HANSARD

NOVA SCOTIA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

COMMITTEE

HUMAN RESOURCES

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

COMMITTEE ROOM 1

Agencies, Boards and Commissions

Printed and Published by Nova Scotia Hansard Reporting Services

STANDING COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES

Mr. Ronald Chisholm (Chairman)

Mr. Brooke Taylor

Ms. Judy Streatch

Mr. Frank Corbett

Mr. Howard Epstein

Ms. Joan Massey

Mr. Keith Colwell

Mr. Leo Glavine

Ms. Diana Whalen

[Ms. Judy Streatch was replaced by Mr. Cecil O'Donnell.]

In Attendance:

Mrs. Darlene Henry

Legislative Committee Clerk

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HALIFAX, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2005

STANDING COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES

9:00 A.M.

CHAIRMAN

Mr. Ronald Chisholm

MR. CHAIRMAN: Good morning, we will bring the meeting to order. For the record we will go around the table with introductions.

[The committee members introduced themselves.]

MR. CHAIRMAN: We have the appointments to the agencies, boards and commissions.

Mr. O'Donnell.

MR. CECIL O'DONNELL: Mr. Chairman, under the Department of Community Services, to the Children and Family Services Act Advisory Committee, I so move Kenneth Deveau as a member.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Mr. Epstein.

MR. HOWARD EPSTEIN: Thank you very much. I'd like to just make a couple of brief comments about the two nominees that we have in front of us for the committee today. This, of course, has been something that has been discussed at our committee on two previous occasions.

What we have today are two nominees to fit the designated category under the Statute of representatives of minority communities inside Nova Scotia. On the face of it, of course, both of the nominees fit the category - and indeed I want to say I'm going to support both of these nominees - one comes to us from the Acadian community, another comes to us with experience at MISA, Metro Immigrant Settlement Association, and is, herself, an immigrant to Canada and is in a position to have a lot of contact with others in other branches of the immigrant community in Nova Scotia. Both of these things fit the category in the Statute.

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On the other hand, there's something as simple as whether either of these individuals have children themselves, we don't know that. It's not stated in their letters and although I'm sure they're both - based on their qualifications - going to do a decent job on the committee, it rather seemed to me that when I read the guidelines in the Statute for the composition of the committee that part of the idea here was, at least impliedly, that the individuals who had come forward in this category representing linguistic or other minorities, might themselves, either at least be parents, or perhaps even be people whose children themselves might have been at risk. At the very least I think what we see is a missed opportunity to appoint people whose parenting skills have been drawn into question.

So that said, I am going to vote for them and will note that we still have one vacancy on this committee, and that's in the category of a parent whose parenting skills have been called into question. I wish to say, again, that the department has in front of it applications from people who clearly fit not just the letter, but the spirit of that category. We know, because some of us on this committee have been approached prior to this by people who have put their names forward, that there are candidates who do fit this category of having their parenting skills called into question and have had direct experience of the committee.

So I hope the department looks favourably upon one of those applicants and comes forward with their name fairly soon, or find someone else who fits that last vacancy that is there for the committee. I will vote in favour of these two but note that it's a little bit of a missed opportunity.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Mr. Taylor.

MR. BROOKE TAYLOR: I was just going to point out to Mr. Epstein that we, too, have heard from a number of people who have applied for this particular committee. Howard, I know you've been following this very diligently, the composition, I'm just wondering, do we not currently have a person drawn from a linguistic minority on the makeup of the current membership of the committee?

MR. EPSTEIN: Do you mean previously appointed?

MR. TAYLOR: Yes.

MR. EPSTEIN: I don't remember, particularly.

MR. TAYLOR: I had thought, or perhaps mis-thought, that we did make reference to that. They fell, I think, under two categories . . .

MR. EPSTEIN: What happened, I think, was the first time we met to discuss this committee, there were two nominees for these two positions. We questioned them at the time because they both worked for Children's Aid Societies and that seemed to give an excessive

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weighting on the committee to people who were part of the system, rather than coming from outside the system. We questioned their names at the time and didn't appoint them. They would have fit the linguistic or minority category, I think, but their names didn't come forward again, these are two different names.

MR. TAYLOR: There's an e-mail circulating too, or at least I know it went to our caucus and the NDP caucus, from a Marilyn Dey. She sent the e-mail out on behalf of herself and a Linda-somebody, I forget the last name. She's claiming that the other person that she sent an e-mail on behalf of as well, has a cultural background that should be given consideration too, she's a card-carrying Aboriginal. Again, it's just a concern that I want to make sure that we do get this right. I think there is opportunity, but . . .

MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Taylor. We have a motion on the floor. Is that en bloc?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: No.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay, just the one name. The first name was Kevin Deveaux.

Are you ready for the question? 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 Department of Community Services, to the Children and Family Services Act Advisory Committee, I so move Mira Musanovic as a member.