Published by Order of the Legislature by Hansard Reporting Services and printed by the Queen's Printer.

Available on INTERNET at http://www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/HOUSE_BUSINESS/hansard.html

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HALIFAX, FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2009

Sixtieth General Assembly

Second Session

9:00 A.M.

SPEAKER

Hon. Alfie MacLeod

DEPUTY SPEAKER

Mr. Wayne Gaudet

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. We will commence the daily routine.

PRESENTING AND READING PETITIONS

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Hants East.

MR. JOHN MACDONELL: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to table a petition on behalf of the residents of my constituency. The operative clause:

"Due to the deplorable, dangerous condition of Route 215, and in light of the volume of traffic, consisting of local, tourist and business traffic year round, we the undersigned do request that the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal rebuild Route 215 from Exit 10 on Highway 102 through to Noel and along the Fundy Shore, commencing in the Spring of 2009. This would provide a safer route for the residents of East Hants, support and sustain the Tourist Industry and provide an acceptable route for business."

Mr. Speaker, there are a little over 1,000 signatures and I have affixed my signature in support.

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MR. SPEAKER: The petition is tabled. (Interruptions)

Order, please.

The honourable Minister of Education.

HON. JUDY STREATCH: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to table a petition on behalf of the Chebucto Wilderness Coalition, the operative clause being:

"We the undersigned call upon the Nova Scotia Government to designate, as a protected wilderness area, the continuous block of approximately 9,800 hectares of public lands on the Chebucto Peninsula within the boundaries of Highways 103 and 333, in the County of Halifax, Province of Nova Scotia, under the Wilderness Areas Protection Act. S.N.S.,C. 27 as amended;".

Mr. Speaker, it has been signed by 564 individuals and I have also affixed my signature.

MR. SPEAKER: The petition is tabled.

The honourable member for Queens.

MS. VICKI CONRAD: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to table the following petition, the operative clause reading:

"WHEREAS our roads have the right to be properly maintained,

WE, the undersigned, petition the Government of Nova Scotia to properly fix the Green Bay Road, the Petite Riviere Road and the Italy Cross Road. For years occasional patching on these roads has been done with the ruts and bumps reappearing each year. The current road conditions are unacceptable. The areas of Crescent Beach, Green Bay and Petite Riviere are so important to the tourism business of our province and with the deplorable condition of the roads, people are staying away. Also, the condition of the roads creates a major expense to the automobiles of Nova Scotia taxpaying residents of these areas."

Mr. Speaker, there are 250 names on the petition and I have affixed my signature.

MR. SPEAKER: The petition is tabled.

The honourable member for Kings West.

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MR. LEO GLAVINE: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to enter a petition on behalf of the residents of McNally, Nollett Beckwood, Armstrong and Shore Roads, who request an upgrade to their roads, and guardrails.

There are 57 names assigned to this petition and I have affixed my name.

MR. SPEAKER: The petition is tabled.

Are there further petitions?

PRESENTING REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

TABLING REPORTS, REGULATIONS AND OTHER PAPERS

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Immigration.

HON. LEONARD GOUCHER: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to introduce a letter on the Reporting Requirement under Subsection 43(2) Civil Service Act, and accompanying the letter will be the Order in Council #2009-103 and the regulation cited as Politically Limited Employee Position Exclusion Regulations.

I also circulated the letter to all members of the House prior to the sitting this morning. Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER: The report is tabled.

The honourable Minister of Justice.

HON. CECIL CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to table a report entitled Evaluation of the Nova Scotia Small Claims Court: Final Report of the Nova Scotia Law Reform Commission, by Saint Mary's University.

MR. SPEAKER: The report is tabled.

STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS

GOVERNMENT NOTICES OF MOTION

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Premier.

RESOLUTION NO. 6827

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HON. RODNEY MACDONALD (The Premier): Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas yesterday, hundreds of residents of the Purcells Cove and Herring Cove areas were forced from their homes as fire - fanned by strong winds - whipped through the HRM communities; and

Whereas the Canadian Red Cross is assisting those individuals and families evacuated from their homes at the William Spry Community Centre; and

Whereas hopefully rain today will provide a needed break for personnel from the HRM fire service, DNR fire service, police forces, and all who are doing their part to protect the community and help extinguish the blaze;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House thank all these individuals for their heroic efforts to deal with this tragic wildfire and wish our firefighters well as they work to extinguish the fire and avoid any further destruction of homes and the natural areas of the 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 Premier.

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, I will be visiting the site later on today. If I might be allowed an introduction?

MR. SPEAKER: Please do.

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, I would like all members to extend a very warm welcome to a very special visitor in your gallery today. We have with us Commander Josée Kurtz. On April 6^th, Commander Kurtz became the 11^th commanding officer of Her Majesty's Canadian ship Halifax. She is the first female to command a major Canadian Navy warship. She is a native of Joliette, Québec. She joined the Canadian Forces in 1988, received her Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate in 1991, and specialized in Maritime Navigation. She

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subsequently navigated HMC ships Nipigon, Ville de Québec, and the Protector. She served as executive officer of HMCS Ville de Québec from 2007-09 and during this time the ship participated in an anti-piracy escort mission in support of the World Food Programme in Somalia.

Please join me, Mr. Speaker, and all members of the House in welcoming the commander here today. (Standing Ovation)

I neglected in my introduction to also welcome Tim Dunne, who is our Military Adviser. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Premier.

