HALIFAX, TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2003
STANDING COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES
9:00 A.M.
CHAIRMAN
Mr. Jon Carey
MR. CHAIRMAN: Good morning, I believe everyone is here. Could we start with introductions?
[The committee members introduced themselves.]
MR. CHAIRMAN: We have several appointments to do. Over the past few months we've been doing them en bloc, if that's agreeable we will continue. Mr. Chisholm.
MR. RONALD CHISHOLM: From the Department of Education, Nova Scotia Advisory Board on Colleges and Universities, I so move Jean Flynn as a student member, Darrell M. Rushton as a member and Silvana White as a student member.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Any discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MS. MARY ANN MCGRATH: Mr. Chairman, with the Department of Health, Nova Scotia College of Chiropractors, I so move the appointment of John C. Doyle as a board member.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Any discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
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MR. JOHN CHATAWAY: Mr. Chairman, for the Board of Dispensing Opticians, I so move Thomas C. Burlock, Gregory J. Gillam and Marion Landers as board members.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Is there any discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MR. DAVID HENDSBEE: Under the Department of Health, Health Authority Districts, for District #2, South West Nova, I so move David M. Irvine as a board member; and for District #9, Capital Health District, I so move Robert B. Short as a board member.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Any discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MR. RONALD CHISHOLM: Mr. Chairman for the Department of Health, the Provincial Health Council, I so move Malcolm C. Bennett and Brenda Montgomery as board members.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Any discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MS. MCGRATH: For the Department of Health, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, I so move Robert B. Short as a board member.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Any discussion?
DR. JAMES SMITH: Mr. Chairman, could I just comment. We were maybe in a light moment referring to this identified strong Progressive Conservative being on two boards, but I think for the satisfaction of the committee, it's been cleared why that is so. I attended a meeting last night in Lockeport and there's a crisis in that town, they don't have a physician in that town. There was a time that they had three or four. Anyway, to make a long story short, the council called the meeting and it was chaired by the mayor, but it was interesting that the district health authority refused to send someone there and I just hope there's not political interference to stay away from meetings like that.
It was a well-run meeting. People were genuinely concerned and I think it's our role as an Opposition to raise some flags here when I see appointments like this, but also when I see reactions in the community. District health authorities were supposed to decentralize
our health care system into regions and then a very important meeting that was well run - there were no protesters there. Some of our colleagues might be pleased to know that those communities don't do that and I raise it, a bit political this morning perhaps, but I see it as our role as Opposition, when you smell something and you see something like that, that I have an opportunity to express my concerns here to the committee. I just hope there's not political interference on those types of issues.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Duly noted.
MS. MCGRATH: Regarding the discussion that happened prior to the beginning of the meeting, just so the rest of the committee members know, it was the comment that the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre and the District #9 board are being amalgamated. So, therefore, they have the same members there and the appointment of this gentleman has to be done twice at the moment.
MR. CHAIRMAN: And I think everyone is clear on that.
Any further discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MR. CHATAWAY: For the Department of Tourism and Culture, Peggy's Cove Commission, I so move Darrell C. Fralick and David G. Parkes as members of that board.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Any discussion? 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 Tourism and Culture, Board of Trustees for the Public Archives of Nova Scotia, I so move Judith Fingard as a member of the board.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Any discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
MR. RUSSELL MACKINNON: Mr. Chairman, I certainly would like to congratulate the Conservative caucus. Every one of these appointments are in Tory-held ridings except for one.
MS. MCGRATH: No control over that.
MR. MACKINNON: It's something like school appointments. (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: When you have the majority, you're actually going to have more appointments. (Interruption) Absolutely, so I mean you can't say that there's any hanky-panky going on there.
MR. HENDSBEE: Are there any announcements?
MR. CHAIRMAN: We have the next meeting for July 29th at 9:00 a.m. Any further business?
MS. MCGRATH: Motion to adjourn.
MR. CHAIRMAN: We stand adjourned.
[The committee adjourned at 9:11 a.m.]