; and
Whereas Craig has had a dream of becoming physically healthy and, recently, participated in his first triathlon;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Craig Aucoin for following his life dreams and wish him every success as he works toward becoming a chef.
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 Digby-Annapolis.
RESOLUTION NO. 2628
MR. HAROLD THERIAULT: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Digby General Hospital is providing a unique service for the people of Digby; and
Whereas to ensure that all people in the community are able to get an affordable healthy meal, Tanya Reid, a dietitian, and Leona Willman, one of two cooks who operate the hospital cafeteria, have created a Meals on Wheels program; and
Whereas a taxi driver picks up meals from the hospital cafeteria and delivers them throughout the community seven days per week;
Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly congratulate Tanya Reid and Leona Willman on the creation of a Meals on Wheels program for the people of Digby.
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 Minister of Justice.
HON. CECIL CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas in 1993, the Sydney Mines Cancer Society, under the direction of Mr. Gus Walsh, with the support of the Sydney Mines and District Community Centre and the Sydney Mines and District Minor Hockey Association, launched the first annual Hockey Kids Against Cancer Tournament; and
Whereas physical activity, education, fun for the whole family and raising more than $35,000 for cancer research was the aim of this tournament over the years; and
Whereas in 2005, the tournament was renamed the Leah Dugas Memorial Tournament in honour of a very special Sydney Mines girl who was a great supporter of this tournament but lost her fight against cancer at the age of nine;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House join me in congratulating the army of volunteers who produced the 15th annual Leah Dugas Memorial Hockey Kids Against Cancer Tournament and congratulate the players, coaches and volunteers who gladly support this great event.
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 Halifax Citadel.
MR. LEONARD PREYRA: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act recognize the rights of all to be free from discrimination; and
Whereas Nova Scotia is a society open to everyone regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity; and
Whereas in Nova Scotia, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered people and others face discrimination, violence and intolerance because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and there is a widespread general agreement that homophobia and transphobia should not be tolerated;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly recognize May 17th as the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia and commend the Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project and other community groups for their hard work to eliminate homophobia and transphobia.
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 Cape Breton South.
MR. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas two members of the Sydney Academy Wildcats received top honours at the Cape Breton High School Division 1 Basketball League awards night; and
Whereas Brittany Morrison and Kayla McCarron helped lead their team to winning the Highland Region Championship Banner for their school; and
Whereas Brittany was named league MVP, while Kayla was given the Rookie of the Year Award;
Therefore be it resolved that members of the House of Assembly congratulate Sydney Academy Wildcats, Brittany Morrison and Kayla McCarron, on winning these top basketball awards.
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 Minister of Health.
RESOLUTION NO. 2632
HON. CHRISTOPHER D'ENTREMONT: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Monsieur le President, à une date ultérieure, je demanderai l'adoption de la résolution suivante:
Attendu que le 2 décembre 2007, une cérémonie de reconnaissance a été organisée par le Conseil acadien de Par-en-Bas honorant des Acadiens de la région pour leur travail bénévole, leur dévouement et leur promotion de la culture acadienne; et
Attendu que Désiré Boudreau, un enseignant retraité de Wedgeport, a reçu le prix en reconnaissance en 2007 pour les innombrables heures consacrées au travail bénévole et tous les organismes qui ont profité de son dévouement; et
Attendu que M. Boudreau est actuellement président du conseil d'administration du diocèse de Yarmouth, administrateur de l'église St. Michel à Wedgeport, membre du conseil d'administration de la Villa Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, membre du Conseil acadien de Par-en-Bas, ainsi que président de la Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse, entre autres;
Par conséquent, qu'il soit résolu que tous les membres de cette Assemblée se joignent à moi pour féliciter Désiré Boudreau pour son dévouement et le service inestimable qu'il offre à toutes ces associations, ainsi qu'à la communauté acadienne et francophone.
Monsieur le Président, je demande l'adoption de cette résolution sans préavis et sans débat.
Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas on December 2, 2007, the Conseil acadien de Par-en-Bas hosted a banquet in honour of a member of the francophone and Acadian community for their volunteer work, devotion and promotion of the Acadian culture; and
Whereas Désiré Boudreau, a retired school teacher, is a native of Wedgeport, Yarmouth County, who was the recipient of the award for 2007, in recognition of the countless hours and organizations that have benefited from his involvement; and
Whereas he is presently President of the Administrative Council for the Diocese of Yarmouth, Administrator for St. Michael's Church in Wedgeport, board member for the Board of Directors for the Villa St. Joseph-du-Lac, member of the Conseil acadien de Par-en-Bas and is currently President of the Acadian Federation of Nova Scotia, just to mention a few;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House join me in congratulating Désiré Boudreau for the dedication and invaluable service he offers and provides to so many diverse associations and certainly to the francophone and Acadian community.
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 Halifax Atlantic.
RESOLUTION NO. 2633
MS. MICHELE RAYMOND: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the health of urban lakes is often stressed, and with it the health of urban residents; and
Whereas the Williams Lake Conservation Company was founded in 1968, possibly the oldest environmental group in the province, with the intent to fix the 18th Century dam built to serve Lawsons Mills on the Northwest Arm, and to work continuously on the health of the lake; and
Whereas the Williams Lake Conservation Company monitors water quality and levels for the benefit of swimmers, neighbours and wildlife, with particular regard to pollution from road salt and other runoff, working with all levels of government to ensure public access is preserved and development respects the health of the watershed;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate the Williams Lake Conservation Company on its 40 years of groundbreaking work on lake health in Nova Scotia and ensure the province continues to work with the company on determining ownership and responsibility for the historic dam.