RESOLUTION NO. 6828

THE PREMIER: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas just weeks ago, Canada celebrated another proud first; and

Whereas in April, in our own port, Commander Josée Kurtz took the helm of the warship HMCS Halifax - the first time a Canadian woman has assumed such a position; and

Whereas the Québec native and now Halifax resident balances this significant promotion within our military with another important duty - being a parent;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House salute Commander Kurtz for this honour and for her 19 years of military service which led her to the position she holds today - all guided by the mission of our service personnel: to serve and protect her fellow Canadians here and overseas.

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.

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The honourable Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs.

RESOLUTION NO. 6829

HON. BARRY BARNET: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Royal Canadian Mounted Police Corporal Craig Smith has been a lifelong advocate for African Nova Scotian communities; and

Whereas Mr. Smith is a dedicated public servant whose passion for his own heritage inspired him to write numerous publications outlining the hardships and accomplishments of African Nova Scotians; and

Whereas in February of 2009, he released The Ultimate African Heritage Quiz (Maritime Edition) to celebrate the 25^th Anniversary of African Heritage Month and to promote the important and widely under-recognized Nova Scotia milestones made by those of African descent;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Corporal Craig Smith on the release of his book and commend him for his dedication to preserving and promoting African Nova Scotian history.

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.

[9:15 a.m.]

The honourable Minister of Health.

RESOLUTION NO. 6830

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HON. KAREN CASEY: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the first floor of The News building in New Glasgow became the new location of the Mental Health Services Community Supports for Adults Program; and

Whereas the new brightly lit, roomy location for treating clients with mental illnesses provides room for use of computers, crafts, and other activities; and

Whereas the new space allows for much more flexibility for the program's 120 clients, half of whom regularly take part in the programming offered at the site;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of the House of Assembly join me in congratulating Pictou County Health Authority on this beneficial development, and on their dedication to adults who need mental health services.

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 Fisheries and Aquaculture.

RESOLUTION NO. 6831

HON. RONALD CHISHOLM: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Eastern Fishermen's Federation is celebrating their 30^th Anniversary in 2009; and

Whereas the Eastern Fishermen's Federation has provided 30 years of providing leadership through information sharing, networking and governance; and

Whereas the federation has been a positive influence serving a diverse industry in factors such as geography, species and history;

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Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate the Eastern Fishermen's Federation and all of its members on celebrating their 30^th Anniversary.

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 Justice.

RESOLUTION NO. 6832

HON. CECIL CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas our Crime Prevention Strategy supports government making investments in programs through community grants so at-risk youth and citizens have access to recreational programs; and

Whereas the Department of Justice has funded 52 community organizations across the province since December 2008; and

Whereas those community organizations deliver recreation and programs so youth and other citizens are engaged in productive activities;

Therefore be it resolved that the representatives of these 52 organizations be congratulated on their continued success in making their communities safer for everyone.

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.

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The motion is carried.

The honourable Minister of Health Promotion and Protection.

RESOLUTION NO. 6833

HON. PATRICK DUNN: 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 19-25, 2009 is designated National Volunteer Week to recognize, celebrate and thank Canadians who volunteer for various community initiatives and charitable organizations; and

Whereas the success of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia would not be possible were it not for the 4,000 Nova Scotians whose volunteering efforts allow the foundation to undertake meaningful work in advocacy, health promotion and research; and

Whereas 30 exceptional Nova Scotians have recently been awarded the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia's volunteer honour, the Outstanding Volunteer Award, by the foundation's honorary patron, the Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House acknowledge the significant contribution that Nova Scotia's volunteers make to their community, and congratulate the 30 volunteers who have received the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia's Outstanding Volunteer Award.

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 Gaelic Affairs.

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RESOLUTION NO. 6834

HON. ANGUS MACISAAC: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas May 1^st marks the first day of Gaelic Awareness Month, celebrated throughout the province every May month since 1996; and

Whereas Gaelic language and culture represents one of the province's early languages and cultures contributing to the rich fabric of the province through its language, music, storytelling, song, dance, place names, foods and customs; and

Whereas the Gaelic community and Gaelic's presence contribute culturally, educationally, socially and economically to that which constitutes the broader Nova Scotia experience;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize May 1^st as Gaelic Awareness Month in the province and participate in opportunities throughout the month to learn more about Gaelic in Nova Scotia.

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 responsible for Military Relations.

RESOLUTION NO. 6835

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 Royal Canadian Navy's principal responsibility during the Second World War was to escort the merchant ship convoys from Halifax to Europe beginning September 16, 1939; and

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Whereas Canada's Navy had neutralized the German U-boat threat by 1943; and

Whereas 24 Canadian naval ships were sunk during the war and approximately 2,000 members of the Royal Canadian Navy died, whose sacrifices will be recognized on Sunday morning during the annual Battle of Atlantic Sunday service at Point Pleasant Park's Sailors Memorial;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House acknowledge the sacrifices, the achievements and the victory by the proud members of the Canadian Navy during the Battle of the Atlantic.

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.

HON. MARK PARENT: 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 hold convocation ceremonies today in Truro; and

Whereas Jeff and Debra Moore are the founders of Just Us Coffee; and

Whereas Jeff and Debra Moore will be honoured with Honorary Doctorates of Law for their commitment to fair trade business practices, sustainable agriculture and rural development;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Jeff and Debra Moore for receiving honorary doctorates.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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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.

RESOLUTION NO. 6837

HON. JUDY STREATCH: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Bridgewater Elementary School principal Mark MacLeod was named Outstanding Administrator by the Nova Scotia School Administrators' Association; and

Whereas Mr. MacLeod has been called a teacher's principal and a player's coach for the high level of support he offers his staff and students; and

Whereas he works with the utmost professionalism, even during the most difficult of circumstances, to ensure that his school is filled with an atmosphere of trust and comfort;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House sincerely congratulate Mark MacLeod on winning this prestigious award and for being an outstanding community and school leader.

