HANSARD

Printed and Published by Nova Scotia Hansard Reporting Services

STANDING COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES

Ms. Becky Kent (Chairman)

Mr. Gordon Gosse

Mr. Mat Whynott

Ms. Pam Birdsall

Mr. Jim Morton

Hon. Michel Samson

Ms. Kelly Regan

Hon. Christopher d'Entremont

Hon. Richard Hurlburt

[Mr. Jim Morton was replaced by Mr. Leonard Preyra.]

[Ms. Kelly Regan was replaced by Ms. Diana Whalen.]

In Attendance:

Ms. Jana Hodgson

Legislative Committee Clerk

Mr. Gordon Hebb

Chief Legislative Counsel

HALIFAX, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2009

STANDING COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES

11:00 A.M.

CHAIRMAN

Ms. Becky Kent

MADAM CHAIRMAN: I call the meeting to order. At this point if we could ask people to introduce themselves for the record, so we can see who is in attendance, I'd appreciate it.

[The committee members introduced themselves.]

MADAM CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. On our agenda today we have agencies, boards and commissions, a pretty simple agenda, so it shouldn't take us too long. We don't have any committee business, so we'll move forward on that.

We'll start with the Department of Agriculture, the Farm Loan Board, if we could have a motion. Mr. Whynott.

MR. MAT WHYNOTT: I so move that Stephen Healy be appointed as vice-chair/member of the Farm Loan Board of Nova Scotia.

MADAM CHAIRMAN: Is there any discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

The Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Ms. Birdsall.

MS. PAM BIRDSALL: I so move that Peter Bessey, Paul Bradley, Malcolm Fraser, Joy Laking, Shirlee Medjuck, Ann L. Petley-Jones, and Christopher Webb be appointed as members of the Board of Governors of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.

MADAM CHAIRMAN: Is there any discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

The Gaelic College Foundation Board of Governors. Mr. Preyra.

Sorry, Mr. Gosse, did you want to do that one? Forgive me - a look of despair on his face. (Laughter)

MR. GORDON GOSSE: Well, thank you very much. I so move that Julia Anne Covey and Ken MacAskill be appointed as governors of the Gaelic College Foundation Board of Governors.

MADAM CHAIRMAN: Is there any further discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

The Peggy's Cove Commission. Perhaps, Mr. Preyra, you could do that one.

MR. LEONARD PREYRA: I would be happy to, Madam Chairman.

I so move that Murray Garrison and John Parker be appointed as members of the Peggy's Cove Commission.

MADAM CHAIRMAN: Is there any further discussion? Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

So that would be that, thank you all very much. At this point I guess we can consider, just to put it on your schedule, January 26^th - yes, Ms. Whalen.

MS. DIANA WHALEN: I would like to make a motion, Madam Chairman, about the next meeting in January if we could, or for an upcoming meeting, and it's really on behalf of Kelly Regan, the member for Bedford-Birch Cove. She has asked me if I would make the motion that we invite Laura Campbell and Catherine Levy, two parents who have been advocates for children with special needs - and you may have heard of them, they've spoken

at the Halifax Regional School Board and have been garnering a lot of support from other parents of children with special needs about supports in the school system, and the point was made that it would be very good for them to come to this committee because it's a compelling issue, it's important at this point in time, I think, looking forward to next year and what supports will be in place in the schools.

MADAM CHAIRMAN: So if I could ask a question - we had our agenda-setting and witness-setting meeting last month and I know Kelly was part of that, so we wouldn't normally deal with that at this meeting. I think we certainly could bring that back in January, I would be happy to do that. I guess I would ask that you take back a question to Kelly, to come forward maybe in January, whether she would be substituting that presenter - because we have them set, the four set for the year - substituting what the Liberals had chosen.

MS. WHALEN: I understand, Madam Chairman, but I do notice that it says "tentative" for January, which is why I thought there could be an opening to look at what I think is a very compelling issue right away - and I know there are many issues that you look at here in this committee, which I have sat on for many years, but I think special education is very important that we look at right away.

MADAM CHAIRMAN: Thank you. I will just ask for clarification on "tentative". (Interruption) Okay, so it's our understanding that it's noted as tentative because we haven't gotten confirmation back from them whether or not that date is going to work for them, okay, so relative to that.

Mr. Preyra, did you want to offer . . .

MR. PREYRA: Yes, thank you, Madam Chairman. I'm not a member of this committee, but is this not something that would go to Community Services in the normal course?

MADAM CHAIRMAN: We are mandated to deal with education, so any witnesses around education - I think that's why the member is bringing that forward.

MS. WHALEN: Exactly, and over the years as a member of this committee I have certainly seen many times that we have education issues here and special needs, and education is important.

MADAM CHAIRMAN: Yes, that fits the purview of this committee.

Mr. Gosse, did you want to comment?

MR. GOSSE: I just wanted to know, have the requests gone out for the next committee meeting, the Department of Labour and Workforce Development? So the requests have gone out to them.

MADAM CHAIRMAN: Yes. So I think at this stage that it's a reasonable request. I think that in January when we come back again with a consideration from the Liberals as to whether or not they're going to switch them, switch that out, and if the committee is in favour of that - would anyone else like to comment on that? No, okay.

MS. WHALEN: I really wanted to make a strong case that we put it forward now and the committee could make that decision today if they were willing, but if there's no willingness then we can postpone it I suppose. I know it's one of those things that is important now because we're looking at a budget year coming forward, and it's an opportunity to be talking to the Department of Education and so on about the importance of it.

MADAM CHAIRMAN: Mr. Whynott.

MR. WHYNOTT: My understanding - and I'm just looking to the clerk for clarification - the recommendation from the Liberals, their choice would be for February?

MS. JANA HODGSON (Legislative Committee Clerk): What the Liberal caucus chose was the Department of Education, School Capital Construction Program, and that was slotted for February.

MADAM CHAIRMAN: I think that we can . . .

MR. WHYNOTT: I think if the Liberals are willing to switch the School Capital Construction with . . .

MADAM CHAIRMAN: With February, it's still well in time for consideration around the budget.

MS. WHALEN: Maybe we could just defer that motion. Can we leave the motion on the table for next month, can we do that? I've made the motion, I'm not going to push that we have a vote on it today.

MADAM CHAIRMAN: Absolutely. If the committee is in agreement to that, it certainly makes sense to me.

MS. WHALEN: I'll give the clerk the names.

MADAM CHAIRMAN: Again, with a message back to her that it would be a switch.

MS. WHALEN: Certainly Kelly's interest was to have them as soon as possible. I'll leave that in the motion.

MADAM CHAIRMAN: Good, thank you very much. Again, January 26^th. Outside of that, I hope you all have a very happy and safe holiday season and get some rest, recharge your batteries, and we can all come back and do some great work after the new year.

The meeting is adjourned.

[The committee adjourned at 11:12 a.m.]