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 Leader of the Liberal Party.
RESOLUTION NO. 2634
MR. STEPHEN MCNEIL: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas nurses are the backbone of our health care system and are active in hospitals, schools and communities throughout Nova Scotia; and
Whereas nurses are catalysts for providing solutions and are committed to implementing new approaches and models of care which will improve access to health care services; and
Whereas the 2008 theme of National Nursing Week - Think You Know Nursing? Take a Closer Look - challenges all of us to take a closer look at the vital roles nurses play in strengthening our health care system;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of the House of Assembly recognize May 12 to 18, 2008, as National Nursing Week and acknowledge the many contributions nurses make to our health care system and to the lives of Nova Scotians.
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 Minister of Education.
RESOLUTION NO. 2635
HON. KAREN CASEY: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Village of Tatamagouche in Colchester North is one of four communities in the province being granted special recognition by the Lieutenant Governor; and
Whereas the first Lieutenant Governor's Community Spirit Award for 2008 recognizes communities whose citizens are engaged and active in many aspects of community life; and
Whereas the successful candidates selected from 19 nominations were required to demonstrate the ability to build on the community's uniqueness, showcase citizen participation and community pride, and illustrate how the location is an enduring community;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate the Village of Tatamagouche on being selected for this prestigious 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 Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank.
RESOLUTION NO. 2636
MR. PERCY PARIS: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Lockview High School Senior Concert Band placed first in its class at the Heritage International Music Festival in Boston in April, 2008; and
Whereas band member, Taylor Davis, a Grade 12 student at Lockview, performed a spectacular flute solo in Concert Variations; and
Whereas Taylor Davis won the Senior Band Maestro Award for outstanding solo, musical ability and sensitivity;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Taylor Davis upon her achievements in the 2008 Heritage International Music Festival.
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.
RESOLUTION NO. 2637
MR. KEITH COLWELL: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Shirley Surgent is a long-time resident of Humber Park in Westphal, Nova Scotia; and
Whereas Shirley Surgent became Brown Owl of the 6th Westphal Brownies nearly 40 years ago and under her direction had organized and accompanied the troop on trips all over Nova Scotia and Canada; and
Whereas Shirley Surgent has also canvassed for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society for more than 20 years, umpired girls softball and helped the hot lunch program at the school, as well as assists the St. John's Church Ladies Guild;
Therefore be it resolved that members of this House of Assembly recognize Shirley Surgent for her outstanding volunteerism and encourage her to continue to carry out her kindness for the residents in her community.
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.
[3:45 p.m.]
The honourable Minister of Immigration.
RESOLUTION NO. 2638
HON. LEONARD GOUCHER: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Bedford Players have entertained crowds for 25 years; and
Whereas the 2008 presentation of No Sex Please, We're British starred Wendy Hutt as Susan; and
Whereas Wendy performed in the original Bedford Players presentation 17 years ago and returned to play a leading role;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate and thank Wendy Hutt for her commitment to the performing arts and wish her continued success with the Bedford Players.
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 Queens.
RESOLUTION NO. 2639
MS. VICKI CONRAD: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Port Mouton Bay is considered one of the most spectacular pieces of Nova Scotia's coast; and
Whereas 70 hectares of Carter's Beach is in the final process of being protected land under the Department of Natural Resources; and
Whereas Port Mouton Bay is currently host to a fish farm and the operators of that farm are trying to open a second, much larger fish farm in the same bay which the community is strongly opposed to, wishing rather to explore other avenues for economic development;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly recognize the importance of building partnerships with local communities and working with community leaders to
produce development plans that reflect the values and identities of the communities while building plans for long-term sustainable development in our rural communities.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
I hear several Noes.
The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Halifax Clayton Park.
RESOLUTION NO. 2640
MS. DIANA WHALEN: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas environmental consultant Karen Robinson received the Cole Award in Excellence for Environment and Health at the Nova Scotia Environmental Network Awards Ceremony in January of this year; and
Whereas Karen has been a tireless pioneer in the fight to improve air quality in our public schools and ensure a healthy environment for students and staff; and
Whereas Karen was recognized for her work with Canadians for a Safe Learning Environment and with the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia;
Therefore be it resolved that members of this House of Assembly congratulate Karen Robinson for her outstanding achievement and encourage her to continue her vital work towards a brighter and cleaner environment for us all.
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 Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.
HON. JAMES MUIR: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Halifax Camerata Singers, under the direction of Jeff Joudrey, were recently awarded the Galaxie Rising Star Award, being selected from 130 choirs that the jury believes showed the most potential but did not place first or second in its category at the 17th Biennial Choral Competition; and
Whereas Nova Scotian Jeff Joudrey, founder and Artistic Director of the Halifax Camerata Singers, is highly regarded for his vision, musical leadership and standard of excellence; and
Whereas since 1981, Jeff Joudrey has made his home in Truro where he is the Director of Music at the First Baptist Church and also conducts the nationally renowned First Baptist Girls Choir;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Jeff Joudrey and the Halifax Camerata Singers for earning the Galaxie Rising Star Award and being the first Nova Scotia choir ever to make it to the finals of the national choral competition.