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 Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.

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RESOLUTION NO. 6838

HON. BROOKE TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the trucking industry plays a major role in keeping Nova Scotia's economy on the move - if you got it, a truck brought it; and

Whereas the Nova Scotia Trucking Safety Association is committed to improving truck safety in the province; and

Whereas the association recently presented its annual Safety Excellence Awards in recognition of outstanding safety performance within the trucking industry;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate the following major award winners: Hillman's Transfer Limited of Sydney, Donald Whynot Trucking Limited of Danesville, Premiere Van Lines of Dartmouth, Atlantic Tiltload of Dartmouth, and CBI-Health of Bedford, for their efforts and achievements during the last year - keep on trucking.

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, signify by shifting gears. Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

The honourable Minister of Health.

RESOLUTION NO. 6839

HON. KAREN CASEY: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas hepatitis B and C can lead to serious liver damage, liver cancer, and the need for liver transplantation; and

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Whereas in Canada about 500,000 people are living with either hepatitis B or C; and

Whereas early diagnosis may allow infected individuals to benefit from treatment which may clear the virus, help lessen damage to the liver, and prevent the virus from spreading to others;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House join me in recognizing May as Hepatitis Awareness Month in Nova Scotia.

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 Fisheries and Aquaculture.

RESOLUTION NO. 6840

HON. RONALD CHISHOLM: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Eastern Canadian Fisheries Exposition was held in March of this year in Yarmouth; and

Whereas the first Biennial Industry Achievement Awards were presented during the Eastern Canadian Fisheries Exposition; and

Whereas the awards recognized individuals who have contributed to the betterment of the industry, through volunteering or other outstanding contributions to their community and the fishing industry;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House congratulate Ashton Spinney, Henry Surrette, and Denny Morrow, all from Yarmouth County, for winning the Biennial Industry Achievement Award.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

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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 African Nova Scotian Affairs.

RESOLUTION NO. 6841

HON. BARRY BARNET: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas on January 16^th Jean Whalen was appointed judge of the Family and Provincial Courts of Nova Scotia; and

Whereas Ms. Whalen, who will be based in Sydney, was a college instructor and most recently a senior Crown Attorney with the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service for close to 20 years; and

Whereas she is also a founding member of the Black Lawyers' Association of Nova Scotia, was vice-chair of the Race Relations Committee of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society, and is described as a compassionate, wise woman whose diverse experience will serve her well in her deliberations;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Judge Jean Whalen on her appointment, and wish her luck in contributing to the fair and effective administration of justice in the Province of Nova Scotia.

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.

[Page 6902]

The motion is carried.

The honourable Minister of Agriculture.

RESOLUTION NO. 6842

HON. MARK PARENT: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas April 19^th to April 25^th was the 24^th year that National Soil Conservation Week has been recognized in Canada; and

Whereas soil conservation supports and sustains crop, rangeland, and woodlot production and is also important to maintaining other resources such as water, air, and wildlife habitat; and

Whereas the value of these soils to the Canadian economy can be equalled to roughly $36.3 billion to the country each year;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House recognize National Soil Conservation Week.

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 Health Promotion and Protection.

RESOLUTION NO. 6843

HON. PATRICK DUNN: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the disappearance and control of many infectious diseases can be attributed to immunization programs; and

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Whereas immunization is a cornerstone of public health and a priority for the Department of Health Promotion and Protection; and

Whereas many lives have been saved, numerous illnesses have been prevented, and the benefits of immunization clearly outweigh the risks;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House of Assembly endorse National Immunization Week, which runs until May 2^nd, encourage all Nova Scotians to ensure their vaccinations are up to date, and recognize physicians and other medical professionals for their diligence in promoting immunization programs.

[9:30 a.m.]

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 Halifax Chebucto on an introduction.

MR. HOWARD EPSTEIN: Mr. Speaker, with the establishment of Citadel High School on the Halifax peninsula, the two previous high schools were closed, one of them being St. Pat's High School located in my constituency. The school board chose to continue to use that building, and one of the purposes for which it uses it is to offer classes to adults in English as a Second Language. I am happy to report that today we have a group of the adult students who are taking courses in English as a Second Language visiting us today to observe the proceedings in this House. We have five of the students, accompanied by their group leader, Daniel MacIntyre, and they're in the west gallery. I would ask the members of the House to give them a warm welcome as they observe our proceedings. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Education.

RESOLUTION NO. 6844

[Page 6904]

HON. JUDY STREATCH: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas on February 28^th, Morgan Colp of Brookside Junior High School, in Hatchet Lake, was named Chronicle Herald Halifax Regional Spelling Bee champion; and

Whereas Mr. Colp waited a mere half- second before assuredly delivering the correct spelling of the winning word "discriminate"; and

Whereas he travelled to Ottawa in April for the Canada bee and is off to Washington, D.C. in May for the U.S. national spelling contest;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House sincerely congratulate Morgan Colp on being named Halifax regional spelling bee champion and wish him good luck at the U.S. national championships in May.

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.

RESOLUTION NO. 6845

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 Grade 4 students and staff at Brookland Elementary School, in Sydney, participated in activities to recognize Earth Day; and

Whereas their knowledge and understanding of environmental issues is helping to create a clean and green Nova Scotia; and

Whereas they do their part through recycling, composting, and picking up litter to keep their communities clean;

[Page 6905]

Therefore be it resolved that the members of this House join the people of Nova Scotia in congratulating Grade 4 students and staff at Brookland Elementary for their good work to protect the environment.

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 Justice.

