MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. Before we begin the daily routine, I would like to advise the House that the winner of the late show is the honourable member for Cape Breton South.
Therefore be it resolved that this government is soft on tobacco smuggling which plays into the hands of the criminal element in society.
We will begin the daily routine.
PRESENTING AND READING PETITIONS
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Shelburne.
MR. CECIL O'DONNELL: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to table a petition on behalf of the honourable member for the beautiful Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley on behalf of the people of Truro. The operative clause reads, "We, the undersigned citizens of Nova Scotia, believe deer-jacking compromises public safety and is unfair to wildlife." I have affixed my signature.
MR. SPEAKER: The petition is tabled.
PRESENTING REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
TABLING REPORTS, REGULATIONS AND OTHER PAPERS
STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Transportation and Public Works.
HON. RONALD RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling in the House, at the conclusion of these introductory remarks, Nova Scotia's Primary and Secondary Highway Systems: 10-year Needs.
Mr. Speaker, I am tabling in the House and releasing to the public a 10 year needs assessment of Nova Scotia highways and road systems. The news is not encouraging. Nova Scotia's highways, roads and bridges will need a $3.4 billion investment over the next 10 years simply to maintain the province's transportation infrastructure at acceptable levels. Our highway infrastructure did not get this way overnight and the reality is it will takes years and these billions of dollars for us to make the improvements we need.
The Department of Transportation and Public Works is responsible for over 23,000 kilometres of roads and highways and more than 3,800 bridges. Improvement needs are clear, when the condition or operation of a highway or bridge deteriorates to a level that is considered unacceptable. This 10 year needs assessment looks at a number of program areas critical to maintaining and building a reliable highway infrastructure including our highway system expansion needs, pavement preservation, new paving requirements, and gravel road and bridge repair and rehabilitation. Mr. Speaker, the numbers are literally staggering.
Here are the pressures. There are over 600 kilometres of highway twinning, new lane and interchange construction that should be done within the next 10 years, and the cost of this is over $780 million.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. Order. It is very difficult to hear the honourable Minister of Transportation and Public Works as he makes his statement.
MR. RUSSELL: Yes, Mr. Speaker, it is important. On our 100-Series Highways, over 1,600 kilometres, or 85 per cent of the system, will require resurfacing during that time, at a cost of $301 million. On our secondary roads, it is much more daunting; some 9,000 kilometres will require repaving at a cost of $1.13 billion.
Mr. Speaker, new paving is something we couldn't even consider these past couple of years, but that doesn't mean that the need is not there. There are some 550 kilometres of gravel-surfaced subdivision roads waiting for cost-shared paving between the province and the municipalities. Our share of this cost is $27.5 million. There are 9,600 kilometres of
gravel road that require rehabilitation, at a cost of $300 million, over the next 10 years. Bridge repair and rehabilitation is projected to cost some $560 million.
Mr. Speaker, the pressures have compounded after years of neglect, due to underfunding. In the early 1980's, highways alone accounted for approximately 10 per cent of budgetary expenditures. In recent budgets, an expanded department has seen its budget reduced to an average of 5 per cent of total provincial spending. Through the early 1990's, we also had the benefits of cost-shared agreements with the federal government. All of those agreements have now expired.
Mr. Speaker, as time passes, the needs of aging infrastructure increases. The gap between the funding that is needed and that which will likely be available is too large to be closed over the short term. Continued low levels of funding will mean our emphasis will continue to be placed on highway system preservation, with virtually no ability to consider highway system expansion. To meet all our preservation needs and even consider minimal expansion plans, our capital budget must approach the $150 million level plus funding commitments for the rural impact mitigation fund.
Our strategy for meeting the immediate and critical demands is fourfold. First we continue to engage our federal counterparts in negotiations for a new national highways agreement. This funding will allow the province to further leverage its highway infrastructure spending to undertake more work with limited resources.
Secondly, on the provincial level we have increased spending this year reversing a downward trend in funding for roads and highways. Over the next three years, as promised by this government, we will add a further $31 million to the capital budget.
Thirdly, efficiency will continue to be sought from within the Department of Transportation and Public Works. This includes technical efficiencies found, for example, in the use of road salt, finding more efficient asphalt binder and quality control that will continue to save the department money.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is our support of the government's fiscal agenda. I believe as this government continues to make the right decisions around getting its fiscal house in order, a reduced debt and deficit will mean more financial resources for our infrastructure.
The measures we are taking will not be enough to prevent the continued deterioration of our highways and bridges, but it is a beginning. This government is committed to addressing this issue and I am personally determined to work towards meeting the needs in this 10 year assessment. This document provides us with a means to more clearly focus on what must be our funding priorities.
We must understand that highways are a critical component of highway infrastructure, contributing to our economic and social well-being. In our recent economic growth strategy, Opportunities for Prosperity, infrastructure is identified as one of the seven strategic directions that will be used as tools to develop our economic sectors.
There are many Nova Scotians who appeal to us each day to address their road and highway infrastructure problems. Today I share with all of you the tremendous challenge we face in addressing the critical needs, in upgrading, maintaining and providing new infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing population. We must exhibit responsible strategic planning and patience as we make these decisions for the future. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Shelburne on an introduction.
MR. CECIL O'DONNELL: Mr. Speaker, in the east gallery today we have visiting with us from Shelburne, Linda Bower, Ann Harris and Denise Smith who are home support workers who work for VON Shelburne and Barrington. I would ask that they rise and receive the warm welcome of the House. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: Welcome to the home support workers and all visitors in the gallery. We do wish that you enjoy your stay this afternoon. Another introduction with the indulgence of the honourable member for Timberlea-Prospect.
The honourable Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.
HON. ANGUS MACISAAC: Mr. Speaker, I also would like to introduce home support workers who work for the Antigonish and Area Homemakers, Lila Beshong and Martha MacIntyre. I would ask the House to wish them a warm welcome. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: Again, welcome to our guests.
The honourable member for Richmond on an introduction.
MR. MICHEL SAMSON: Mr. Speaker, I also have the pleasure, in the east gallery today, we are joined by three Richmond County home support workers. They are Shannon McGrath who is the President of Local 33, Richmond County; she is also the Chairman of the Occupational Council of the Home Support Workers for the NSGEU and on the Board of Directors of the NSGEU. We also have Mary George and Connie LeBlanc who are also home support workers from Richmond which I would claim as one of the best home care support societies there is in this entire province. I would ask them to stand up and get the warm welcome of the House. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: Staying with introductions, the honourable member for Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury.
MR. RONALD CHISHOLM: Mr. Speaker, I also would like to welcome a couple of home support workers from Guysborough County, Carolyn Furlong and Greta Roberts are in the gallery and I would ask the House to give them a warm welcome. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Kings West on an introduction.
MR. JON CAREY: Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to also introduce from the beautiful Annapolis Valley the home support workers of the VON, Ruth Meister and Audrey Power. If they would stand and be recognized. (Applause)
[12:15 p.m.]
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Opposition on an introduction.
MR. DARRELL DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to introduce to the House the home support workers who work for the Dartmouth Community Homemakers, Mary-Ann Walker and Maria Thomas. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Health on an introduction.
HON. JAMES MUIR: Mr. Speaker, from the Colchester County VON home support workers, who are also visiting with us, in the east gallery, Pauline Oldford and Judy Davis. I would ask the House to give them a warm welcome. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Tourism and Culture on an introduction.
HON. RODNEY MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to recognize a home support worker from my area, West Bay Road, Inverness County, Harriet Petrie. I would ask Harriet to rise and receive the warm welcome of the House. (Applause)
If I also might mention, Mr. Speaker, that Patricia Campbell will be joining us later as well. She is also a home support worker.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Finance on an introduction.
HON. NEIL LEBLANC: Mr. Speaker, I would also like to make an introduction for home support workers who work for the Yarmouth-Argyle Home Support Services who are here with us today, Pam Troop and Rachel Ouellette. I would like to offer the same courtesy of the House and welcome them here today. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Cape Breton North on an introduction.
MR. CECIL CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, it is also with great pride that I rise today to welcome members of the Cape Breton County Homemakers. In the gallery we have Emily Ervin, Vickie Mackie and Clarence Brown. I would ask them to stand and receive a welcome from the House. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Hants East on an introduction.
MR. JOHN MACDONELL: Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to introduce home support workers who work for Home Support Central, serving Halifax and Hants Counties. They are Cheryl MacPherson and Kandi Laffin. I would ask the House to give them a warm welcome as well. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: Are there any further introductions? No more introductions but, indeed, greetings to all visitors in the gallery this afternoon.
The honourable member for Timberlea-Prospect in reply to the Minister of Transportation and Public Works' statement.
MR. WILLIAM ESTABROOKS: Firstly, Mr. Speaker, I would like to know how many moments I have to reply to this, because I have some comments to make with some substance as opposed to what we just heard.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member has approximately seven minutes.