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 volunteer firefighters provide a valuable service in our communities; and
Whereas on April 29th, firefighters and community members on the Prospect Road gathered to recognize 30 years of dedicated service by Ken Butler; and
Whereas Ken Butler has given exemplary leadership for the last three decades to the fire service on the Prospect Road;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate and thank Ken Butler for his 30 years of dedicated service as a firefighter.
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 Minister of Labour and Workforce Development.
HON. MARK PARENT: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Nova Scotia Community College Kingstec Campus and the Rotary Club of New Minas Sunrise teamed up for an annual gala; and
Whereas this year's theme was Turning Wine into Water to raise money for Africa's clean water initiative; and
Whereas 100 horticulture, tourism management and culinary arts students and over 300 guests attended this showcase to raise over $10,000;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate the students of Nova Scotia Community College Kingstec Campus, along with the Rotarians of New Minas Sunrise, for their efforts in making life better for many people in Africa.
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 Shelburne.
MR. STERLING BELLIVEAU: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Nova Scotia Community College staff and students took part in the Reach Out to Nova Scotia program at the Black Loyalist Heritage Society and Museum in Birchtown on October 17, 2007, to tackle projects that needed a helping hand; and
Whereas staff and students performed a variety of landscaping and cleanup tasks within the communities; and
Whereas from Sydney to Yarmouth, about 10,000 people rolled up their sleeves to volunteer their time, skills, energy and knowledge to support their local communities;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly commend the Nova Scotia Community College staff and students for participating in the Reach Out to Nova Scotia program.
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.
MR. CLARRIE MACKINNON: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Pictou East resident, Cindy MacKinnon of Hillside, has served on the Trenton Elementary Home and School organization, helping to raise money for student centred activities and has again agreed to oversee the task of creating the school yearbook; and
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. The chatter is too high. I cannot hear the member speak.
The honourable member for Pictou East, start over.
MR. MACKINNON: Whereas Pictou East resident, Cindy MacKinnon of Hillside, has served on the Trenton Elementary Home and School organization, helping to raise money for student centred activities and has again agreed to oversee the task of creating the school yearbook; and
Whereas Cindy MacKinnon was instrumental in organizing the Trenton Minor Ball Program and continues to run the organization, coaching a minor softball team and a Grade 5 and Grade 6 boys basketball team at Trenton Middle School; and
Whereas Cindy MacKinnon is the Town of Trenton's nominee for the 2008 Volunteer of the Year Award;
Therefore be it resolved that the House of Assembly commend Cindy MacKinnon for her years of volunteer service in the Town of Trenton and congratulate her on being named Trenton's Representative Volunteer of the Year.
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 Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage.
MS. BECKY KENT: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Alexis Crossley is a Grade 8 French immersion honour student at Astral Drive Junior High; and
Whereas Alexis is one of only a few girls playing bantam AAA Hockey in the province and the only girl playing at that level in metro's Central Minor Hockey Federation; and
Whereas Alexis has received an academic-athletic scholarship to the prestigious prep school Shattuck-St. Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly commend Alexis Crossley on her hard work and dedication to the sport of hockey and congratulate her on her scholarship to play hockey with Shattuck-St. Mary's prep school in Faribault, Minnesota.
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 South-Portland Valley.
MS. MARILYN MORE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Team Nova Scotia is composed of 12 youth who will be competing in the 2008 Canadian Chess Challenge in Edmonton, May 17th to May 19th; and
Whereas these 12 youths each won the provincial title in their respective grade level; and
Whereas Dennis Gallant, a Grade 6 student at Hawthorn Elementary School in Dartmouth, will be returning to the Nationals for the second year, having been the Grade 5 Nova Scotian champion in 2007 in Quebec;
Therefore be it resolved that the House of Assembly congratulate Dennis Gallant of Dartmouth for winning his provincial grade championship for the second year and wish him and his teammates all the best at the 2008 Canadian Chess Challenge on May 17th to May 19th in Edmonton, Alberta.
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 Queens.
MS. VICKI CONRAD: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas minor hockey is an important part of the growth of our youth and the Queens Minor Hockey Association works very hard to ensure that minor hockey plays a very large part in the development of youth in their community; and
Whereas throughout the hockey season, many games and tournaments are played both in the players' communities and in many communities in Nova Scotia; and
Whereas at the end of each successful season, the recognition of how well the game was played is recognized at the minor hockey awards celebrations;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly recognize the players and coaches on the Bantam B team in Queens for their wonderful accomplishments throughout the 2007-08 season.
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 Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage.
MS. BECKY KENT: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas in Africa a child dies every 30 seconds from malaria; and
Whereas the Grade 7 students at Eastern Passage Education Centre have been raising money to buy bed nets for families in Africa who are susceptible to this disease; and
Whereas teacher Tiffany Saito is teaching the students about volunteerism and to being more civic-minded and under her direction, 54 students raised money to aid UNICEF's Spread the Net Campaign;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly commend Tiffany Saito and the fifty-four Grade 7 students from Eastern Passage Education Centre for their hard work and determination in raising money in support of UNICEF's Spread the Net Campaign.
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 grandfather, the member for Timberlea-Prospect. (Laughter)
MR. WILLIAM ESTABROOKS: Well, thank you, grandfather from Cape Breton West.
Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Duke of Edinburgh's Young Canadian Challenge is a tremendous program that recognizes the achievements of young people in our communities; and
Whereas Maria Josey, a Grade 10 student of Sir John A. Macdonald High School and a Timberlea resident, has earned the Duke of Edinburgh's Bronze Award; and
Whereas Maria's community service and personal commitment are exemplary;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Maria Josey on her Duke of Edinburgh's Bronze Award, with best wishes in her future endeavours.
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 Halifax Clayton Park.
MS. DIANA WHALEN: Mr. Speaker, I rise today on a point of privilege. Last week in Question Period, I asked a question about the plans for the Mainland Common Recreation Centre and, in his answer, the Minister of Health Promotion and Protection said that he has met with members of the Build it Right group. I have asked the executive of Build it Right if they have met the minister and they've confirmed that they have been requesting a meeting for months and have yet to be granted one.
I believe the minister has misled the House and I believe my rights as a member in this House have been violated. I would ask that you rule on this matter of privilege.
MR. SPEAKER: I'll take it under advisement and will get back to you.
MS. WHALEN: Thank you.
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Deputy Government House Leader.
MR. CHUCK PORTER: Mr. Speaker, would you please call the order of business, Government Motions.
[4:00 p.m.]
GOVERNMENT MOTIONS
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Deputy Government House Leader.
MR. CHUCK PORTER: Mr. Speaker, I move that you do now leave the Chair and that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on Supply unto Her Majesty.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Pictou East.
MR. CLARRIE MACKINNON: Mr. Speaker, I'm delighted to have a little bit of time to talk about the riding of Pictou East at this time. It's an honour for me to represent that riding . . .
MR. SPEAKER: Please keep the chatter down so we can hear the member. Thank you.
MR. MACKINNON: . . . and what I intend to do is speak from the heart for a few minutes about Pictou East. It is a riding that is most delightful to represent, sort of a situation where absence makes the heart grow fonder. I was away from Pictou East for a number of years and, coming back to that riding I really appreciate what it has to offer to me and to my family, and to the other people of Pictou East. So it's a great honour for me to represent that riding.
I'd like to do a virtual tour of the riding and I'll start in the northwest and perhaps move around to my hometown of Westville. Starting with Hillside - Hillside is a community that is in the lee of the Nova Scotia Power Inc. generating station, and certainly Hillside has received more than its share of fly ash over quite a number of years, so I'm going to try to accentuate the positive as I go along here today.
There are some very positive things happening in Pictou East. In Hillside, we're looking at an expenditure for a bag house which is going to cut down on the discharges coming out of the stacks. So $35 million, plus perhaps something in the order of $15 million in an upgrade - it's very, very important to the riding.
While I'm speaking about Hillside, I should mention that Allister MacDonald, the Warden of Pictou County, resides in Hillside. He has had some health difficulties and has been hospitalized for a period of time, and I want to bring the greetings of this House to him. So I certainly appreciate get well wishes to him at this time.
One of the things that is happening in Hillside-Pictou Landing area is, we are looking at a situation where - and I have to thank the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal and also the former Minister of Transportation as well, because on my wish list last year were three bridges. One was the Black Brook bridge, which was actually replaced in 2007. The Gut bridge, between Hillside and Pictou Landing, is currently closed. It closed last week for replacement but I want to make sure the minister remembers on my list is the Thorburn bridge which needs to be replaced very, very badly.
As you leave the Pictou Landing area, you come along into the Little Harbour area and so on. I'm a collector of local books and I would like to bring the attention of the House to a book called Along the Shore of Little Harbour. This book was actually produced by the Little Harbour Community Centre and it was compiled by Marie Cullen, Shirley Aikens and
Margaret Forbes Aikens. Certainly it is one of many books that I have in a collection that I am very proud of - a Nova Scotia collection of history books.
Now I would like to look just a moment at the First Nation. I am very proud to have a First Nation facility in my riding. That is one of the 13 First Nations in Nova Scotia, and it is moving ahead very well. We have a chief there, Chief Ann Francis-Muise, and Chief Ann is in her fourth term of very good leadership in that community. I would like to relate a little story that I found pretty interesting. I went to the First Nation for the opening of the health centre there, a very progressive health centre that has been opened there in recent months. I had been talking to one of the elders and the elder was telling me before that event, that lots of times when the ceremonial drums are beating, an eagle appears. It was really something else that just before I was about to speak at that event, the opening of the health centre, the drums were beating and a huge eagle with a tremendous wing span, was circling over the health centre. I think that is a good omen for that facility as we go into the future.
Now I think we have to talk about tourism a bit as well because, as you go along that shore, we have Powell's Point Park, which the Minister of Natural Resources has had some work done and I commend him. I had been lobbying for the opening of a trail that was closed and that was, in fact, opened. Then we have Melmerby Beach, which is just down the shore, and I lobbied for some work on Melmerby Beach and that was done as well. So I certainly feel good about some of those things that did take place in those tourist facilities. That is, Mr. Speaker, one of the finest beaches in the Province of Nova Scotia and probably on the entire Eastern Seaboard. It's a tremendous facility.
Now I will jump along down the shore and certainly from Pictou Landing to Lismore, there are some great fishing areas for lobster and there's also a herring spawning ground in that area as well.
Probably the member for Shelburne would disagree with me and, certainly, you, yourself, Mr. Speaker - we have areas that claim to have the best lobster, and certainly Main-a-Dieu in your riding is revered as being a place for great lobsters. The Seal Island grounds, where I used to have a place out on Seal Island in Shelburne County, we certainly know there are good lobsters there. But I believe the most succulent lobsters that have ever crawled on the bottom come from the Lismore area. I'm willing to collect lobsters from those other areas and actually have a little group do the testing. I would be prepared to do that, Mr. Speaker, if you would like to round up some for me, and also from Shelburne County, and any other area.
