HANSARD

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STANDING COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES

Mr. David Wilson, Glace Bay (Chairman)

Hon. David Morse

Hon. Christopher d'Entremont

Mr. Chuck Porter

Mr. Charles Parker

Ms. Joan Massey

Mr. Percy Paris

Mr. Michel Samson

Ms. Diana Whalen

In Attendance:

Ms. Jana Hodgson

Legislative Committee Clerk

Mr. Gordon Hebb

Legislative Counsel

HALIFAX, TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2008

STANDING COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES

9:00 A.M.

CHAIRMAN

Mr. David Wilson (Glace Bay)

MR. CHAIRMAN: We're ready to start - is everybody ready? We have enough so let's call the meeting to order, please, and start with the usual introduction of members for the record.

[The committee members introduced themselves.]

MR. CHAIRMAN: As usual, there's just one piece of correspondence which we'll deal with - oh, I'm sorry, and our new clerk. Would you like to introduce yourself, please.

MS. JANA HODGSON: I'm Jana Hodgson from the Legislative Committees Office.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Welcome aboard, by the way. Darlene will keep a close eye on you. (Laughter)

There's one piece of correspondence that we have but first if we can, as is the case during this time of year, we deal only with agency, board and commission appointments at these meetings. So if we can start, please, with the Department of Community Services, Children and Family Services Act Advisory Committee. Mr. Morse.

HON. DAVID MORSE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd be pleased to nominate Mirjana Musanovic as a member of the Children and Family Services Act Advisory Committee.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Any further discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

Round Table on Early Childhood Development - there are two appointments. Mr. d'Entremont.

HON. CHRISTOPHER D'ENTREMONT: I'd like to move the appointments of Sandra Doucette and Debra Reimer.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Any further discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

The Department of Health Promotion and Protection, Nova Scotia Gaming Foundation. Mr. Porter.

MR. CHUCK PORTER: Thank you. I so move Jim MacCormack as chair and member, and Gary Grant and Dave Whiting as members of the Gaming Foundation of Nova Scotia.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Any further discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

The Department of Justice, Human Rights Commission. Mr. d'Entremont.

MR. D'ENTREMONT: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. This one is an important commission for me, as my father-in-law had been a member before passing away, so it's always good to see some new members here. Actually, one of them is another acquaintance of mine, Norbert Comeau, so I'd like to move the appointment of Norbert Comeau and Narayana Swamy.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Any further discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

The Municipal Board of Police Commissioners for the Town of Annapolis Royal. Mr. Morse.

MR. MORSE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to move the appointment of Rion Microys as a member of the Municipal Board of Police Commissioners for the Town of Annapolis Royal.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Any further discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

MR. MORSE: Mr. Chairman, I think I'm supposed to leave the room at this point in time.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Yes.

MR. MORSE: Before I go, if there are any questions about the two candidates, I'll try to answer them but it would not be appropriate for me to vote on them.

MR. CHAIRMAN: I agree, Mr. Morse.

There are two appointments for the Department of Natural Resources, Shubenacadie Canal Commission. Mr. Porter.

MR. PORTER: I so move Maurice Rees and Robert White as appointments to the Shubenacadie Canal Commission.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Any further discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

There is one piece of correspondence that you have in front of you which is a letter from the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Dexter, with a request to this committee about a possible appearance before the Standing Committee on Human Resources, to deal with the issue of gas and dash thefts. We can deal with it at this time, or if you'd prefer, where members are absent, to deal with it with a full complement here at the committee, it's up to yourselves. Any discussion on the letter itself? Mr. Porter.

MR. PORTER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would agree with yourself - we should move it maybe until we have a full committee for a good discussion. Having said that, I think that this is more broad than gas and dash. We've had other instances within the Province of Nova Scotia with such things and threats to employees, other than the gas issue. So maybe there's a broader discussion to be had than just the gas and dash issue, as it pertains to this sort of thing, and the safety of our workers.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Is there any further discussion on it? There was another piece of correspondence we dealt with not too long ago regarding - I think we have to clarify a little bit as to exactly what our mandate is on this committee and who should be appearing before it, or whatever, but I'd like a full complement of members here to have that discussion any further. If you agree with that, then we will sort of delay this until that time.

We will be back to full meetings in September so we could possibly do it - not the next meeting, but the meeting after that. In the meantime, have we acknowledged Mr. Dexter's correspondence? If we could do that, a letter of acknowledgement that we have received it and that we are willing to take a look at it and deal with it at a future time but not until we have a full committee meeting, which will be sometime in September, so Mr. Dexter knows we're not ignoring him on the issue altogether.

Also, I do have a request, but not in writing, from Mr. Bernie MacKinnon with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality Fire Services. It's not just for the Cape Breton Regional municipal fire service, it's on a province-wide basis as to fire training and standardized training for firefighters in this province. He'd like himself and several people to appear before this committee to deal with that issue. I'd also like, if we could, at another date, to deal with that and to make a decision as to whether or not we should hear that presentation as well.

Is there any further business this morning? A motion to adjourn.

MR. D'ENTREMONT: I so move.

MR. CHAIRMAN: The meeting is adjourned, thank you very much. I think we've set a record.

[The committee adjourned at 9:09 a.m.]