HALIFAX, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2003
STANDING COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES
9:00 A.M.
CHAIRMAN
Mr. Jon Carey
MR. CHAIRMAN: Perhaps we can come to order, it's 9:05 a.m. I don't know if the NDP are going to have representation, but we will start at any rate. I just have one note here, that Mr. MacKinnon is replacing Mr. Boudreau from the Liberal caucus on this committee. We welcome Mr. MacKinnon. Perhaps we could start with introductions.
[The committee members introduced themselves.]
MR. CHAIRMAN: I think we have 26 or 27 appointments. The procedure, the past few meetings, has been to do them en bloc. If that's agreeable to everyone, we can continue that way. If there are objections, could you state them? Very well, we will start with the nominations.
MR. BROOKE TAYLOR: Mr. Chairman, under the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Crop and Livestock Insurance Commission, I so move Avard Bentley and Robert Michael Walsh as members.
MR. CHAIRMAN: It has been moved. Is there any discussion?
DR. JAMES SMITH: I see Mr. Jon Carey and Rhonda, would that be Mrs. Carey?
MR. CHAIRMAN: That would be.
DR. SMITH: As references for Mr. Walsh.
MR. CHAIRMAN: That's right.
1
DR. SMITH: What's the machinery dealer? Would that be . . .
MR. CHAIRMAN: That was me. Prior to my . . .
DR. SMITH: That was you, okay.
MR. CHAIRMAN: I owned John Deere dealerships.
DR. SMITH: Did you? Thanks, Jon. I thought you were in another business. Anyway, he saw fit to use you as a reference, and I respect that and that should be noted.
MR. CHAIRMAN: I think he did that a couple of years ago. I don't know if he would do that now or not, Jim. (Laughter)
DR. SMITH: Don't put him down as doubtful yet.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MR. CECIL O'DONNELL: Mr. Chairman, under the Department of Community Services, Annapolis Valley Housing Authority, I so move Wendy McLean and Barry Schaffner as board members.
MR. CHAIRMAN: So moved. Is there any discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MR. JOHN CHATAWAY: Mr. Chairman, under the Department of Community Services, Cobequid Housing Authority, I so move Frederick C. Smith as a board member.
MR. CHAIRMAN: So moved. Is there any discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
DR. SMITH: That was Frederick Smith, was it?
MR. CHAIRMAN: Frederick Smith.
DR. SMITH: I'm just wondering - I will just say it once here - a lot of these seem to have no other members, no current members, and yet if you look at the criteria, if you add it up, it would be seven or more on the boards. I noticed the other ones as well, so I will just sort of say it once. Are these boards depleted? Can I ask that question?
MR. CHAIRMAN: I was given no information that they were.
DR. SMITH: The Cobequid Housing Authority that Mr. Smith is being appointed to, there are currently no members on this board. The criterion is for several members: two provincial representatives, four tenant representatives and four municipal representatives.
MR. CHAIRMAN: My understanding was that - of course, they're all just volunteer - these boards were all active. I can have that checked.
MR. RUSSELL MACKINNON: The only question I have, Mr. Chairman, is, when an individual or individuals appear before the appeal process, historically there were always three members, three citizens who were appointed to these boards, who would sit in on the hearings as a tribunal panel. Now it's only one person that sits in. The reason why I raise this as a bit of a concern, because I appeared on behalf of one constituent not too long ago - I believe I raised it during budget estimates last week - and two days later she had received a letter that she had been rejected. Now, given the timing and the location, it would appear to me that by the time she got in her car, from leaving the Provincial Building, that decision had been dictated, because she received it the second day in the early morning mail. I'm just wondering, is there something in the policy that now restricts these panels to only one person sitting at a time rather than a three-person panel?
MR. CHAIRMAN: I'm not familiar - Darlene, do you have any information on that?
MRS. DARLENE HENRY (Legislative Committee Clerk): No, I can try to find out for you.
MR. CHAIRMAN: We could check that out for you.