MR. SPEAKER: You're very close to the edge here. (Laughter)
MR. MACKINNON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of my favourite areas in the riding, and there are many of them, are the hills of Ardness and down that way, very close to the Economic Development Minister's riding (Interruption) They crawl up from Lismore -
thank you very much, minister. The situation is that - I better not talk too much about some of these places because I want to try to cover the entire constituency, and I think I only have six minutes left.
Anyhow, we have wind power developments taking place there. We're going to be able to service 7,500 homes. I'm very supportive of Shear Wind and what's taking place there, and support them 100 per cent.
In Linacy, we have to look at the community of Linacy - and in the Department of Transportation and Public Works estimates, I will be after the minister of Transportation and Public Works in relationship to a service road that we need very badly in that area. But I will bounce over that now to make sure that I do have a chance to cover the constituency somewhat. There are also a number of road requests that I was going to mention here but I'm going to save those for the estimates as well. Certainly Sutherlands River and some of these places are different routes that we will be raising in the estimates.
In the Barneys River area, high speed is really needed in Barneys River - Kenzieville area, Marshy Hope and so on. The Minister of Economic Development - as I said earlier, I'm a collector of local books and Marshy Hope is right on the line with Guysborough County as well. There is a book called The Merchant of Marshy Hope, and we don't think of a community like that ever having had a merchant in that community. It's a fascinating local history as well. As I say, I have hundreds of these local histories.
District 13, my old council district, we certainly have to have the bridge replaced there - very, very important. I wanted to mention some road work in relation to the Blue Mountain area and that route, but I'll deal with that in estimates. That's Route No. 347. The Blue Mountain/Garden of Eden area is very, very important; East River St. Marys for blueberries, for recreation around the Garden of Eden Lake and so on, lumbering, farming, very good areas.
I should bring to the attention of the House a book called Garden of Eden then and now. This book was written by the late Margaret MacDonald, who was the wife of a former member of this House, the late Lloyd MacDonald.
The East River Valley area is an area that I love to cycle, go up one side of the river and down the other side of the river, a beautiful area. I've said to the folks out there that over 40 years ago when I was a teenager, I went to Thorburn and I fell in love with a teenager in Thorburn. In recent times, I've fallen in love with the East River Valley. It's just a wonderful place, Mr. Speaker.
Now in the East River Valley, there are a number of kiosks that have been built and I'm supportive of just about everything that goes on in the East River Valley. I'll jump around to my home town of Westville. I want to say that Westville has a tremendous
potential. We are a town that has taken a few knocks recently but it has survived many knocks. It has survived mining catastrophes and all kinds of things over the years. Westville is poised to show some real leadership in Pictou County because at Exit 21 there is all kinds of land there which can be developed. There's all kinds of reclaimed land, a beautiful park behind my office, Mr. Speaker, and much land around that park that is available for commercial and residential development.
Westville has, I believe, the longest continuous Canada Day celebration in Canada. It certainly claims that. I'm working very aggressively with Group Savoie Inc., to try to see that business expanded in Westville and we're looking at perhaps doubling the employment level there. Certainly the Minister of Natural Resources again has been helpful in the dealings that I have had with him, to try to get something going there. I will continue to work with that minister to try to get something done.
I will save all of my road stuff for the estimates because I have a lot to say about roads in Pictou East. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I never realized 15 minutes could go so quickly, I wish I had some more time. Thank you very much.
[4:15 p.m.]
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Halifax Clayton Park.
MS. DIANA WHALEN: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased to rise today for a few minutes as we go into Committee of the Whole House on Supply, to talk about another issue that is of great importance in the riding of Halifax Clayton Park, that is the Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes wilderness area.
Mr. Speaker, some members of the House may not have known but in October of this year, on October 30, 2007, the Province announced that a portion of the Crown lands in the area of the Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes were named as candidates for a wilderness area, under the Wilderness Protection Act. That is an Act that was first brought into the province and passed here in the Legislature in the 1990's under the Liberal Government and, at that time, over 90 sites were identified that should be preserved as special habitat or special areas, environmentally, within our province; 31 were actually moved forward during the short time that we had after the Act was passed.
In the meantime, I think there's only been three or four new candidates - four, in fact, I think new candidates added to that list of protected wilderness areas and this Blue Mountain- Birch Cove Lakes is the most recent to have had that kind of protection.
Mr. Speaker, it's a very important area to Clayton Park and for those who don't know where it is, it begins behind Bayers Lake business park in the Clayton Park riding, one corner of it is there, and it goes back all the way to the Timberlea riding and again, touches on the
Kingswood and Hammonds Plains subdivisions on the other side. There are 4,000 acres in total that are Crown land packages in that area that touch other and are contiguous, although they're not a nice, squared-off area, but they are still touching and could, in fact, all have been preserved.
Mr. Speaker, as it stands, an area of 3,350 acres were set aside to become the Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes wilderness area. Certainly the residents of Clayton Park have been very delighted with that announcement. It's something that many members of the community have taken an interest in, it became quite a topic of discussion in the five years that I've been the MLA for Clayton Park. I will, just by way of background, let the House know that in fact most of us who live particularly in the Clayton Park West area were largely unaware of what lay on the other side of Highway No. 102. You can see woods when you drive in. On one side now, it is all apartments and condominiums and on the other side, it still looks like woods and you can't really see what is there. I think most of us just thought of it in that way, it was just some sort of wild area that most of us didn't know.