MR. ESTABROOKS: Well, let me begin, Mr. Speaker, by saying, and members and visitors in this gallery know today that there is no such road as that in Nova Scotia. There is no such bridge in the areas that we come from, yet this glossy pamphlet and another non-announcement about nothing that is going to happen to the road system in this province over the next year.
Mr. Speaker, this was the year of the road. I want, if I may - it was announced as the year of the road by that bunch over there - quote from the Truro Daily News, with the location of Stewiacke, here is the headline, Province falling down on road repairs, April 5, 1999, by the good MLA for the beautiful Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley. When that member sat on this side and replied in this way - and I am going to table this document for the minister. If we are going to deal with issues on roads, then let's deal with what the past has as the history of this problem.
Let's have a look. This is what that good member said at that time, "The Progressive Conservative policy on highway improvements calls for all monies generated, either through provincial gasoline taxes or registry of motor vehicle revenues, to be spent on our highway
system." Now that's a member that I agreed with at the time. My question is where is that plan now? That is in the blue book. Where is the priority list promised in year two, the non-partisan road priority list? Nothing. That has not been forthcoming.
Instead, do you know what we heard here a few moments ago? We heard about the highway system preservation. Mr. Speaker, you preserve jams, you preserve beans. You don't preserve highways. Are we talking historical, heritage routes here? We are talking about highway improvements with highway plans; we are not talking about preserving highways. That, in my opinion, is an example of the lack of leadership on this issue, an announcement that took the time of this House - you said seven minutes - when we expect that good minister to stand in his place and fulfill some of the commitments that he made, one that we remind him of all the time.
I don't have it in my hand here, but I know that when we went through that summer election there was a plan for an immediate twinning of Highway No. 101 in that member's constituency. Now those are the types of answers that people across this province want to hear. I would like to quote the last line because the last line is the only thing worth quoting out of this non-announcement. "We must exhibit responsible strategic planning and patience as we make these decisions for the future." Patience and prayers that there is no serious accident involving a tourist bus on Highway No. 333, and prayers for good weather when the winter comes around so we don't have to blow the budget.
Is that any way to have a plan for highways in this province, Mr. Speaker? I know in your heart of hearts, like that good member for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley said when he was in Opposition, we will - there is the operative word, we will - have a plan when this Progressive Conservative Party forms government. Well they are over there now. This is the year of the road. The year of the road, so what road is it? Is it the Prospect Road? The Minister of Tourism and Culture, does he have any influence in Inverness? Is it, after all, the road that is travelled up to the beautiful Highland National Park? Is that the year of the road? Is it the year of the road some of these people from Queens County have to put up with? Is it the year of the road in some of the other areas across this province? We don't know, but instead I have to reply, as I have done time and time again, to a Minister of Transportation and Public Works who stands in his place and basically says nothing, says nothing, about what the commitments were.
The tourism season is soon to be upon us. People are coming from across North America. You know, we should advertise, come to Nova Scotia and travel on the worst roads in North America, because I know, Mr. Speaker, and you know, some of the areas you are in, there is no such road as that in Timberlea-Prospect and if the member for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley can find a road of that calibre in his - because he was the member who stood so passionately for so many hours - and I used to willingly listen to his point of view - he used to say, there is not, I believe, a tablespoon of pavement, or was it a teaspoon of pavement?
AN HON. MEMBER: A teaspoon.
MR. ESTABROOKS: A teaspoon of pavement. Well, Mr. Speaker, we have more excuses. We have more delays. We have no leadership. We have no strategy. We have no non-partisan plan, but I know why I am here and I am here because I am going to continue to embarrass that minister and embarrass that government, and I am here because I am going to continue to speak up about the plans that are needed for roads across this province now. Not tomorrow. Now. Thank you. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Cape Breton West.
MR. RUSSELL MACKINNON: Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer my condolences to the minister because it is quite obvious he is living in a time warp. That is essentially what this announcement is all about. I would draw to the attention of the honourable minister the fact that this report, if not a report very similar in nature, was prepared in February 1999 and on the minister's desk since that period of time. It would be quite interesting to see the difference between what is in this particular glossy report and what, in fact, was compiled back almost two years ago. So why the minister is now trying to make an announcement of something that was already dealt with is beyond my comprehension. So I do extend my sympathies to the minister on that the time warp.
Mr. Speaker, what is even more disappointing is the fact that, under this minister's watch, three major highway agreements expired. The Highway Improvement Program, better known as the HIP program, expired. Given the fact that the federal government put over $103.5 million into that program, there is still no new agreement. The Strategic Highway Improvement Program, known as the SHIP program, that expired. That was a $70 million federal government contribution. That expired under this minister's watch. Again, the Atlantic Freight Transition Program, the AFTP, another multi-year agreement with $85 million of federal money, that expired under this minister's watch.
So the question I would raise, Mr. Speaker, is what has this minister done to renew the federal-provincial highway agreements in Nova Scotia? Rather than all these non-announcements and self-gratifications, we would expect the minister to be in Ottawa negotiating on behalf of all Nova Scotians from Yarmouth to the northeastern part of Nova Scotia, Cumberland County and to Cape Breton Island. We would expect some agreements to be put in place. For two years, this government and this minister promised that these agreements would be put in place and, two years later, we have nothing but a glossy report saying what they are going to do.
Mr. Speaker, let's look at the dollar value that the minister puts before us. He would have to increase his capital budget by sixfold to even meet the capital construction objectives that are laid out in this particular plan. It is mathematically impossible, given the budgetary
figures, unless they are planning on increasing taxes or increasing the debt. That, again, is a very misleading and misguided position that the minister has provided us here today.
Mr. Speaker, the minister indicates that we have some 23,000 kilometres of road here in Nova Scotia. Well, originally, his predecessor indicated that it was some 26,000 kilometres. What happened to the other 3,000 kilometres? Are they downloaded to the municipalities? What happened to 3,000 kilometres? He indicated that there were 3,800 bridges in Nova Scotia. I guess I am being a little bit facetious here, but, in reality, 3,799 because the bridge in North River, Church Bridge, that doesn't exist anymore. The minister is saying he has no plans whatsoever to replace that. So if he can't even replace a bridge that is in need today, how is he going to replace any of the other 3,700 plus? He just can't do it. It is very disappointing.
Mr. Speaker, I notice on Page 4 of the minister's report, he indicates some highway system expansions and he refers to Highway No. 125 in Cape Breton County. If we look at the minister's own documents, he will see that that is not the road that he is referring to. He is referring to Highway No. 104. These are his own documents. So it is quite clear that officials in his own department, and/or the minister, don't even know what they are talking about. In one report, they are saying they are going to do Highway No. 125 and in the federal-provincial agreements, they are going to do Highway No. 104. So is this political optics? Which is the number one priority for this government. This is the type of political spin doctoring that has been going on with this government and continues, as such.
Mr. Speaker, I think it would be better advised for the minister to table the priority listing that he asked all members of this Legislature to participate in and stop making a political charade out of a very serious issue. If there are number one priorities in Yarmouth, Truro, Halifax or where have you, let the minister put those documents on the table and stop playing politics like they did back in the John Buchanan days, a government to which he was part and parcel, and part and parcel for bankrupting this province. (Applause)
[12:30 p.m.]
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Health.
HON. JAMES MUIR: Mr. Speaker, it gives me pleasure this afternoon to welcome two international visitors and three other Nova Scotians. First of all, in your gallery, I believe . . .
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. (Interruptions)
MR. MUIR: Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure this afternoon to welcome some international visitors to the House, and three other people who are residents of Nova Scotia. First of all, Dr. Shaohong Jin, who is the Deputy Director of the Department of National Institute for the Control of Pharmaceutical and Biological Products in the People's Republic
of China; Dr. Dian Cai Jiang, who is involved with management of quality control and reviewing of biological products documentation, also in the People's Republic of China; and accompanying these Chinese delegates are Mr. Stephen Sham, who has been in this House before, President and CEO of MedMira Inc.; Mr. Hermes Chan, Chief Operating Officer of MedMira Inc.; and Ms. Kathy Su, Business Development Officer for Asia, MedMira Inc. I would ask these visitors to stand and receive the warm welcome of the House. (Applause)
MR. SPEAKER: Indeed, welcome to our guests. I would like to advise the House that the honourable member for Dartmouth East was kind enough to make my acquaintance with the guests, and I really appreciated that.
The honourable Government House Leader.
HON. RONALD RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, I would ask that you revert to the order of business, Tabling Reports, Regulations and Other Papers.
MR. SPEAKER: Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
TABLING REPORTS, REGULATIONS AND OTHER PAPERS
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Finance.
HON. NEIL LEBLANC: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to table the Annual Report of the Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission for the year 2000.
[MR. SPEAKER: The report is tabled.]
GOVERNMENT NOTICES OF MOTION
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Education.