RESOLUTION NO. 6846

HON. CECIL CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Small Claims Court plays a vital role in Nova Scotia's justice system; and

Whereas an independent study recently conducted by Saint Mary's University concluded that Nova Scotia's Small Claims Court is doing an excellent job of meeting its core objective of providing affordable, informal, and speedy access to justice; and

Whereas this report, which is supported by the Nova Scotia Law Reform Commission, marks the completion of a project that started more than two and a half years ago;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize this excellent result and congratulate those involved who work in Small Claims Court.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.

Is it agreed?

[Page 6906]

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.

RESOLUTION NO. 6847

HON. CAROLYN BOLIVAR-GETSON: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas May is Caregiver Awareness Month, and more than a third of us provide care to another person; and

Whereas Caregivers Nova Scotia is holding the Halifax Caregiver Luncheon and the first Caregiver Expo next week; and

Whereas the Nova Scotia Partnership on Respite, Family Health and Well-being, with co-chairs from the Advisory Council on the Status of Women and the Disabled Persons Commission, have developed excellent resources and outreach for families;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House extend their appreciation to all caregivers across the 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 Minister of Natural Resources.

[Page 6907]

HON. CAROLYN BOLIVAR-GETSON: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas three of the province's parks are celebrating anniversaries this year, including Whycocomagh Provincial Park, Inverness County, on 50 years; Ellenwood Provincial Park, Yarmouth County, on 40 years; and Valleyview Provincial Park, Annapolis County, on 40 years; and

Whereas these provincial parks have provided an opportunity for residents and visitors to Nova Scotia to explore and discover our nature; and

Whereas the contributions of generations of men and women who have helped with the development, management, and operation of our province's parks over the years is greatly appreciated;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House recognize the importance of our provincial parks, especially Whycocomagh, Ellenwood, and Valleyview as they celebrate such significant anniversaries.

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. 253 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 293 of the Revised Statutes of 1989. The Motor Vehicle Act. (Hon. Richard Hurlburt)

Bill No. 254 - Entitled an Act to Provide Dignity for Seniors and Establish Options to Allow Them to Remain in Their Own Homes. (Mr. Darrell Dexter)

Bill No. 255 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 345 of the Revised Statutes of 1989. The Pipeline Act. (Hon. Barry Barnet)

Bill No. 256 - Entitled an Act to Amend Chapter 92 of the Revised Statutes of 1989. The Consumer Protection Act. (Mr. Keith Colwell)

[Page 6908]

Bill No. 257 - Entitled an Act to Create Thousands of Secure Jobs in the Manufacturing and Processing Sectors in Nova Scotia. (Mr. Darrell Dexter)

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 Official Opposition.

MR. DARRELL DEXTER: May I beg your indulgence and do an introduction?

MR. SPEAKER: Please do.

MR. DEXTER: I would like to introduce to the House, in the west gallery, Mr. Melvin Harris. Mr. Harris is a constituent of mine, I consider him a friend of mine. Sometimes I describe him as the last farmer in Cole Harbour, a guy who has been involved very much with the British Home Children society, and is joining us here today first for this resolution, but also to observe some of what's going on in the House. Mr. Harris, welcome, and I ask the House to welcome you. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Official 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 between 1879 and 1948 approximately 100,000 British Home Children, aged 4 to 15, arrived in Canada to work as indentured farm labourers and domestic servants until they were 18 years old; and

Whereas today it is estimated there are four to five million descendants of the British Home Children living throughout Canada and the United States; and

Whereas in 2009, the millions of descendants of the British Home Children and those who are survivors will commemorate the 140^th Anniversary of the arrival of the first British Home Children in Canada;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly recognize a month in the year of 2009 as the Month of the British Home Child.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

[Page 6909]

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 Preston.

RESOLUTION NO. 6850

MR. KEITH COLWELL: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas despite his repeated claims that he would never run a deficit, the Premier plans to do just that; and

Whereas the Premier figures that as long as this year's books are balanced, no one would care about the deficit which his government ran last year; and

Whereas by attempting to change legislation to cover up his mismanagement, the Premier has shown that he does not have the skills necessary to lead this province;

Therefore be it resolved that the Premier apologize to Nova Scotians for his poor management of the finances of this province and his subsequent attempt to cover up his shortcomings.

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.

[Page 6910]

The honourable member for Hants West.

RESOLUTION NO. 6851

MR. CHUCK PORTER: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the sport of volleyball is the number two participation sport in the world, with more than one billion players worldwide; and

Whereas the Under 14 Tier 1 Girls West Hants Wizards volleyball team placed third out of 22 teams in the Nova Scotia Provincial Championship Tournament held April 25^th to April 26^th, with the Wizards Under 14 Tier 1 team now moving ahead to play in the Canadian East Open Tournament in Moncton May 8^th to May 10^th; and

Whereas Olivia Parker of Newport, in playing with the Wizards, is just one of more than half a billion females playing the game on a worldwide basis;

Therefore be it resolved that MLAs in this House of Assembly congratulate Olivia Parker on an outstanding session of volleyball.

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.

[9:45 a.m.]

RESOLUTION NO. 6852

MR. JOHN MACDONELL: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

[Page 6911]

Whereas birds are our companions in this world, both in the backyard and in the wild; and

Whereas serious birdwatching has assisted science with a high level of observation, recording, and cataloguing of various species by its enthusiasts; and

Whereas Ms. Roslyn MacPhee of Shubenacadie was recently presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from the Nova Scotia Bird Society for her outstanding volunteer efforts in a wide variety of aspects relating to birding;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Roslyn MacPhee on her recognition from the Nova Scotia Bird Society and thank her for her contributions to this important field of natural outdoor activity.

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 Glace Bay.