It's interesting to know that the people who lived in Rockingham and Clayton Park, growing up in the 1960s and 1970s and perhaps even beyond, had actually known that area well when all of the area - even the area that I live in, in Clayton Park West - was all woods and wilderness. People would hike up there and enjoy the lakes that are in that area, most notably Susie's Lake, which is the one closest to Kent Building Supplies when you are in Bayers Lake Business Park. You can, in fact, walk into Susie's Lake in about 20 minutes from the parking lot where all of the stores are and it makes it very accessible to literally tens of thousands of people, not only in my riding but also in Hammonds Plains and in Timberlea. There is no question that the density of population is much higher in the Clayton Park area and that means there are many more people right there on the doorstep of this wilderness area who can enjoy it.
The public had been asking me - with the fast pace of development through Clayton Park West, it became a topic of discussion - about when the development would actually jump the highway and start on the other side. When I began to look into it, Mr. Speaker, I realized that a great, large swath of that land was Crown-owned. When we looked into it further, we discovered that it was an even better candidate for a wilderness area because it wasn't encumbered by any mining or logging rights. An awful lot of our Crown lands, as the members will know in their riding, may have long-term leases on it which allows some commercial activity like logging or mining. That wasn't the case in these 4,000 acres. They were undisturbed, beautiful wilderness. There are over 20 lakes and wetlands in that area and, as I say, they look rugged and beautiful when you go to visit them. They are really just a short hike from where many people live.
The area has traditionally been enjoyed by hikers and more recently by mountain bikers who have built some really challenging, in fact hair-raising trails, where they have drops and jumps and leaps that they take their bikes through. I would be a little nervous to
even walk in that area but they are willing to take their bikes in. It is also very popular with canoeists, and the group Canoe Nova Scotia actually has it in their maps of areas to go in the province. What makes it particularly notable is that within the area designated for the wilderness park, you can put your canoe in and do a complete loop of the lakes there, with a few portages, all within a day. So you can go in - in an urban area, with a canoe - and be in the wilderness for a whole day and come back to your original spot to come out again. So that makes it very unique. There are very few places you could do that and no other places within the HRM urban area. So people who canoe really appreciate it as well.
Mr. Speaker, this has been an area that, as I say, for many years, the local residents have appreciated and hiked to. Some parts of the privately-owned lands nearby are owned by the Sisters of Charity who have always valued the land over the years, have taken their students to that area for hikes and for field trips. It has been used by other students in the area for their embellishment of the science program while they go up and just do some of their experiments and studies in the area.
I had the privilege of walking in there in September with a group of community members as part of our ongoing activity of having regular hikes to the area so that people who live in Clayton Park, particularly the newcomers to our riding, get a chance to know how to get in there themselves, make use of the area and really enjoy it for the value that it has. As we all know, having some natural land in our vicinity helps people with healthy living, with activity and it is certainly a bonus, Mr. Speaker, for the environment.
As I say, on that hike in September, we had one woman who had not been back there for 50 years and remembered going there as a student of Mount Saint Vincent's Academy, when they had a high school academy on the site of Mount Saint Vincent University. So it's a place that is very dear to many people. In the campaign to have that area designated a wilderness area, many residents of Clayton Park and beyond in HRM wrote letters of support, which really brought it to the attention of the government so that they would give it some proper consideration.
This particularly area, Mr. Speaker, was designated as the number one hot spot in the Public Lands Coalition, which is a coalition of environmental organizations, one of which is the Ecology Action Centre - and probably the driving force for that group is the Ecology Action Centre. They've looked at public lands around the province - those are Crown-owned, government-owned lands - to say where are the best candidates for preservation and for protection.
They had actually designated Blue Mountain - Birch Cove as their number-one hotspot, the main reason being that development from all sides was moving at such a tremendous pace that the value of the land was going up every year - you know, probably every few months the land was escalating in value, and that made it evermore attractive for
the government to trade the land, to trade them to developers or to trade them for other priority lands in the province.
There had been a number of occasions where that was considered, where in fact it looked attractive. One of them was when the province decided ultimately to buy the land at Cape Split that was owned by the Annapolis Group. There had been a proposal at the time to trade off and give many hundreds of acres of the Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes area to the Annapolis Group so they could continue developing - which they do a good job of - in return for Cape Split, which is another very important property for the Province of Nova Scotia and for the people of Nova Scotia, but that land trade did not take place. Ultimately the province decided to purchase Cape Split and that left intact the 4,000 acres of Crown land that we had at Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes.
Mr. Speaker, the temptation was ever there because it was valuable, and there are priorities of the government that that land could have been used to lever and to become a trading piece. So we are very delighted that it has in fact been taken off the table by this designation as a wilderness area and that it will no longer be traded off for other priorities that may be brought to the table. We think that it is a very precious resource for all the people of HRM and the province, and as our city grows this will become a true gem for the people who live here and are able to, within a short bus ride, reach the entrance to that park.