HON. JANE PURVES: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Nova Scotia Agricultural College will confer an honorary degree on the internationally recognized researcher in agricultural and rural geography, Michael Troughton, at its convocation tomorrow; and
Whereas Mr. Troughton is considered the father of agricultural geography in Canada; and
Whereas his work has focused on the geography of agriculture and the sustainability of rural communities;
Therefore be it resolved that this House congratulate Mr. Troughton and the Nova Scotia Agricultural College for this significant honour.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The honourable Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
HON. ERNEST FAGE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Aquaculture Association of Canada will be holding its Annual General Meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia between May 6th and May 9th; and
Whereas aquaculture is one of the fastest growing agri-food sectors in Canada and in Nova Scotia; and
Whereas the theme for this year's meeting is, moving forward through partnerships;
Therefore be it resolved that this House recognize the Aquaculture Association of Canada and the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia aquaculture industry as leaders in a food sector that is providing high-quality, sustainable fish and fish products to worldwide consumers.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The honourable Minister of Environment and Labour.
HON. DAVID MORSE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Camp Green, CANADA campaign, was created to eliminate harmful chemicals from campground septic fields and prevent their leaching into groundwater systems; and
Whereas the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour partnered with the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia and Environment Canada, Parks Canada and the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources to develop said program; and
Whereas this government is committed to protecting the province's environment through the support of innovative approaches and effective partnerships;
Therefore be it resolved that we congratulate the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia on the success of the Camp Green, CANADA pilot campaign in 2000 and on its opportunity to lead the expansion of the campaign across Canada in 2001.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The honourable Minister of Education.
HON. JANE PURVES: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the University of King's College will bestow an honorary Doctor of Civil Laws degree on Terry Kelly at its convocation on May 17th; and
Whereas Mr. Kelly is being honoured for his contribution to humanity as a composer, entertainer, athlete, and motivational speaker; and
Whereas his motivational presentation "We Can Do Anything" has inspired many to overcome their handicaps;
Therefore be it resolved that this House congratulate Terry Kelly for this high honour and the University of King's College for its selection.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
Bill No. 48 - Entitled an Act Respecting Fair-marketing Practices in the Sale of Gasoline and Diesel Oil. (Mr. John Holm)
Bill No. 49 - Entitled an Act to Establish the Nova Scotia Energy Council. (Mr. Howard Epstein)
MR. SPEAKER: Ordered that these bills be read a second time on a future day.
NOTICES OF MOTION
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Opposition.
MR. DARRELL DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the die was cast for the Savage Liberal Government when one of Premier Savage's first decisions was to move his office to the penthouse suite of One Government Place; and
Whereas in April 2001, the Liberals moved their Party office as they proclaimed themselves to be the government in waiting; and
Whereas the Liberals moved into the penthouse floor of the Centennial Building;
Therefore be it resolved that this House welcomes the Liberal return to penthouse quarters and wishes them Savage success as they deal with Nova Scotians from their lofty heights.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It hear a No.
The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Victoria.
MR. KENNETH MACASKILL: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Baddeck Gathering Ceilidhs are a popular evening tourism attraction; and
Whereas these festivals display Cape Breton fiddlers, music, song and dance; and
Whereas Manager Nancy MacLean has spent many hours of volunteer time to make this event the success it has been;
Therefore be it resolved that the Minister of Culture and Tourism support the Baddeck Gathering Ceilidhs in their efforts to improve this tourist attraction.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Colchester North.
MR. WILLIAM LANGILLE: Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise and present this resolution on behalf of the honourable member for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley. I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the extending of the provisions of the Maritime Accord on softwood lumber has been a priority of all Atlantic Premiers since the fall of 1999; and
Whereas our softwood lumber industry in Nova Scotia and throughout Atlantic Canada has always played by the rules of free trade; and
Whereas our Premier is now in Washington to press Nova Scotia's case in the softwood lumber dispute with Canada's Ambassador to the United States, Michael Kergin and embassy officials who will be representing the country's interests in talks with the United States Department of Commerce;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of the House support the Premier and those who are attempting to do all they can to try to find a solution to this ongoing dispute.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The honourable member for Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage.
MR. KEVIN DEVEAUX: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Cub movement has been an important part of life for many of the youth of our province, including myself; and
Whereas 11 year old Steven Laureijs of the 1st Lourdes group of Stellarton has earned all 56 Cub badges available; and
Whereas Steven's hard work in achieving all badges should inspire other young Cubs and even older MLAs;
Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate Steven Laureijs on earning all 56 badges available in the Cub movement.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The honourable member for Cape Breton East.
MR. DAVID WILSON: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas 10 year old singer and Glace Bay native, Aeslin Debison performed recently in Toronto; and
Whereas the rising young star was invited there by Prime Minister Jean Chretien for a $560 million announcement to boost Canada's cultural community; and
Whereas Aeslin is working on a Christmas album with Bruce Guthro;
Therefore be it resolved that members of this House congratulate Aeslin Debison and wish her much success.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The honourable member for Pictou West.
MRS. MURIEL BAILLIE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas sport is an important part of children's development, encouraging team work, fair play and personal drive; and
Whereas community members have an essential role to play in this development, volunteering time and effort and demonstrating patience and reliability; and
Whereas Alan Jankov is one such volunteer and has been recently recognized for his 35 years of dedication to the sport of basketball in Pictou County as coach and referee;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize Alan Jankov's long-time dedication to the sport and congratulate him on his valuable participation in the lives of the youths of Pictou County.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The honourable member for Cape Breton Centre.
MR. FRANK CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas earlier this week, the Cape Breton District Health Authority announced the emergency department at Northside General Hospital in North Sydney would have to close from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday because of a lack of available physicians; and
Whereas by Tuesday of this week, the Government of Nova Scotia was taking credit for resolving this conflict; and
Whereas on Wednesday, the member for Cape Breton North recognized that it was a made in Cape Breton solution to this problem;
Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate the Cape Breton District Health Authority on its recruitment efforts in spite of a lack of support from the provincial government.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
I hear a No.
The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Cape Breton The Lakes.
MR. BRIAN BOUDREAU: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Sydney School of Kick Boxing will host the 5th Annual Cape Breton's Night of Kick Boxing this Saturday; and
Whereas two dozen of the Maritimes' top kick boxers will take part in this event; and
Whereas every year this event attracts more fans and last year the event attracted over 800 spectators;
Therefore be it resolved that members of this House extend best wishes to the competitors and the organizers for another successful competition.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The honourable member for Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury.
MR. RONALD CHISHOLM: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the week of April 22nd to April 28th was designated Volunteer Week to honour the more than 7.5 million people across Canada who volunteer their time to help out their community; and
[12:45 p.m.]
Whereas over the years, Canso resident and RCMP member, Phil Feltmate has volunteered his time to many community organizations such as the Canso and Area Minor Hockey, the 5th Canso Scouts and the Eastern Communities Youth Association; and
Whereas in honour of his strong commitment to Canso through his volunteer activities, Mr. Feltmate was selected as Canso Volunteer of the Year;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Phil Feltmate on his selection as the Canso Volunteer of the Year and also wish him all the best as he leaves Canso to take on other duties with the RCMP.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The honourable member for Timberlea-Prospect.
MR. WILLIAM ESTABROOKS: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas elected school board members are ultimately responsible to the public who elected them; and
Whereas Mike Flemming, a member of the Halifax Regional School Board, has had the courage of his convictions by speaking out about the flawed negotiation process in the labour dispute between custodians and the board; and
Whereas Mike Flemming is the school board member for Timberlea-Prospect and my school board member;
Therefore be it resolved that this House congratulate and thank Mike Flemming for the excellent job he is doing on this issue as an elected school board member.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
I hear a couple of Noes.
The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Lunenburg West.
MR. DONALD DOWNE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas striking Home Support Workers in Queens County earn less than their counterparts in other parts of Nova Scotia; and
Whereas these workers are a vital component of the health care delivery system on the South Shore; and
Whereas these workers are calling for Home Care Nova Scotia to establish wage parity for all home care workers in the province;
Therefore be it resolved that the Government of Nova Scotia settle this dispute by immediately implementing a system of wage parity for these striking workers.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
[I hear a No.]
The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Kings North.
MR. MARK PARENT: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the inaugural edition of the Millstone appeared in March of this year; and
Whereas the Millstone is a community-run newspaper which will inform the citizens of Sheffield Mills of the people, places and events of their community; and
Whereas the Millstone will be provided free of charge to households in the Sheffield Mills area;
Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate the citizens of Sheffield Mills and wish them all the best in this worthwhile community effort.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The honourable member for Hants East.
MR. JOHN MACDONELL: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas awareness by our young people in the accomplishments of our Armed Forces must be encouraged; and
Whereas the Royal Canadian Legion promotes such awareness by conducting a competition for school children; and
Whereas the poster entry by Ms. Katie White of Rawdon District School placed first in the Hants North Royal Canadian Legion competition, first in the provincial competition and has subsequently been forwarded to Ottawa to be judged in the Dominion Command competition, and also the poetry entry by Julie Resch placed second at the branch level;
Therefore be it resolved that the members of this Assembly congratulate the Royal Canadian Legion for their sponsorship of a meaningful program that will touch the hearts and minds of many Canadian children and also congratulate these two students on the excellence of their efforts, and wish Ms. White all the best for her poster in Ottawa.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The honourable member for Cape Breton East.