RESOLUTION NO. 6853

MR. DAVID WILSON (Glace Bay): Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in this province, ER closures are a problem that just keeps getting worse; and

Whereas year-to-date, emergency rooms have been closed in excess of 3,200 hours, double the number of hours closed last year; and

Whereas in a pre-election bid to earn support, the Minister of Health says that she is looking for solutions to the ER crisis, which would have been helpful months ago when she took over the portfolio;

[Page 6912]

Therefore be it resolved that the Minister of Health work diligently to find meaningful solutions to the closure of emergency rooms in this province, and not just election-style rhetoric.

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 Victoria-The Lakes.

MR. KEITH BAIN: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Cape Breton Island is a place of many firsts where ideas take flight; and

Whereas Mabel and Alexander Graham Bell's contributions to Cape Breton include the flight of the Silver Dart as well as the formation of the first Home and School Association in Canada; and

Whereas the Trans-Canada Highway No. 105, which stretches from the Canso Causeway to North Sydney, the gateway to Newfoundland and Labrador, passes the beautiful Village of Baddeck, which is celebrating the 100^th Anniversary of the flight of the Silver Dart;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House approve the renaming of the Trans-Canada Highway No. 105 as the Mabel and Alexander Graham Bell Way in recognition of their tremendous contributions to Cape Breton, Canada and the world.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.

[Page 6913]

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)

Order, please. The honourable member for Halifax Fairview.

RESOLUTION NO. 6855

MR. GRAHAM STEELE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the staff and customers of the TD Canada Trust branch in the Bayers Road Centre, Halifax, have for the past 17 years donated teddy bears to the local cancer treatment centre; and

Whereas the teddy bears are comfort bears that go to adults who are undergoing chemotherapy treatment; and

Whereas as one of the volunteers said, everyone needs a bear, even if they don't realize it at first;

Therefore be it resolved that this House thank the staff and customers of the TD Canada branch in the Bayers Road Centre, Halifax, for their kind actions in providing support and comfort to cancer patients.

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 Digby-Annapolis.

[Page 6914]

RESOLUTION NO. 6856

MR. HAROLD THERIAULT: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in anticipation of a general election, the Premier and his Minister of Natural Resources announced that they had bid on 21,000 acres of Irving-owned land; and

Whereas while the Premier and his Cabinet are withholding details of their bid, it seems strange that we now have the money to afford such a purchase; and

Whereas in the past, the Minister of Community Services, the Minister of Natural Resources, the Minister of Environment, and the Premier himself have said that the funds were simply not available at this time;

Therefore be it resolved that the Premier tell Nova Scotians whether or not this bid on the Irving lands is just another case of playing pre-election politics.

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 Hants West.

RESOLUTION NO. 6857

MR. CHUCK PORTER: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Hantsport's Kira Pederson has been named to the Nova Scotia Under-17 Women's Basketball Team which will play in the Canada Summer Games in Charlottetown in August; and

Whereas Kira's physical education teacher from Primary through to Grade 9, Renda Vandertoorn, describes Kira as an incredible athlete; and

[Page 6915]

Whereas Nova Scotia's head coach, Scott Munro, describes Pederson as a versatile player and hopes Kira will be a team leader when play gets underway on August 15^th;

Therefore be it resolved that MLAs in this House of Assembly compliment Kira Pederson of Hantsport on her development as a "hoops star" and wish her and Team Nova Scotia outstanding success this summer on Prince Edward Island.

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.

MR. CHARLES PARKER: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Bill Henderson has recently been recognized as Pictou's Volunteer of the Year for 2009; and

Whereas Bill has been involved with many community organizations over the years such as the Red Cross, the Food Bank, the Northumberland Fisheries Museum, the Pictou County Military Heritage Museum and many others; and

Whereas Mr. Henderson's most recent undertaking is in acquiring a scale model of a Parks ship to be on display in Pictou in 2010 commemorating the 100^th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Navy;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly congratulate Bill Henderson on being recognized as Pictou's Volunteer of the Year for 2009 and thank him for the fine work he does for both the town and the County of Pictou.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

[Page 6916]

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 Preston.

RESOLUTION NO. 6859

MR. KEITH COLWELL: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in the Fall of 2008, the Premier of Nova Scotia had a choice to make - would he act immediately or would he play a game of wait and see - he chose to wait; and

Whereas while this government waited, jobs were lost and businesses filed for bankruptcy from one end of this province to the other; and

Whereas with each passing day it became abundantly clear that the Premier and his Cabinet have failed Nova Scotians;

Therefore be it resolved that the Premier explain to Nova Scotians why his government decided to wait six months before finally showing an interest in the state of the economy.

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 Victoria-The Lakes.

RESOLUTION NO. 6860

[Page 6917]

MR. KEITH BAIN: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas in 1969, Dr. Carlyle Chow began his medical practice in Baddeck; and

Whereas Dr. Chow still continues his practice today, serving the medical needs of the people in Baddeck and surrounding areas as well as contributing greatly to his community beyond his medical profession; and

Whereas although he is not yet ready to retire, a special evening honouring Dr. Chow will be held on Thursday, May 7^th, in Baddeck;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate and thank Dr. Carlyle Chow for his 40 years of dedicated medical service to the area and wish him many more years of good health and happiness.

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 Halifax Atlantic.