Mr. Speaker, that does bring us to the question of how this wilderness area is going to be developed. One of the points again that's quite notable - for those who don't know the area and would like a better sense of it - it is 20 times the size of Point Pleasant Park. That is a very significant piece of property when you consider, as I say, the pristine nature of it - the beauty and the number of lakes that are available. People go and swim there, in the winter there are those who go up and skate on the lake - although I have not done that in the winter - but it's a beautiful place for camping, hiking and enjoying natural wilderness.
I think the benefit has not been lost on the community; they understand the importance. They wrote letters and, as I said, there were some wonderful ones written by students at Park West School when their teacher brought all of Grade 7 from that school - they were actually here last week, the Grade 8 classes - but it's a big school, and all Grade 7, a couple years ago, walked into that area, tied it into their science project, and then came back and did something I think was very interesting, Mr. Speaker. They tied it into social studies and public action, and they wrote letters to Premier Hamm - at the time it was Premier Hamm - and really called on him and encouraged him, implored him, to please designate this area as a wilderness for future generations to enjoy. Their letters are not only charming, but they're very moving.
It's exciting to see that those young people have had the best lesson possible in democracy - and that being a subject we're celebrating this year, Mr. Speaker - because they not only had the opportunity to see it themselves, to do their own democratic action by
writing to their representatives and writing to the Premier, but then to actually see it come full circle and know that their lobbying and their involvement actually helped to make a change and a difference in our province. Make it something - you know, really save something that's of great value for their children and for future generations to enjoy.
I believe that for all members of the House this is a very important thing that we've taken this step, and I honestly believe in another generation or so we'll be amazed that we've kept that much public land available for natural environment so close to the homes of so many people. It will be a wonderful, wonderful jewel in HRM's crown. So I think that all of us can be very proud of that - and I do think, while I'm speaking, it's important to thank the Minister of Environment. The current Minister of Environment was very receptive to the idea of preserving this land; he was aware of it prior to becoming minister and he actually moved on it. As I said, I began by prefacing my remarks to say that only three properties had been designated as wilderness areas since 1999 when the government changed, and so that is since the Progressive Conservative Government had been in power, we had 31 properties initially designated. This is an opportunity that I hope the government will look at. I know there are many communities that have special lands that are owned by government that may be candidates for this kind of preservation. I do thank the minister for listening and for reviewing that file.
There is controversy around a proposed road that will bisect it and I believe that's why the boundaries were chosen as they were. There's about 700 acres that were not captured of the Crown lands in this particular package. We do believe the most beneficial lands are there, the lands that are bordering on most of the lakes and actually provide that complete canoe loop that I spoke of.
Mr. Speaker, we certainly want to celebrate the idea that this has gone forward and I want to thank the community members who worked so hard to see it happen. Certainly Raymond Plourde from the Ecology Action Centre is known to many of us for his work in public lands preservation. He was very much involved. Chris Miller, who I think is now working with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness and is actually a young man who grew up in the Rockingham area and knew that very well, he worked hard on it. As did Du?an Soudek I'll have to look his name up, he's the head of Canoe Kayak Nova Scotia - and Wendy and Bob McDonald, who are active with the Field Naturalist and with the Halifax Northwest Trails Association, which is our local trails association.
One of my concerns and interests as we go forward is, how those lands are actually going to be managed and controlled - how we'll get access for the public. Right now, there are no proper parking areas or entrance points to get in and some of them are very dangerous. People actually park along Highway No. 102 and walk into the park area, into this wilderness area from there and that's a dangerous spot to be entering from.
What we do want to see is consultation begin soon with the public. We believe the public knows the area well, there are a lot of people that can contribute and help with that conversation and we are looking forward to consultations beginning. Right now the government Web site says simply that there will be some consultation, but it will be announced when it's going to begin. I know there is an interest and an animation in the community about the opportunity we have here and people want to participate. I encourage the government to begin those consultations soon because there's an awful lot we need to do to make the lands accessible and available to our public. Thank you.
MR. SPEAKER: Order please. We will take a short recess in order for the minister to get ready for estimates.
The motion is carried.
[4:30 p.m. The House resolved itself into CWH on Supply with Deputy Speaker Mr. Wayne Gaudet in the Chair.]
[8:37 p.m. CWH on Supply rose and the House reconvened. Mr. Speaker, Hon. Alfie MacLeod, 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 progress and begs leave to sit again.
MR. SPEAKER: Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
The honourable Deputy Government House Leader.
MR. CHUCK PORTER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That concludes the government's business for today. I move that we adjourn, to meet again tomorrow from 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m.
After the daily routine and Question Period we'll move into Committee of the Whole House on Supply. Following that, Public Bills for Second Reading: Bill Nos. 120, 126, 127, 130, 131, 133, 148, 151, 156 and 163.
MR. SPEAKER: The motion is that the House do rise to meet again tomorrow at 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried. See you tomorrow.
[The House rose at 8:40 p.m.]
By: Mr. Michel Samson (Richmond)
I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Canadian Police Week is dedicated to increasing awareness and recognition of policing services while reinforcing the ties between police and the community; and
Whereas Police Week is also an opportunity to honour police officers for the public safety and security they provide to their communities; and
Whereas May11 to May 17, 2008, is recognized as Canadian Police Week;
Therefore be it resolved that the members of the House of Assembly recognize the efforts of the brave men and women serving as police in our communities and help to make their constituencies aware of the great work police officers are doing.