MR. DAVID WILSON: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the provincial government has in the past shown its interest in working with Stream Call Centre; and
Whereas Stream International is very interested in locating a call centre in Glace Bay; and
Whereas the people of Glace Bay are in desperate need of jobs;
Therefore be it resolved that this government recognize the economic and moral necessity of helping the people of Glace Bay.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The honourable Minister of Natural Resources.
HON. ERNEST FAGE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas small business and entrepreneurship plays a critical role in the development of economies right across this province; and
Whereas small business, by virtue of its very nature, develops skill sets in its employees and creates opportunities for employment and economic stimulus; and
Whereas the TPF Factory Outlet in Amherst has demonstrated leadership in marketing, staff development and sales and has recently been recognized by Star Choice for having the best growth in Atlantic Canada during 2000;
Therefore be it resolved that this House recognize owners Gerry and Carol Lirette and sales manager Rick Sisco on this major award and their continuing efforts to work for and within their community.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The honourable Leader of the Opposition.
MR. DARRELL DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas tobacco addiction is the major pediatric disease of our time with almost 200,000 youth becoming addicted each year; and
Whereas Dr. Andrew Lynk of the Canadian Pediatric Society has warned that current government initiatives are not enough to curb smoking among the almost 30 per cent of young Canadian teenagers who smoke; and
Whereas significant investment is needed to counter the combination of the tobacco industry and nicotine addiction;
Therefore be it resolved that the government should invest the $20 million in extra tax revenue from tobacco sales in the effective anti-smoking measures outlined by Dr. Lynk and other pediatricians.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
I hear several Noes.
The notice is tabled.
The honourable Minister of Health.
HON. JAMES MUIR: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the Community Enhancement Association of Truro presented a recognition dinner for local African-Nova Scotian RCMP members on Saturday, April 28, 2000; and
Whereas the achievements of Truronians: Corporals Tom Jones and Tony Upshaw; Constables Peter Marshall, Richard Collins and Troy Maxwell; along with Constables Blair Gorman - who happens to be from Port Morien - and Milton Miller who are members of the Bible Hill detachment were celebrated; and
Whereas those recognized have served Nova Scotians with distinction and made their home communities proud;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House thank the Community Enhancement Association for organizing the celebration and congratulate those RCMP officers who were honoured for their ongoing contribution to our province.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The honourable member for Timberlea-Prospect.
MR. WILLIAM ESTABROOKS: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas area residents throughout the growing constituency of Timberlea-Prospect have conscientiously collected the signatures of homeowners on petitions requesting paving; and
Whereas the residents of Fox Ridge, Ashford Crescent, Fox Hollow Drive and Magnolia Court in the community of St. Margarets Village, have submitted these petitions for attention to their roads; and
Whereas these taxpayers have agreed to pay their share of this road paving;
Therefore be it resolved that the Minister of Transportation and Public Works state clearly for these residents when their roads will be paved.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Richmond.
MR. MICHEL SAMSON: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas on Monday, April 9th, Branch 47 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Grand Anse held a dinner, medal ceremony and reception for six veterans from Richmond County who served time as peacekeepers; and
Whereas the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medals are given to Canadians who are deployed outside Canada for a minimum of 30 days in a peacekeeping unit of the Canadian Forces, or acted in direct support of a unit; and
Whereas Joseph Mombourquette, Rick George, Kenneth Pringle, James Jackson, Bill Tanner and Jim Bowden were awarded the medals for their peacekeeping service in areas such as Cyprus, Lebanon, Egypt and Vietnam;
Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House extend their sincerest congratulations to these six gentlemen for their service to our country and for their long-awaited recognition.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The honourable Minister of Economic Development.
HON. GORDON BALSER: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Josie Franklin of Acacia Valley, Digby County, recently celebrated her 90th birthday; and
Whereas part of her birthday celebration included coasting on Shelburne Road with her family; and
Whereas she recently placed third in Rural Route Magazine's annual wood stacking competition for 2000;
Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House applaud the youthful spirit of this lady who demonstrates to us all that you are only as old as you let yourself be.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried. (Applause)
The honourable member for Dartmouth East.
DR. JAMES SMITH: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas on April 23rd, the Province of Saskatchewan approved the Alzheimer's drug, Exelon, for coverage on the provincial formulary; and
Whereas now Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan have approved either Exelon or Aricept because of the overwhelming evidence that supports the benefits of these drugs for people living with Alzheimer's;
Whereas the province could cover the cost of providing Alzheimer's drugs if it spent more wisely by cutting back on expensive administrative salaries;
Therefore be it resolved that this government direct the provincial formulary to reconsider the evidence supporting both drugs and, at the same time, remember its promise to offer better health care services by cutting back in administrative costs.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
I hear several Noes.
The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Richmond.
MR. MICHEL SAMSON: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas today marks the 132nd day that the health and safety of the residents of the Strait area has been compromised due to the lack of a daytime emergency physician at the Strait-Richmond Hospital; and
Whereas the Minister of Health, who has claimed they were doing their best to find a physician for the Strait-Richmond Hospital, was able to locate a doctor in Halifax to cover the emergency room of the Northside General Hospital within 48 hours; and
Whereas the member for Cape Breton North made it clear that this was a political solution for a Tory riding and the Opposition members should not expect the same treatment;
Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House condemn the minister and his government for reaching a new low, by playing politics with the health and safety of Nova Scotians.
MR. SPEAKER: The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury.
MR. RONALD CHISHOLM: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas the week of April 22nd to 28th was designated Volunteer Week to honour the more than 7.5 million people across Canada who volunteer their time to help their community; and
Whereas over the years, Mulgrave resident, Kevin O'Neil, has volunteered his time to many community activities including, to mention just a few, Chairman of the Mulgrave Memorial Education School; member of the Mulgrave and Area Medical Centre; and as the town appointee to the Guysborough County Support Home Agency; and
Whereas in honour of his strong commitment to Mulgrave, through his volunteer activities, Mr. O'Neil was selected as Mulgrave Volunteer of the Year;
Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Kevin O'Neil on his selection as Mulgrave Volunteer of the Year, and also applaud the efforts of all who offer their time to help out their community.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
The honourable member for Dartmouth South.
MR. TIMOTHY OLIVE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Nova Scotia Business Inc., a private sector led Crown Corporation focused on pursuing economic opportunities for the province, officially came into being on April 1, 2001; and
Whereas 12 outstanding business leaders from across the province were named to the corporation's board in March; and
Whereas Lois Dyer Mann, incoming President of the Metropolitan Halifax Chamber of Commerce, was quoted recently in Business Voice Magazine as saying, "the government made outstanding appointments to the volunteer Board of Directors of Nova Scotia Business Inc.";
Therefore be it resolved that members of this House acknowledge the support of the business community for these appointments to Nova Scotia Business Inc., and wish the Board of Directors well as they help build a stronger economy for Nova Scotia.
Mr. Speaker, I request wavier of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
I hear several Noes.
The notice is tabled.
The honourable member for Sackville-Beaver Bank.
MR. BARRY BARNET: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:
Whereas Lion Laurie Campbell of Kinsac was honoured last night in Sackville for his dedication to his community; and
[1:00 p.m.]
Whereas Lion Campbell was also honoured recently by famous television personality Red Green for his innovative use of duct tape; and
Whereas Laurie's duct tape tale highlights the annual milk carton boat race every July in First Lake;
Therefore be it resolved that this House congratulated Lion Laurie Campbell for his recognition by both his community and the famous Red Green, and wish him all the best in the upcoming milk carton boat race this summer on First Lake.
Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.
MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.
Is it agreed?
It is agreed.
Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.
The motion is carried.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
ORAL QUESTIONS PUT BY MEMBERS
MR. SPEAKER: Question Period will run until 2:01 p.m.
The honourable Leader of the Opposition.
STRIKE - NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE
MR. DARRELL DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, on April 20th, Queens home support workers went on strike because of unresolved bargaining issues. Since then there have been no new talks. Today these support workers have come to this Legislature, asking this government to help settle the 12 day old strike. These workers are asking for wage parity with home support workers in other counties. My question for the Minister of Health is, will you order your negotiators to return to the bargaining table so that the people in Queens will have the services that they need?
HON. JAMES MUIR: Mr. Speaker, I can tell the honourable member that the home support workers in Queens, like other home support workers across this province, do valuable work in the health care system. I think all of us who know what they do do appreciate it, however, the fact remains that they are employed by, I believe, the Queens Home Care Society. The negotiations are between them, and I would encourage both sides to get back to the table and settle this.
