MR. CHAIRMAN: I believe everyone is here so we can get underway. I think it's customary, for the record, to have the introductions of the members here and perhaps, Michel, if you would like to start.
[The committee members introduced themselves.]
MR. CHAIRMAN: In the standing committee appointments, just make note perhaps that Christa MacKinnon was put in as a new appointment, but actually it's a reappointment. That would be from the Department of Health, physiotherapists.
DR. JAMES SMITH: A non-professional member.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Yes. In the printout it was shown as a new appointment and it's a reappointment.
Is there any business we need to deal with prior to starting to look at the appointments?
MR. DAVID HENDSBEE: Mr. Chairman, just for the record, I think you should acknowledge yourself as the new chairman of the committee.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Yes, I have Mr. Morash to thank for that. I thank him. (Laughter)
MR. KERRY MORASH: Congratulations.
1
MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you. If there is no other business, we can perhaps take a look at the appointments.
MS. MARY ANN MCGRATH: Mr. Chairman, for the Department of Economic Development, specifically the Trade Centre Limited board, I would move the appointment of William Lydon and Stewart McInnes as directors.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The Department of Education.
MR. BROOKE TAYLOR: Mr. Chairman, under the Department of Education, Agricultural College Foundation of Nova Scotia, as a member, I would move the appointment of Leonard Ells. For the Library Board, Annapolis Valley, I move Jennifer Richard as a member.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MR. HENDSBEE: Mr. Chairman, for the Department of Health, I would like to make the following recommendation for appointment to Health Authority No. 2, South West Nova, as a community health board recommendation for a new member, Mr. Melbourne Comeau.
I would also like to make a recommendation for reappointment to the Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapists, Christa MacKinnon. I would like to make those recommendations for the Department of Health.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MR. MORASH: Mr. Chairman, under the Department of Tourism and Culture, the Peggy's Cove Commission, I would like to move the appointment of Marcy Graves as a member.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
I believe that concludes the appointments. Is there any other business?
MR. TAYLOR: Motion to adjourn, Mr. Chairman.
MR. MICHEL SAMSON: Mr. Chairman, I know there is no one here from the Legislative Committees Office. I had telephoned yesterday, just requesting the status of the Police Review Board, I believe that is what it is called. My understanding is that we haven't seen any appointments coming from that board in quite some time. I am just curious what the status of that is, if you as chairman could verify on that issue.
The second issue - looking at the correspondence received from the Minister of Environment and Labour regarding film classifiers, I am curious. I see the response from the minister indicating that they're still trying to determine whether they're going to continue having a provincial Film Classification Board or if they're going to partner up. He noted that they needed to make a few appointments, back in May, to keep it going. What I do find curious is that last month a whole slew of new appointments were made to this board, film classifiers. What I do find a bit bizarre is that the majority of them were new appointments.
I'm curious as to why, so if you as chairman could maybe make an inquiry of the minister again. If it is his intention to have people in place while they're trying to determine what the fate of this board should be, why he would choose to bring in new classifiers who would naturally have to be trained and shown what is required of their position rather than reappointing those who were already there, had experience, were aware of what was required, and who could have continued on until the minister made a final decision on the fate of that. I do appreciate his response, yet he's sending mixed messages by saying he wanted continuity in this board, yet last time he sent names to us for appointment that for the most part had never served on this board before.
His messages are a little mixed and I'm wondering if you could possibly correspond with the minister, asking why new appointments would be made to this board rather than reappointing existing ones. I'm aware personally of a number of existing ones who had asked for reappointment, who are not considered. I'm curious as to why that was the case.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Yes, I would be pleased to check on that and report back at the next meeting. Any other business?
MS. MAUREEN MACDONALD: I move adjournment.
MR. CHAIRMAN: We stand adjourned.
[The committee adjourned at 9:09 a.m.]