MR. MACKINNON: I hate to say it, but based on the information I had on this particular case, it's almost as if a decision had been made before we started. That's perhaps an unfair statement to make, but it's a feeling that we had from the time we started until the time we left.
MR. CHAIRMAN: We could undertake to investigate for you and get back to you.
MR. MACKINNON: Because a three-person panel, you have three different perspectives that would, I think, be refreshing and consistent with other panels, both provincially and federally.
MR. CHAIRMAN: We'll check and get back to you on that.
MR. MACKINNON: Thank you.
MR. TAYLOR: I was just wondering, Dr. Smith raised the concern about Frederick Smith, is there any relationship between the two names? They're spelled the same.
DR. SMITH: The honourable member had to think about that.
MR. TAYLOR: I mean, it's a fairly uncommon surname.
DR. SMITH: I would say that I think once we had maple syrup in a lumber camp.
MR. TAYLOR: In Cumberland County? That's where he's from.
DR. SMITH: Yes, we later went to a pancake supper in the United Church in Southampton. So, I don't know if that's a conflict of interest or not.
MR. TAYLOR: That's reason enough for me to support him.
DR. SMITH: Yes, he's a good man. He's a friend of Guy Brown's.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Let's move forward with the next appointment.
MR. CHATAWAY: Under the Department of Community Services, Eastern Mainland Housing Authority, Diane R. Hayman as a board member.
MR. CHAIRMAN: So moved. Any discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MR. TAYLOR: Mr. Chairman, under the Metropolitan Housing Authority, I so move Armand F. Pinard as a board member.
MR. CHAIRMAN: It's been moved. Any discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MR. O'DONNELL: Under the Tri-County Housing Authority, I so move Geraldine Brittain and Reverend Sidney Snow.
MR. CHAIRMAN: It's been moved. Any discussion? Dr. Smith.
DR. SMITH: I just want to point out that there's no resumé in the handout for either of those two people.
MR. O'DONNELL: Reverend Snow has been a member of that for . . .
DR. SMITH: If they're just reapplying, maybe they don't need one.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Darlene informs me that Reverend Snow, I guess he told them he was in his 80s and that he felt that a resumé at this point in his life spoke for itself.
DR. SMITH: I think we have to give him that respect.
MR. CHAIRMAN: The other lady, her resumé appeared in the body of her letter of application, according to the information that we have.
MR. CHATAWAY: For the Department of Community Services, the Board of Examiners in Social Workers, I so move Don Brown and Vince P. Garnier as members.
MR. CHAIRMAN: It's been moved. Any discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MR. O'DONNELL: Did we approve Reverend Sidney Snow and Geraldine Brittain?
MR. CHAIRMAN: Yes, I think the question came after the . . .
DR. SMITH: I'm not prepared to take a member of the cloth on at 80 years of age.
MR. TAYLOR: Under the Department of Education, Training Completion Fund Working Committee, I so move Garry Barker, Denis Cassivi, Connie Miller and Harold Richardson as members.
MR. CHAIRMAN: It's been moved. Any discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MR. O'DONNELL: Under the Department of Energy, I so move William D. Hogg as a board member.
MR. CHAIRMAN: It's been moved. Any discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
[9:15 a.m.]
MR. CHATAWAY: Under the Department of Environment and Labour, the Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Council, I so move John K. Kennedy, Cliff Murphy, Deborah Ryan, David F.J. Davis and Darlene Grant Fiander as members of that board.
MR. CHAIRMAN: It's been moved. Mr. MacKinnon.
MR. MACKINNON: Mr. Chairman, from a personal perspective, I can certainly support all but the second candidate for reasons that are already noted in the Department of Labour. So I will be voting against the appointment of Mr. Cliff Murphy.
MR. CHATAWAY: Mr. Chairman, would you like to do the names on an individual basis?
MR. MACKINNON: Please.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Perhaps, yes.
MR. CHATAWAY: Okay, the Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Council, the first name is John K. Kennedy.
MR. CHAIRMAN: It's been moved. Any discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MR. CHATAWAY: The second name is Cliff Murphy.