MR. DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, these workers are not asking for unrealistic wages. They seek a modest wage that is standard across the province. They are also unhappy with the present increment system. Increments result in an even greater inequity and encourage employers to give assignments to more junior and, therefore, lower-paid workers instead of those with the most seniority. My question for the minister is, do you not agree that these workers deserve a fair and equitable wage?
MR. MUIR: Mr. Speaker, the position of this government is that all those who are health care workers deserve a fair wage. That is why there is a collective bargaining process. They are engaged in that, and I am confident that if they get back to the table, a fair and reasonable settlement can be worked out that everybody can afford.
MR. DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, by not ensuring that the bargaining resumes, this minister is failing the home care workers in this province. By not acting immediately, this minister is also failing all those people in this province who rely on the services of home care workers. What possible reason could the minister have to keep from ordering his negotiators
back to the table, so that the people in Queens County won't be left without critical home care services?
MR. MUIR: Mr. Speaker, the negotiations are going on between, I believe it is, CNSAHO along with CUPE. They have to get back to the table to solve this. It is interesting that, as I understand, some substantial wage increases have been promised. A similar settlement was also accepted by the workers in Lunenburg County.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Dartmouth East.
WAGE PARITY - LACK EXPLAIN
DR. JAMES SMITH: Mr. Speaker, our striking home support workers in Queens County earn less than their counterparts in other areas of this province. Our Liberal Government created wage parity for home care workers, and was urged to do so by the Tory Opposition at that time. My question to the minister is simple, why did this minister not budget to establish wage parity across the province for home support workers?
HON. JAMES MUIR: Mr. Speaker, I believe the honourable member would know there are about 70 different groups of home care workers and individual bargaining agents. One of the things that we have been trying to wrestle with since we came in, and undoubtedly the honourable member did ahead of us when he was in this position, is that one of the things we have with the health care workers across the province, is a mish-mash. We are trying to get some consistency in the system. The honourable Minister of Community Services will tell you the same thing, with his things. The position of the government is that they had asked for parity of personal care workers, and the government is striving to encourage the bargaining agents to get there.
DR. SMITH: Mr. Speaker, my question to the minister is simply, will the minister now commit to mandating Home Care Nova Scotia to settle the current dispute in Queens County? The minister can do that.
MR. MUIR: Mr. Speaker, it is not Home Care Nova Scotia, it is the Queens County Home Support Society - or an agency which has a name very similar to that - that is in negotiations with the workers. It is not Home Care Nova Scotia.
DR. SMITH: The minister himself continues to speak about continuum of care in health care and that is what we are talking about and we are talking about the minister's ability to mandate. My final supplementary to the minister, Mr. Speaker, will the minister commit today to mandating Home Care Nova Scotia to establish wage parity for all home support workers in Nova Scotia?
MR. MUIR: Mr. Speaker, there have been different agreements right across the province. I guess the inconsistency has been narrowed considerably in the past few years and we hope that it will continue to narrow. Clearly, the people in Queens County are at the bargaining table. We have a great deal of faith in the collective bargaining process and I am optimistic that they will come to a successful agreement in the very near future.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Opposition.
MR. DARRELL DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, every day we hear stories of seniors unable to manage in their homes without home care support that simply isn't available. Every day we hear about people who are sick or disabled and who need home support programs when all this government can offer is a spot at the bottom of the waiting list. By not putting adequate funds into home care and assuring that those funds go to front-line workers, this minister is failing people in real need of these services. My question for the Minister of Health is, when will you stop failing Nova Scotians and ensure the Home Care Program is available to those who need it?
HON. JAMES MUIR: Mr. Speaker, this government added more money this year in the budget for long-term care and for home care. One of the difficulties in the province right now is trying to ensure that the supply of home care workers meets the demand, and I can tell you that we are actively involved in a process that will see the numbers increased.
MR. DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, front-line health care workers in hospitals and nursing homes have wage parity in this province. The government has agreed that wage parity is not only reasonable, but fair, yet home care workers in this province do not have wage parity. Home care workers earn from $7.14 an hour to $12 an hour. The wage system is dysfunctional. My question to the minister is, will you take immediate action to begin negotiations with home care workers across the province for fair and equitable wage parity?
MR. MUIR: Mr. Speaker, there are certain home care workers who are more or less directly employed by the province and there are a lot of home care workers who are not directly employed by the province. In the case of the Queens group, they are not directly employed by the province. The way that these matters are going to be settled is at the bargaining table. I would encourage all members of this House to encourage both sides to get back to the table, get this matter straightened out, and get those people back to work.
MR. DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, by failing the home care workers in this province, the minister is failing seniors, failing the disabled, failing the sick, and failing their families. When it comes to home care in this province, the minister gets a failing grade. My question for the minister is, when will you stop failing those who work in home care and those who
need home care by funding it adequately, allocating funds to front-line workers, and giving wage parity to home care workers?
MR. MUIR: Mr. Speaker, there are a number of individual locals that are involved in collective bargaining, or will be involved in collective bargaining, in a short period of time.
We have increased the money this year substantially for long-term care and for home care. We hope that the sides will sit down and work out an agreement. We want all of our health care workers to have fair wage settlements. We also wish to have a health care system that is sustainable and if it is sustainable, it has to be affordable so we have to employ some rationality in this.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Cape Breton South.
MR. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, maybe if we continue with this, we might eventually get somewhere with this minister. My question is to the Minister of Health. Mr. Minister, the issue of wage parity with health care workers, and in particular home support workers, was one this government praised when the Liberal Government started the process. These workers, on a daily basis, deal with clients who would otherwise be in the acute care setting. Even with pay increases, for the amount and the type of work that these people do, it is a bargain for the system. My question to the minister is, why won't the minister commit to managing the health care system by allowing for wage parity?
HON. JAMES MUIR: Mr. Speaker, this government is managing the health care system and I want to tell you, the health care system is being managed better now than at any time in the past seven years.
MR. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, what is happening in the health care system is it is deteriorating rapidly under this minister. That is what is happening in the health care system, including treatment for these workers who are here today. The minister just doesn't get it. He doesn't understand that home support workers save the system money and they should be rewarded for that, not penalized. They should be paid what they deserve. My supplementary question to the minister is, why won't the minister do the honourable thing and commit to implement wage parity for home support workers across this province?
MR. MUIR: Mr. Speaker, as the honourable member would know, across this province there are about 70 different locals or groups of people, employers for home support workers. (Interruptions) Well, it is 70 and what I want to tell the honourable member is that there were substantial differences, or at least some differences across the province. I don't know the extremity but I want to tell you that the issue of bringing the wage closer and also along closer to that of personal care workers is moving ahead and it will be settled at the table. That is where it has to be settled.
MR. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, repetition and platitudes are this minister's strong suit. Competence in running the health care system in this province is certainly not anywhere light-years close to being his strong suit. In the gallery today are home support workers, representatives from almost every riding in this province. They are our neighbours, they are our friends. (Interruption) They are important caregivers in this province and I want to ask this minister in my final supplementary, is the minister honestly saying here today that he is rejecting the demands of these workers?
MR. MUIR: Mr. Speaker, at present the government is not in negotiations with the home support workers in Queens County. There is an agency down there that is and the way they are going to solve that is to get back to the table. I will tell the honourable member what I did do earlier today in meeting with some of the home care workers who did visit Province House is that we are currently putting together a group that is going to take a look at the whole system of provision of health human resources here in Nova Scotia. I invited them to have their organization write me a letter and we would see that they could sit down and talk about their concerns. Now we will do that.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Cape Breton Centre.
RELOCATION - GOV'T. (N.S.) INVOLVEMENT
MR. FRANK CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, this government continually attacks the economically deprived. It finally appears that someone is listening to the people of Whitney Pier. It is not the provincial government though, it is the federal government who are taking action and moving 70 families who live in the toxic cesspool. This provincial government said there was no danger to the people's health.
[1:15 p.m.]
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. Who is the honourable member directing his question to?
MR. CORBETT: The Minister of Transportation and Public Works. I was getting there. Health Canada does feel there is a risk. Health Canada is so concerned, it is now taking measures to get residents away from that health hazard. I want to ask the Minister of Transportation and Public Works what involvement his provincial government has in this move, and how much money are you contributing to it?
HON. RONALD RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, as I have told the honourable member opposite, it isn't the government that is determining the future of the residents in that area. It is the federal health authority and the provincial health authority who have agreed that there is no immediate health risk. As a result of that, we accumulated data, and that data has
gone to a gentleman who is world-renowned, to do an analysis, and he will be reporting back to the provincial health authorities within about two weeks' time. Yesterday, Mr. Rock made a statement; I have not had any discussions with Mr. Rock himself. In fact, the only thing that I have heard is what I have heard on the radio with regard to Mr. Rock's intentions.