RESOLUTION NO. 6861

MS. MICHELE RAYMOND: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas fire broke out on Wednesday in the woods behind J.L. Ilsley School in Spryfield and was assumed extinguished on Wednesday night; and

Whereas fire reappeared on Thursday and has been burning out of control since then, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people and destroying an unknown number of homes in the capital city of Nova Scotia and attracting international attention; and

[Page 6918]

Whereas the Minister of Natural Resources believed, as of 6:45 p.m. last night, that three borrowed water bombers had arrived from New Brunswick although as of 7:30 this morning, Mayor Peter Kelly stated that these water bombers were on their way;

Therefore be it resolved that this government, even at this late date, begin to take seriously its responsibilities as elected representatives and stop taking risks with the health and safety of its citizens. (Interruption)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. (Interruption) Order, please.

The notice is tabled.

The honourable Minister of Finance.

RESOLUTION NO. 6862

HON. JAMES MUIR: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Colleen Pinkney, skip, and her teammates Wendy Currie, third; Karen Hennigar, second; Susan Creelman, lead; and Judy Burgess, coach from the Truro Curling Club won the 2009 Canadian Senior Women's Curling Championship; and

Whereas the Colleen Pinkney rink went 10-1 in round-robin play and earned the championship with a 6 to 4 victory over British Columbia's Kathy Smiley; and

Whereas the Pinkney rink is the first from Truro to win a national senior curling title and it is only the third for the province, the last being in 1987;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate Colleen Pinkney, Wendy Currie, Karen Hennigar, Susan Creelman and coach Judy Burgess on winning the 2009 Canadian Senior Women's Curling Championship, congratulate Colleen and Wendy for being first team all-stars, and wish the team every success in the upcoming world championship to be held in Russia.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

[Page 6919]

Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

The honourable member for Shelburne.

RESOLUTION NO. 6863

MR. STERLING BELLIVEAU: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Inverness South Fishermen's Association, the ISFA, has requested a meeting with the federal and provincial Ministers of Fisheries in regard to quota allocations; and

Whereas the Area 12 Nova Scotia crab fishers requested a meeting with the federal minister, Gail Shea, supported by a letter from the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Defence, and Minister Shea has opted to not meet with the ISFA; and

Whereas the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has also blocked the ISFA from making a presentation in Moncton, New Brunswick on March 11, 2009 and has not yet met with the Inverness South Fishermen's Association;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly encourage our provincial Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture to convene a meeting inviting the federal counterpart and the Inverness South Fishermen's Association.

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.

[10:00 a.m.]

RESOLUTION NO. 6864

[Page 6920]

HON. KAREN CASEY: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the North Colchester Mustangs, a senior boys basketball team from Tatamagouche, recently captured their first Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation Provincial Championship; and

Whereas the team's success was credited to a basketball program that continuously develops the players and their strong commitment in the off-season; and

Whereas after capturing their fourth consecutive regional banner, the Mustangs have established themselves as one of the top small school programs in this province.

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House congratulate the North Colchester Mustangs for this monumental accomplishment.

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 East.

RESOLUTION NO. 6865

MR. CLARRIE MACKINNON: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas St. Mary's Church in Lismore, Pictou County was established in 1834 by Highland Scots who had settled the area in significant numbers after several waves of immigration, the largest being in 1802; and

Whereas St. Mary's Church obtained its own charge as a parish in 1869 and was responsible for the creation of Lismore as the name of the community; and

[Page 6921]

Whereas St. Mary's Scottish Highland Church has continued to be the very heart of the community for many generations over its 175 years and maintains this role in the 21^st Century;

Therefore be it resolved that the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly congratulate the people of Lismore and surrounding area, and the many parishioners both past and present who have contributed to parish life and the preservation of one of the most historic Roman Catholic Churches in Atlantic Canada.

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.

RESOLUTION NO. 6866

HON. JUDY STREATCH: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas to pull off many successful school events, teachers, administration and students rely on the assistance of dedicated volunteers and on April 21, 2009, volunteer Amy Covey assisted the Tantallon Elementary School in their Marsville program; and

Whereas Marsville was an exciting hands-on, minds-on, cross-curricular program promoting student inquiry, risk-taking, problem-solving and team skills; student teams simulated habitation of the red planet, designed a mission patch, researched and built model life-support systems; and

Whereas after months of hard work, the students and staff hosted a Link Up Day on April 21, 2009;

Therefore be it resolved that all members of this House thank Amy Covey for all her help with Marsville.

[Page 6922]

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.

RESOLUTION NO. 6867

MS. BECKY KENT: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas Devil's Island, located at the mouth of the Halifax Harbour near Eastern Passage has a lighthouse that has been guiding local fishermen and other mariners for over 131 years and has played a significant role in the history of Eastern Passage; and

Whereas the Devil's Island Lighthouse Society was formed by Eastern Passage residents who are working to ensure that the lighthouse is retained and maintained as an operational navigational light; and

Whereas the society has collected over 3,200 names on a petition that will be presented in the House of Commons in Ottawa asking for the lighthouse to be protected under Bill S-215, the Federal Lighthouse Protection Act;

Therefore be it resolved that this House of Assembly support and encourage the Devil's Island Lighthouse Society in their efforts to retain and maintain the lighthouse as an operational navigational aid to mariners.

Mr. Speaker, I request waiver of notice.

MR. SPEAKER: There has been a request for waiver.

Is it agreed?

It is agreed.

[Page 6923]

Would all those in favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary minded, Nay.

The motion is carried.

The honourable member for Kings West.

RESOLUTION NO. 6868

MR. LEO GLAVINE: Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

Whereas the Premier's likely slogan for the upcoming election, which he may or may not want, is "Proven Record. Economy First"; and

Whereas throughout his three years in office, the Premier and his government have proven that they cannot manage the government's finances, they have proven they cannot keep ERs open, they have proven they are not capable of running Nova Scotia's corrections program; and

Whereas it is very surprising that the Premier is willing to run a campaign on this "Proven Record" of failure;

Therefore be it resolved that the Premier and his campaign team tell Nova Scotians why they should support a poor "Proven Record" such as theirs.