By: Mr. Chuck Porter (Hants West)
I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the West Hants Junior High School Girls Basketball Sabres had an impressive 2007-08 season under the capable leadership of head coach Kevin Newcombe, his wife Janet, and the team's assistant coach Rae Ann Fletcher; and
Whereas Head Coach Newcombe stressed hard work and basketball sense, always wanting his team thinking while they were on the floor; and
Whereas the Sabres went 5-0 and won the New Glasgow Junior High Girls Invitational in early February, while also competing in Sydney, Hebbville, playing a few games at home before advancing to the Western Zone Regionals in Middleton the last week of February to win a pair of games and take the Western Zone Regional Junior Girls Basketball Championship for 2007-08;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this Legislature compliment Kevin and Brenda Newcombe, and assistant coach Rae Ann Fletcher, for their outstanding guidance in
leading the West Hants Junior High Sabres Girls Basketball team to the 2007-08 Western Zone Regional Junior Girls Basketball Championship.
By: Mr. Sterling Belliveau (Shelburne)
I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Clark's Harbour celebrated the grand opening of the Clark's Harbour Centre on Wednesday, March 26, 2008; and
Whereas the majority of funding, of which $267,363 came from the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, and $183,903 through ACOA, $172,255 from the Town of Clark's Harbour and $39,599 from the Clark's Harbour Friends of the Library; and
Whereas the centre also houses a community meeting facility, offices, a visitor's information centre, new library and council chambers;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate the Town of Clark's Harbour on the grand opening of the Clark's Harbour Centre.
RESOLUTION NO. 2654
By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)
I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Bedford Players, from April 24 to May 10, 2008, showcased their Spring production, the brilliant comedy No Sex Please, We're British; and
Whereas this production, directed by Karen Waterfield of the Bedford Players, was attended by hundreds of residents of Halifax Regional Municipality; and
Whereas he Bedford Players have through this production again shown their tireless dedication to their fans and have left an incredible mark on the arts throughout HRM;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Kyle Richardson for his role in the successful play No Sex Please, We're British.
RESOLUTION NO. 2655
By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)
I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Bedford Players, from April 24 to May 10, 2008, showcased their Spring production, the brilliant comedy No Sex Please, We're British; and
Whereas this production, directed by Karen Waterfield of the Bedford Players, was attended by hundreds of residents of Halifax Regional Municipality; and
Whereas the Bedford Players have through this production again shown their tireless dedication to their fans and have left an incredible mark on the arts throughout HRM;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Karen Waterfield and the Bedford Players on another successful production.
RESOLUTION NO. 2656
By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)
I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Bedford Players, from April 24 to May 10, 2008, showcased their Spring production, the brilliant comedy No Sex Please, We're British; and
Whereas this production, directed by Karen Waterfield of the Bedford Players, was attended by hundreds of residents of Halifax Regional Municipality; and
Whereas the Bedford Players have through this production again shown their tireless dedication to their fans and have left an incredible mark on the arts throughout HRM;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Robin Saywood for his role in the successful play No Sex Please, We're British.
RESOLUTION NO. 2657
By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)
I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Bedford Players, from April 24 to May 10, 2008, showcased their Spring production, the brilliant comedy No Sex Please, We're British; and
Whereas this production, directed by Karen Waterfield of the Bedford Players, was attended by hundreds of residents of Halifax Regional Municipality; and
Whereas the Bedford Players have through this production again shown their tireless dedication to their fans and have left an incredible mark on the arts throughout HRM;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Bryn Rolands for her role in the successful play No Sex Please, We're British.
RESOLUTION NO. 2658
By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)
I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Bedford Players, from April 24 to May 10, 2008, showcased their Spring production, the brilliant comedy No Sex Please, We're British; and
Whereas this production, directed by Karen Waterfield of the Bedford Players, was attended by hundreds of residents of Halifax Regional Municipality; and
Whereas the Bedford Players have through this production again shown their tireless dedication to their fans and have left an incredible mark on the arts throughout HRM;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Miles Leahy for his role in the successful play No Sex Please, We're British.
RESOLUTION NO. 2659
By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)
I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Bedford Players, from April 24 to May 10, 2008, showcased their Spring production, the brilliant comedy No Sex Please, We're British; and
Whereas this production, directed by Karen Waterfield of the Bedford Players, was attended by hundreds of residents of Halifax Regional Municipality; and
Whereas the Bedford Players have through this production again shown their tireless dedication to their fans and have left an incredible mark on the arts throughout HRM;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Allan Tidgwell for his role in the successful play No Sex Please, We're British.
RESOLUTION NO. 2660
By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)
I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Bedford Players, from April 24 to May 10, 2008, showcased their Spring production, the brilliant comedy No Sex Please, We're British; and
Whereas this production, directed by Karen Waterfield of the Bedford Players, was attended by hundreds of residents of Halifax Regional Municipality; and
Whereas the Bedford Players have through this production again shown their tireless dedication to their fans and have left an incredible mark on the arts throughout HRM;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Jill Curley for her role in the successful play No Sex Please, We're British.
RESOLUTION NO. 2661
By: Hon. Leonard Goucher (Immigration)
I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Bedford Players, from April 24 to May 10, 2008, showcased their Spring production, the brilliant comedy No Sex Please, We're British; and
Whereas this production, directed by Karen Waterfield of the Bedford Players, was attended by hundreds of residents of Halifax Regional Municipality; and
Whereas the Bedford Players have through this production again shown their tireless dedication to their fans and have left an incredible mark on the arts throughout HRM;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Adam O'Brien for his role in the successful play No Sex Please, We're British.