MR. CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, it says a lot about this government. Either the feds are ignoring them or they just don't care about the people of Whitney Pier. He couldn't be bothered to make one phone call. This government has failed these people significantly. Sydney has one of the highest rates of cancer, birth defects, miscarriages, and residents are likely to die 10 years earlier than anybody else in this province. Despite this, this government continues to fail these very residents that they are sworn to protect. I want to ask the Minister of Transportation and Public Works, how long will residents be moved, if they are moved, and is this permanent or part-time; which one will it be?
MR. RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, the honourable member is talking about health problems, and I would like to refer the question to the Minister of Health, who was speaking, I believe, to Mr. Rock.
HON. JAMES MUIR: Mr. Speaker, to the honourable member, I will tell you that I did speak with the federal Health Minister last night. I will also tell you that, to be quite frank, we learned about this announcement very late yesterday afternoon. This morning, our officials - a representative of the Department of Transportation and Public Works, the deputy minister there, as well as the deputy minister from the Department of Health - did meet with two federal representatives. We are still trying to ascertain exactly what Mr. Rock's announcement meant.
MR. CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, this comedy of errors would be laughable if people's health wasn't at risk. This government, if it is not hiding behind the JAG process, it is hiding behind some airy-fairy study. We need some straight talk here. The Minister of Transportation and Public Works doesn't know what is going on; he says he is out of the loop. You say his deputy was speaking to them. I wonder if the minister will finally admit he was wrong all along. Will the minister admit that he failed to act appropriately when he received the test results showing 60 times the acceptable levels of arsenic present in that area? Will you now say that you were wrong and that you will move those people today?
MR. RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, Dr. Lewis is a world-renowned expert, and I would take his decision any day in comparison to the opinions forthcoming from the member for Cape Breton Centre.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Cape Breton West.
NON-COMPLIANCE - MIN. AWARENESS
HON. DAVID MORSE: Mr. Speaker, I just want to clarify something here. There are a couple of abandoned quarries there that were acidifying the water table. As a result of that, this is a process to try to address that problem. At the end of the day, we hope that, given that we have a lot of those circumstances here in the province, that we will develop new techniques that are not offensive to the neighbours and will solve the problem with the acidification.
MR. MACKINNON: That is the most pathetic answer I have ever heard from a minister in this House. (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.
MR. MACKINNON: Mr. Speaker, the people off Old Guysborough Road deserve better than that. What has the Minister of Environment and Labour done since yesterday to ensure the protection of the environment, particularly the water courses which lead to Buckley Lake?
MR. MORSE: I want to thank the member opposite for his question and I would say personally, it is very rare for the Minister of Environment to go out and take a shovel and do anything to change the flow of the water coming out of any particular site, but I would say that the operator of these two sites has formed a berm which is directing the water into an appropriate place so that it will not be flowing out into the water courses.
MR. MACKINNON: Mr. Speaker, it doesn't look like the berm is working very well because that water is polluted. That water is polluted and the minister is doing nothing about it.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. Perhaps the honourable member would realize that - well, he did try to table it yesterday - the honourable member should realize that props are not permitted in the Legislature. I understand the point he is trying to make, however, I would ask the honourable member if he would please refrain from using props.
MR. MACKINNON: This here?
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member on his final supplementary.
MR. MACKINNON: Mr. Speaker, I would dare say the minister wouldn't go out and try and drink anything out of that brook. My question to the minister is, why (Interruptions) . . . maybe he did drink it. Maybe that is why we are not getting answers. Why is the minister hesitating to use the full weight of the Environment Act to enforce the law and protect the environment off the Old Guysborough Road in Halifax County?
MR. MORSE: Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member opposite for giving me the opportunity to perhaps explain the purpose of a ministerial order which I think is what he is talking about. A ministerial order is a mechanism that we can use to encourage operators that are perhaps not complying with the regulations. In this case, I am pleased to say that the operator is working to address the problem and we are pleased with the efforts on behalf of that company.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Opposition.
MR. DARRELL DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, the Nova Scotia Teachers Union has found some horrible conditions in local schools. Like a water fountain left soiled and unusable for an entire day, toilets that don't work, serious air quality issues and unsanitary conditions in cafeterias.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. Honourable members, it is quite difficult to hear the honourable Leader of the Opposition as he is trying to place his question.
MR. DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, the minister has said that no unsafe or unhealthy situations - and I will table her comments if she forgets them - have been discovered. If an extra epidemic of head lice, scabies, pink eye and strep throat doesn't qualify as unhealthy, then what does? If conditions like these are acceptable to the school board, then it is time for the minister to intervene. So I am asking the Minister of Health - she can't deny the problem anymore - what will the minister do today to fix the dirty schools and unsafe conditions in our schools?
HON. JANE PURVES: Mr. Speaker, first I must emphasize that the schools are being cleaned, that workers are going in every night and cleaning the schools. Secondly, my advice on health and safety in schools is being taken from the public health officer, not from the NSTU.
MR. DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, we have listened to the minister tell us over and over again that the responsibility for fixing these problems lies with health inspectors and school boards and not with her, but this is simply passing the buck. This minister is implicated in every stage of this crisis. She set the Education budget; she gave the school boards the spending priorities; she failed to help settle the strike. So she is responsible when teachers give 45 out of 89 schools a failing grade in cleanliness. So I want to know, will the minister admit she has failed students and teachers by not providing clean schools?
MISS PURVES: Mr. Speaker, the schools are being cleaned by replacement workers. They are not as clean as they would be if the janitorial staff were there.
MR. DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, the issue here is very simple. The condition in many schools has drastically deteriorated since the strike began. If the strike ends, the conditions improve. Parents, students, and teachers are calling on the minister to act now. When will the minister order the school board back to the bargaining table and settle this strike once and for all?
MISS PURVES: Mr. Speaker, I have said all along that I wish the two sides would get back the bargaining table; that is the best solution for all. Meanwhile, the schools are safe and clean until I am told by the health inspectors that they are not.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Liberal House Leader.
N.S. CONTENT - ENSURE
MR. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for the Petroleum Directorate. It was reported in the local media that the Premier pressed officials from Exxon Mobil and Shell for greater Nova Scotia content in the Sable Tier II Project. The reports also indicate that the Premier failed in his attempts to get anywhere, which surprised no one in Nova Scotia given the Premier's negotiating track record so far since he became Premier. My question to the minister is, what is the minister doing to ensure greater Nova Scotia content for Sable Tier II?
HON. GORDON BALSER: Mr. Speaker, we met with officials of Exxon Mobil and discussed the opportunity to have a greater portion of the work coming to Nova Scotians. They recognized that Tier I had been a learning experience, demonstrating that Nova Scotians do have those abilities. I would remind the member opposite that the engineering
for Sable Tier II is, in fact, being done through a joint venture that involves Nova Scotia firms.
MR. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, again, the Minister responsible for the Petroleum Directorate gives a non-answer to that question. He talks about Tier I being a learning experience. We are more interested in what is going to happen in the future regarding Nova Scotia jobs and Nova Scotia content. More alarming than the failure of the Premier to win greater concessions for Sable Tier II, the Premier also mused that an undersea pipeline was in the works to bypass Nova Scotia altogether. This will mean no petrochemical industry or any industry related to natural gas on land in Nova Scotia. My supplementary question to the minister is, will the minister force oil companies to transport all natural gas through Nova Scotia rather than bypassing it altogether?
MR. BALSER: Mr. Speaker, while we are all very anxious to have the industry develop as quickly as possible, there is not the proven reserves at this point that justify a second pipeline. Certainly, we have had discussions in a conceptual phase around what kinds of proposals pipeline companies would be looking at. Some include landfalls in various locations in Nova Scotia; some include direct to market pipelines and, certainly, as a government, we encourage the pipelines to land in Nova Scotia to ensure maximum benefits.
[1:30 p.m.]
MR. MANNING MACDONALD: Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that this minister, once again, is dealing with double-talk and not standing up for the rights of Nova Scotians in the future regarding the offshore. On April 4th, I brought up the issue of PanCanadian proposing to do all its processing offshore. It is becoming apparent that the Premier is being treated like a country bumpkin by the oil companies. When will this minister stand up for Nova Scotia, instead of giving away our energy future when will you stand up for Nova Scotia?
MR. BALSER: Mr. Speaker, I remind the members opposite that we just returned from an oil trade show mission in Houston that involved some 40 companies and allowed members of the Opposition Party to participate to ensure that the industry realizes that it is a non-partisan agenda.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Cape Breton Centre.
TRIBUNAL - EXPECTATIONS EXPLAIN
MR. FRANK CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, my question is also to the Minister responsible for the Petroleum Directorate. Media reports are saying that the Premier is now indicating that we are going to lose round one of the Laurentian Sub-basin. The Premier, after weeks of pounding his chest and strutting his stuff, he was trying to be Nova Scotia's offshore gas
hero, now is backtracking. Only yesterday in the U.S., from a far distance, the Premier changed his tune saying, it looks like Newfoundland will win round one. That means a loss for Cape Breton, since the Laurentian Sub-basin represents a huge economic potential for the Island. I want to ask the minister quite simply this, why are you and your government saying we are going to lose at the tribunal before it even has presented its final decision?