MR. CHAIRMAN: It's been moved. Yes, Mr. Taylor.
MR. TAYLOR: A question on Mr. Murphy. I know Mr. MacKinnon has raised concerns about this alternate member. I think it's a reappointment, is it not? I'm just curious, the member said he had some personal information and I don't know if he wants to share it publicly.
MR. MACKINNON: Well, it's already public information and it's before the Department of Labour. As you know there are some outstanding issues surrounding Mr. Murphy and the Cape Breton Building & Construction Trades Council. So I believe the minister should be able to speak to that. Personally, I would not recommend this appointment, but that's my opinion and I will let the matter stand at that. It's on public record.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MR. CHATAWAY: Mr. Chairman, I so move Deborah Ryan as a member of the Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Council.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Can we do the three (Interruptions)
MR. MACKINNON: A question on this, is this the same Deborah Ryan that Nova Scotia Power fired because she had spoken out on occupational health and safety issues, and then was reinstated after the hearing?
MR. CHAIRMAN: I'm not familiar with Ms. Ryan. It wasn't part of her resumé.
DR. SMITH: It doesn't show in her resumé. She's a resident of Dartmouth East. I don't know her personally, but I have no reason not to support her unless there's other information.
MR. MACKINNON: I think she's a good representative, I'm just curious as to . . .
DR. SMITH: She's a lab technician and a lab assistant by profession, it says in her resumé. It's unlikely she worked with Nova Scotia Power.
MR. CHAIRMAN: There was no indication of that. Do the three, John.
MR. CHATAWAY: Okay. Deborah Ryan, David F.J. Davis and Darlene Grant Fiander, there are three names for this motion.
MR. CHAIRMAN: It's been moved.Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MR. TAYLOR: Mr. Chairman, under the Department of Tourism and Culture, the Gaelic College Foundation Board of Governors, I so move Joseph MacNeil and Kenneth H.J. Verner as governors.
MR. CHAIRMAN: It's been moved. Any discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MR. O'DONNELL: Mr. Chairman, under the Nova Scotia Museum Board of Governors, I so move Stephen Leahey as a board member.
MR. CHAIRMAN: It's been moved. Any discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MR. CHATAWAY: Mr. Chairman, I so move to the Public Archives Board of Trustees, Anne M. Crossman, Dr. Brian D. Tennyson and Dr. Peter L. Twohig.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Mr. MacKinnon.
MR. MACKINNON: Yes, I wanted to speak in support of Dr. Brian Tennyson. He is a constituent of mine and fairly well respected and has considerable credentials.
DR. SMITH: Just fairly, or well?
MR. MACKINNON: Extremely well.
DR. SMITH: I think that's important for the record to reflect that.
MR. CHAIRMAN: The motion has been made. Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
That concludes our appointments. Any further business? I call for an adjournment motion.
MR. TAYLOR: I so move.
MR. CHAIRMAN: The meeting is adjourned.
[The committee adjourned at 9:21 a.m.]
STANDING COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES
Agency, Board and Commission Appointment
During the April 30, 2003 meeting of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, the following board was moved and discussed with all members in agreement of the appointment, however due to committee oversight the appointment was not voted upon.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES
Tri-County Housing Authority
Geraldine Brittain Member
Rev. Sidney Snow Member
We, the Standing Committee on Human Resources, hereby approve the following board as of Rule 60 of the House of Assembly Act, for the above Form"A",
_________________________ ____________________________
Mr. Jon Carey, MLA Ms. Maureen MacDonald, MLA
__________________________ ____________________________
Mr. Ron Chisholm, MLA Mr. Graham Steele, MLA
___________________________ ____________________________
Ms. Mary Ann McGrath, MLA Dr. Jim Smith, MLA
___________________________ ____________________________
Mr. Brooke Taylor, MLA Mr. Russell MacKinnon, MLA
___________________________
Mr. John Chataway, MLA
Date__May 1, 2003___________________________
The orginal amendment is signed by all Members of the Committee and is presented in hard copy form.