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 Finance.

RESOLUTION NO. 6869

HON. JAMES MUIR: A decent resolution now, Mr. Speaker. (Interruption)

Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that on a future day I shall move the adoption of the following resolution:

[Page 6924]

Whereas the Truro Branch of the Canadian Federation of University Women will hold its 45^th Book Fair on May 29-30, 2009; and

Whereas the book fairs of the Truro Branch of the Canadian Federation of University Women have been very successful over the years, raising over $265,000; and

Whereas the funds raised from the book fairs have been used to provide awards to graduating high school and mature students, as well as assisting the Truro Music Festival, Truro Head Start, Third Place Transition House, Maggie's Place, Colchester Historical Society, and the Colchester-East Hants Public Library;

Therefore be it resolved that the members of the House of Assembly congratulate the Truro Branch of the Canadian Federation of University Women on their 45^th Book Fair and for the generous support they have provided to students and the community over these 45 years.

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

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

HON. MURRAY SCOTT: Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. Last night in the emergency debate that we had in this House in regard to the economy of Nova Scotia, there was a lot of criticism toward the program that has been used by this province for decades. In fact, the honourable member for Pictou East made mention of pork-barrelling, and I think it was a great disrespect to the staff in my office. It's a program that's used widely by business, and business people have told me how much it has meant to them, the jobs we've saved and created over the last number of years in regard to the IEF. (Interruptions) Mr. Speaker will decide that, he'll decide if it's a point of order or not.

[Page 6925]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that if the honourable member felt that strongly against this program, maybe he could explain why his constituency office called me on behalf of a constituent to ask how they could access funds for the IEF. (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.

The honourable member for Cape Breton Centre.

MR. FRANK CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, again, I think it's more of a speech by the minister than a point of order, but clearly when he tried to put a fine point on it, the reality is I suspect most members of this House would like to know how that secretive fund works. So I suppose that's more in trying to enlighten Nova Scotians than to do anything else. So it was just a matter of a partisan speech rather than a point of order.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Economic and Rural Development.

HON. MURRAY SCOTT: They do not have a clue in regard to the IEF - like anything else in this province - not a clue of how that program works, not a clue. (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. I do not believe it is a point of order. I do believe it is a disagreement between two members. Actually, it's a disagreement among a number of members, but we'll leave it alone.

The honourable Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.

HON. BROOKE TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure - there was another member on their feet - if they were speaking to that point of order? I had a new point of order. I would yield the floor to my honourable colleague if it's on the same point of order.

MR. SPEAKER: Well, I already made my ruling on that last point of order, so it's over.

HON. KAREN CASEY: Mr. Speaker, I rise today on a new point of order. Yesterday in Question Period, in his supplementary question to me as Minister of Health, the member for Pictou East implied that our government had been dismissing the importance of the BTO Program.

In correspondence received at the Premier's Office later that day from the Nova Scotia Division of the Canadian Cancer Society, they provided "clarification and apology re the question to Minister Casey." That included:

[Page 6926]

"I didn't say anything about having tried to meet with Minister Casey, nor about anyone in the government not having been willing to meet with us. An NDP staffer called me yesterday evening to advise of today's question, invite me to the Legislature to view Question Period, and to check some facts and wording with me. The wording she ran by me did not include the little dig at the minister about meeting with us, and I was completely taken off guard when I heard the supplementary question from the gallery this afternoon."

I wish to table a copy of the entire correspondence.

MR. SPEAKER: Is there any response?

The honourable member for Cape Breton Centre.

MR. FRANK CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, we will take the correspondence under advisement and respond to it (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: It does not seem to me that this is a point of order, but it is a point of information, and the information has been shared and obviously we are tabling the issue.

The honourable Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.

HON. BROOKE TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, earlier on during the agenda item, Resolutions, the NDP member for Halifax Atlantic submitted a resolution. I have the "Therefore be it resolved" here - it speaks to the health of all citizens and it's alleging that the actions of the government are reprehensible and are taking risks with people's health. Mr. Speaker, I'd ask if you would review that resolution and advise the House as to whether or not that resolution is in order. I would simply make that request and thank you.

MR. SPEAKER: We will review that and we will get back to the House at the earliest convenience.

The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. CECIL CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, would you please call the order of business, Public Bills for Second Reading.

PUBLIC BILLS FOR SECOND READING

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. CECIL CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, would you please call Bill No. 240. (Applause)

[Page 6927]

Bill No. 240 - Offshore Offset Revenues Expenditure Act.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Finance. (Interruptions)

Order. I would request that the members of the House be reminded we are all honourable members - people are going to get the opportunity to speak on this item - and to give some respect to whichever individual is on the floor and has the floor. Everyone will have an opportunity in given time to respond. Please show the respect that you would like to be shown to yourself.

[10:15 a.m.]

The honourable Minister of Finance.

HON. JAMES MUIR: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. To be quite candid, it is with mixed emotions that I'm on my feet to speak to second reading of the Offshore Offset Revenues Expenditure Act, Bill No. 240. It is a bill of some consequence for two reasons: first, if this bill is not passed by this House then, unless the Leaders of the other two Parties and their colleagues agree, the budget will not be tabled; and secondly, it is a bill which kind of illustrates the serious financial difficulty that the province finds itself in in the year 2009-10.

Most of us in the government caucus were here in 2005 when the Offshore Offset Revenues Expenditure Act was put into force - indeed it was supported by all members of the House - and in 2005 it was clearly the right thing to do. And getting the financial affairs of the province in the shape that we can perhaps withstand the economic downturn as well as we are, is something of which not only the MacDonald Government, but the Hamm Government members are very proud and, Mr. Speaker, it's something that we have talked about very actively around the province.