HON. GORDON BALSER: Nova Scotia's position with regard to the Laurentian Sub-basis dispute has been consistent throughout this; that is the line is a line. The determination of what happens next lies with the tribunal. We expect their decision in a matter of weeks.
MR. CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, he is not listening to his own Leader. It is his Leader who is telling people that they will probably lose round one. The Premier has been going to great lengths to put on a public show. He wants to look like he is the Premier who is bringing natural gas to Cape Breton, and all he is bringing is hot air. He is all talk and no action, because we sure aren't seeing any benefits in Cape Breton. Now, without presenting any new information, the Premier is suddenly bracing us for the worse without waiting for the tribunal's ruling. So I want to ask the minister, has he known all along that Nova Scotia had a weak case and that the government themselves have been putting on a phony show of support anyway?
MR. BALSER: Mr. Speaker, the Nova Scotia position was put forward as forcefully as possible. We hired the leading experts in the world in terms of pipeline and jurisdictional disputes of an international nature. So, Nova Scotia has approached this putting every bit of effort forward to win the case. As I say, the decision at this point lies with the tribunal and I would hate to be premature and anticipate what they are going to decide.
MR. CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, I want to make sure that the minister hears this. These aren't my words, these are the words of his Premier who is saying that they are probably going to lose, and brace yourself for that. I want to know why he has been wasting his time pretending to fight the good fight when he is telling people he is going to lose? This is what he is telling. So I then want to ask the minister responsible, if Nova Scotia loses this boundary dispute, will you commit to strict measures to guarantee offshore benefits in Cape Breton from the offshore gas Nova Scotia does control? Will you give us that, Mr. Minister?
MR. BALSER: Mr. Speaker, there is a process in place and being undertaken now to determine where the line will exist. Our position has been consistent and will continue to be consistent. That is the line is a line and, in the event that the arbitration panel makes a decision by May that flies in the face of that view, there is another step to the process. So it is premature at this point in time to say that anyone has lost anything.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Lunenburg West.
INCOME TAX - INCREASE ADMIT
MR. DONALD DOWNE: Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Finance. Last week I released information from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation which indicated that Nova Scotians are on the hook for an additional $12 million in income taxes because of partial indexation. My question to the minister is, will the minister admit that this represents an income tax increase or tax grab from Nova Scotia families?
HON. NEIL LEBLANC: Mr. Speaker, no.
MR. DOWNE: Mr. Speaker, this minister is burying his head in the sand and the bottom line is he is misleading Nova Scotians by that answer. He is increasing taxes in Nova Scotia, as I speak. Before the 2000 budget of Paul Martin, the province could not change the indexation of the brackets and now they can. Now is the minister's opportunity to make a difference. Now that the minister has greater control over the system, will the minister now commit to freezing the current tax levels?
MR. LEBLANC: Mr. Speaker, when we took over the finances of this province from the previous administration, we were faced with a $500 million deficit. We told Nova Scotians when they would get tax relief and that would be in year four. We said what we would do and we will do it.
MR. DOWNE: Mr. Speaker, he didn't answer the question because he knows he is misleading Nova Scotians by the fact that he is doing a tax grab out of the pockets of Nova Scotians. The minister maybe doesn't understand. I am not talking about a tax cut. I am not talking about a tax increase. I am talking about a tax freeze - freezing the tax levels in Nova Scotia so he doesn't go in their back pockets and rob another $12 million out of the working Nova Scotians. My question to the minister is, if he won't commit for this year, will he commit for next year to stop the increased taxation on Nova Scotians by freezing indexation for next year?
MR. LEBLANC: Mr. Speaker, if he is saying that I am misleading Nova Scotians, I didn't stand up in my place and tell them that I had a surplus of $1.5 million when I didn't. So if you want to talk about misleading, he is talking to the wrong individual. We told people when they would have tax relief and that is in year four. We will do what we said we would do.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage.
NORTHERN REGION - MIN. AWARENESS
MR. KEVIN DEVEAUX: Mr. Speaker, unemployment in northern Nova Scotia is quickly on the rise. It has risen significantly in the last year. HRDC just reported that there are 3,000 more people unemployed in northern Nova Scotia than there was last March. I want to ask the Minister of Finance, is he aware of these significant increases, 3,000 more people unemployed in northern Nova Scotia?
HON. NEIL LEBLANC: Mr. Speaker, obviously, within Nova Scotia, we do have two types of economies. I think anyone who doesn't believe that the metropolitan area is doing better than the other ones obviously has not travelled this province. We agree that there is work to be done in parts of Nova Scotia and our government is committed to making Nova Scotia better for all its people, whether they are here in the Halifax region or whether they are in Cape Breton or whether they are in my constituency, down in Yarmouth County.
MR. DEVEAUX: Mr. Speaker, the latest federal labour market brief says, that the northern region has experienced significant employment declines. Unemployment in Nova Scotia has increased 1.4 per cent. That is the largest month to month increase since 1989, the last time this province had a recession. So my question to the Minister of Finance is, what steps is he taking to address this very serious threat to Nova Scotia's economy?
MR. LEBLANC: Mr. Speaker, our government has put in place an economic strategy, a growth strategy, by my colleague, the Minister of Economic Development. I point to some of the initiatives that we have taken in Cape Breton with regard to the call centre, which was a good announcement; there was one a few weeks ago in the member for Cape Breton North's area and here today we also had the member for Cape Breton East asking us to support a call centre there. When there are opportunities to develop employment, we will take action.
MR. DEVEAUX: Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance is trying to tell us that some parts of the province aren't doing as well as others. He says metro is doing well. Let's be clear about the most recent statistics from Statistics Canada. The South Shore has had a 2 per cent increase in unemployment over the last few months and, in metro, 2,000 more people were unemployed in March than were in February. The unemployment rate in Nova Scotia is nearing 11 per cent. I want to ask the Minister the Finance, once again, will he admit that there is a serious economic problem in Nova Scotia, and what will he do to reverse that trend quickly?
MR. LEBLANC: Mr. Speaker, one thing that we will not do is what the NDP would do, because for them governments are supposed to do everything. I believe in the private sector of this province. They are the people who will put their money up at risk, and they will produce the jobs. That is why the economy has grown in Nova Scotia, and that is something that the NDP doesn't agree with. They believe that governments should do everything. That is not my philosophy; that is not the philosophy of our government. People will see that it works. The private sector will make those jobs.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Cape Breton The Lakes.
FUNDING ADEQUACY
MR. BRIAN BOUDREAU: Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations announced $50,000 capital funding to increase municipal transit service for people with disabilities and seniors. We agree with the principle, but it is simply not enough money. A single Access-A-Bus costs $100,000, twice the amount (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. Order, honourable members. I can hardly hear the member for Cape Breton The Lakes.
MR. BOUDREAU: A single Access-A-Bus costs approximately $100,000, twice the amount the minister announced. A single taxi vehicle, modified to transport disabled clients, costs $50,000. My question for the Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations is, can he explain how providing one modified taxi vehicle will increase employment opportunities for the one out of every five Nova Scotians who have a disability?
HON. ANGUS MACISAAC: Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the honourable member for the question because while he does point out the $50,000 that would be made available to community groups, municipal units to assist them in doing rehabilitation of vehicles or reconfiguration of vehicles, that money will allow for vehicles to be altered. I looked at one yesterday that was done at a much cheaper cost than he indicated. What the honourable member is missing is that he is failing to indicate that there is an additional $500,000 available for people throughout the province to put together programs to assist in accessible transportation throughout this province. That is going to make a tremendous difference, and provide transportation to all classes of people in this province.
MR. BOUDREAU: Mr. Speaker, this amount will not really increase the ability of Nova Scotians with disabilities to get to work. This government is obviously out of contact with the 21.4 per cent of our population who have disabilities. I would like to ask the Minister of Community Services, what is this government's plan to truly increase employment and other opportunities for disabled Nova Scotians?
HON. PETER CHRISTIE: Mr. Speaker, I guess the question was, what is our plan to increase employment. Our plan is to train people, to get them the chance to provide the background and the education they need to be able to go find the employment they need. That is our plan.
MR. BOUDREAU: Mr. Speaker, after all that, they still won't be able to get to work, sir. My question to the Acting Premier is, when will this government stop throwing scraps to disabled Nova Scotians, and take action to ensure their equality and full participation in the economic life of Nova Scotia?
AN HON. MEMBER: He is going to build them new roads.
HON. RONALD RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, that is not a bad idea. This government is committed to employment opportunities for the disabled; we are committed to providing efficient and effective, and I mean cost-effective, transportation for the disabled community. That is, quite frankly, just the opposite perhaps of what has occurred in the past.
[1:45 p.m.]
MR SPEAKER: The honourable member for Sackville-Cobequid.
PIPELINE (N.S.-NEW ENGLAND) - N.S. BENEFIT GUARANTEE
MR. JOHN HOLM: Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question through you, sir, to the Minister of Economic Development. The minister, of course, knows that PanCanadian is considering building an offshore pipeline to deliver our natural gas to Boston and New York. The minister also knows that Nova Scotians are supposed to be the primary benefactor of the development of our offshore resources. He also knows that the Liberals failed to get a fair share of benefits from Sable Phase 1. So I want to ask the minister this question - it is a very simple question - are you prepared to tell PanCanadian that they cannot build their pipeline to New England to transport our natural gas unless you can get a guarantee that Nova Scotians will be the primary benefactor in terms of jobs in that project?
HON. GORDON BALSER: Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for the question and I am sure that he enjoyed the opportunity to see first-hand in Houston exactly what the oil industry can do for Nova Scotia. Certainly we are anxious to make sure that we support the maximum benefits to Nova Scotia but at the same time make it possible for those companies to do business in the Province of Nova Scotia.
MR. HOLM: Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the minister for his answer because it was the clearest answer that I have ever heard him give and the answer was no, he is not prepared to do that.
My next question, Mr. Speaker, through you, the minister, I am sure, would agree that the development of an onshore petrochemical industry is one of the major long-term benefits Nova Scotians can expect or should expect that they will gain from offshore gas resources but in order to develop a petrochemical industry here in Nova Scotia, we must reach a critical mass of gas that comes ashore and, as yet, we supposedly have not reached that. So I want to ask the minister a very simple question, what are you prepared to do to protect the Nova Scotia petrochemical industry? Are you prepared to guarantee that the gas and its liquids will not be shipped directly to the U.S. but that it will be available here in Nova Scotia for the development of the much promised but long delayed development of a petrochemical industry?
MR. BALSER: Mr. Speaker, I would remind the member opposite that regulations that are in place ensure that Nova Scotia will have opportunity to develop the liquids that come with the gas. The difficulty right now is that PanCanadian gas does not have a significant amount of liquids so even if that gas does wind up in Goldboro, it may not be the critical mass that needed to support a petrochemical industry.
MR. HOLM: And if you keep allowing it to be diverted, we are never going to reach that critical mass, Mr. Speaker, and we know that we are almost there right now so very little more is needed, especially when you hit the second phase of Sable. We also know that PanCanadian is contemplating processing the natural gas offshore because of the high sulphur content. I want to ask the minister this question. Are you prepared to demand that that not happen but instead that the gas be processed onshore unless you get a guarantee that the jobs in that processing will go to Nova Scotians?
MR. BALSER: Mr. Speaker, at this point PanCanadian has not come forward with their final business plan. They are preparing options and looking at the business case to support each of those options. The gas that PanCanadian will be bringing ashore does have sulphur. They have to look at what is the most cost-effective means of dealing with that problem. It is quite possible that the extraction will occur onshore. It is possible that they may look at removing the sulphur offshore. It is a question of what makes business sense.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Cape Breton East.
STAFF (POLITICAL) - APPROPRIATENESS
MR. DAVID WILSON: Mr. Speaker, my question is about a response we got in Question Period yesterday. When asking the Minister of Health about the involvement of Tory hack Cyril Reddy and the future of Recovery House in Antigonish, the minister indicated that while Mr. Reddy was not negotiating on behalf of the Department of Health, he was working on a business plan for Recovery House. My question to the Acting Premier,
does he not have a problem with political staff being paid with taxpayers' dollars to work for a client of the Department of Health?
HON. RONALD RUSSELL: As I understand the matter, Mr. Reddy was working on his own time, but I would refer the question to the Minister of Health.
HON. JAMES MUIR: I will repeat what I said yesterday. Certainly Mr. Reddy's involvement was not as an agent of the Department of Health, but I have been informed that he did meet with some of the officials from Recovery House as a private citizen, as the honourable minister has, and helped them prepare a business plan, which is pretty generous use of his time.
MR. WILSON: I have been asking about this question. They are blaming it on anything and everybody; the only thing they haven't blamed yet is unusual sunspot activity. The Minister of Health has countless staff people over there around him. You pay Cyril Reddy $41,000 a year, and you say he is working on his own time. My question, again, with all the staff floating around the Minister of Health these days, could that minister please indicate why a Tory crony from Truro is working with his department's clients rather than his department's staff?
MR. MUIR: I can say that we were not approached by Recovery House for help in business planning. I should also inform the honourable member that I believe Mr. Reddy's place of residence is New Glasgow, and he should also know that the chairman of Recovery House is the Mayor of Stellarton; therefore they are probably neighbours and know each other personally and his personal involvement makes a lot of sense. This is the International Year of Volunteers, something that bunch would know nothing about.
MR. WILSON: The minister knows full well that the Tory caucus office pays Cyril Reddy $41,000 a year. Never mind who he hangs around or lives by. The Health Minister didn't know the other day that he was even doing any liaison work with Recovery House. What we have here is a little more than a failure to communicate, let me tell you.
This is the same government that so far has taken $3.8 million from the Sydney Casino profits from charities in this province. Can the Minister of Health stand in this House right now and honestly say that the monies from the Sydney Casino, that would have benefitted organizations like Recovery House, would they have not been better used there? I am asking the minister.
MR. MUIR: Recovery House has performed a valuable service for some years. They did run into some difficulties this year and needed some help. As the honourable members would know, the addiction services have been devolved to the district health authorities and they were asked (Interruptions) to go to the district health authorities to make their case to them and that is what . . .
MR. SPEAKER: Order. Honourable members, I absolutely can't hear the Minister of Health and his response. (Interruptions) Well, if you ask a question you probably would like to hear the answer. You may not necessarily agree with it, but I would think you would want to hear it. I would like to hear it too.
The honourable Leader of the Opposition.
MR. DARRELL DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, Recovery House in Antigonish has locked its doors and laid off its staff. Closed because this government is failing those people who either depend on or work at Recovery House. People from seven different counties line up for the programs provided by Recovery House, but now they have been turned away. Recovery House receives ongoing grants from the province, but more than 55 per cent of their funding comes from other sources. Recovery House has been successful in reaching out into the community for financial support and now they are a victim of their success.
In light of the large tax revenue provided through the sale of alcohol and the operation of legalized gambling, and in light of the record of community fundraising success for Recovery House, why is the Minister of Health failing to find a way to keep this valuable resource open?
HON. JAMES MUIR: Mr. Speaker, Recovery House operates in Antigonish, and as the honourable member probably knows or perhaps doesn't know, that in addition to a grant from the district health authority down there, it gets substantial contribution in kind in terms of their facility is located on the campus, I guess we would say, of the hospital.
Mr. Speaker, Recovery House was requested to approach the district health authority, present a business plan to it. My understanding is that they were in the process of that, the board of directors made the decision to stop the process. I am not entirely sure why.
MR. DEXTER: Mr. Speaker, the minister is right about this. In support of Recovery House, St. Martha's Regional Hospital in Antigonish is doing its part by providing free rent and subsidizing clients' meals. Many companies such as Pictou County's Kimberly-Clark and their employees are doing their part by making financial donations. But a great facility, providing a needed service is closed. Why does this government and the Department of Health not have any faith in the services provided by Recovery House?
MR. MUIR: Mr. Speaker, Recovery House has served this province for quite some number of years and, actually, I have visited that, along with a number of my colleagues here a couple of years ago. Like every other organization that operates, addiction services has devolved, to get their funding they are required to work through the district health authority. That's the route that they should be going. My understanding is, that was what - in specific,
going back to a question - that is what Mr. Reddy was helping them do, make that presentation.
MR. DEXTER: Well, Mr. Speaker, if this government had faith in Recovery House it would immediately provide an emergency transfusion. Such a course of action would allow the staff and supporters of Recovery House to continue to fund raise. Why does the minister fail to realize that a locked facility is hamstrung when it comes to community fundraising?
MR. MUIR: Mr. Speaker, there are a number of organizations in the province that do very good work and also look to the community for support. Indeed, we have a number of them here in the metro area and I expect the good member for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour probably supports some of them. The fact is, that for the ongoing operational costs of that, the money is funnelled through the district health authority and they should make their approach to them.
MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Cape Breton West.
NEGOTIATION IRREGULARITIES - LBR. RELATIONS BD. INVESTIGATE
MR. RUSSELL MACKINNON: Mr. Speaker, allegations were made in this House yesterday to the effect that the Halifax Regional School Board is bargaining in bad faith. My question to the Minister of Environment and Labour is, will you direct Labour Relations Board staff to immediately investigate allegations of bad-faith bargaining by the Halifax Regional School Board?
HON. DAVID MORSE: Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for that question. As a former Minister of Labour he would probably be aware that there is a process in place and, normally, one would expect a request to come from one of the parties to the minister before it would undertake that type of decision.
MR. MACKINNON: Mr. Speaker, I believe that the janitor at the Terminal Building would be more effective than that minist