What I'm trying to tell the members of this House and the people in Nova Scotia is that for government to go off that course, that was in some ways a killer of the Progressive Conservative Government. Something very, very dramatic had to change in the finances of this province.

What it means if this change is not accepted, there are going to be programs and services that are dear to all Nova Scotians, there are going to be numerous people laid off in the civil service, the Public Service . . .

MR. DARRELL DEXTER: You're making that up.

[Page 6928]

MR. MUIR: Well, Mr. Speaker, the honourable Leader of the Opposition says I'm making that up, but what I'd like to know is where he is going to get that revenue to make it up - we haven't heard that yet.(Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. Order, please.

The honourable Minister of Finance has the floor.

MR. MUIR: I don't know, one of the other things I suppose that could have been done - the honourable member for Halifax Atlantic read a resolution which probably shouldn't have been read in this House, but you know there are five helicopters out there fighting that fire at the present time and I suppose we could have taken two of those and put them on the ground. That's the type of thing that is going to have to happen. That is the type of thing, Mr. Speaker (Interruption)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. Order, please. Everybody will get an opportunity to speak.

The honourable Minister of Finance has the floor.

MR. MUIR: Mr. Speaker, getting back to the bill - I was using a couple of examples that obviously people didn't want to hear but I said simply to illustrate the types of things that might have to happen. What I was trying to illustrate is that the government has some severe choices to make.

I want to go back through a little bit of history of debt reduction and what has happened the past number of years in our province. First of all, I don't think most people understand that in Nova Scotia we're a little bit unique - we're actually different from any other province in Canada in our definition of deficit and surplus.

When we're talking about using the offshore offset monies and bringing them into the revenues so we can fund operations it does not mean that the province would not end the year in a surplus situation - it would still be in a surplus situation, just that the surplus is smaller. We're arguing about the size of a surplus, not whether we're going to be in surplus, whether the books are going to be balanced or not. According to GAAP, we will have more revenue than we are expending.

For nine other provinces and three territories - that's balanced books. It just happens that our situation, because of the conditions that were in effect because of the good government in 2005, we were able not only to negotiate that money, but we were in a position at that time to legislate that it go to the surplus and then flow to the debt, and that was a remarkable accomplishment - but 2005 and 2009 are two different years. Now, I see

[Page 6929]

the honourable member for Halifax Citadel-Sable Island over there, he's saying, you know, he has got four universities in his constituency, yet he does not want money to flow to those universities for capital improvement.

Mr. Speaker, I did start some time ago to talk about the debt reduction we have here in Nova Scotia, and for the members of the House, because you probably don't know that, Nova Scotia has implemented a number of measures in the past eight years - first to slow the growth of the debt and then to produce surplus in each year to reduce it. Reducing the net direct debt requires end of the year in a surplus position with revenues higher than expenditures and not having the change in the net book value of tangible capital assets exceed the surplus.

The 2005 debt reduction plan was a major step in debt reduction in that year, and Nova Scotia put $830 million from the federal offshore offset payment onto the debt. A portion of this offset is recognized as revenue for accounting purposes for a total of eight years. The debt reduction plan included a policy commitment to have the debt decline beginning in 2007-08. In 2007-08 the debt declined by $242-plus million. The net direct debt stood at $12.15 billion as of March 31, 2008. Debt servicing costs have dropped relative to revenues from 19.9 per cent in 2001-02 to 10.9 per cent in 2007-08. (Applause)

That's about a 50 per cent decline. Now, I know that the people on the other side of the House aren't very good with numbers, but if you take 20 and you subtract 10 from it, you get 10 and that's about half. The provincial debt as a percentage of gross domestic product has dropped from 48.7 per cent in 1999-2000 to 36.7 per cent for 2007-08. The stimulus plan which we are proposing will indeed result in an increase in the net direct debt. However, the increase will be manageable within a net direct debt-to-GDP ratio framework.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday afternoon I talked about the stimulus package and the fact that the government is going to borrow money to put into that stimulus package. I gave some figures yesterday afternoon, and just for clarity, because we do have some slow learners on the other side of the House, I want to go through this again. (Interruption) I have rounded these numbers off, Mr. Speaker, to make them even a little bit easier. The provincial debt right now is around $12 billion. We have about $8 billion in deferred maintenance.

MS. MAUREEN MACDONALD: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, you know it's one thing for the minister to have his point of view on this particular piece of legislation, but I don't think hurling insults enhances this debate. I also think that some of the insults he's hurling are very offensive to certain groups of people in our community who have had to deal with the stigma of those kinds of slurs, and the minister as a former educator should be very well aware of that. So I would ask you to find as unparliamentary the latest slur from the minister.

[Page 6930]

MR. SPEAKER: I don't believe that that is a point of order; it's more like a point of information.

The honourable Minister of Finance.

MR. MUIR: Mr. Speaker, it was not my intent to offend the honourable member or any other, and rather than using that word, perhaps I would say they're slow to uptake when it comes to numbers.

The provincial debt of $12 billion and outstanding deferred maintenance of about $8 billion - it gives roughly a total of about $20 billion. The stimulus package, which we are proposing and by the way, just for the information of members on the other side of the House - until the budget is passed, TCA spending in this province is now - we're out of room, so you can mull that one over too.

We have about $1.4 billion in the stimulus package and that would increase the debt to about $13.4 billion (Interruption) $1.9 in the stimulus package and $1.4 is coming from the provincial government. That's going to increase it to about $13.4.

We have outstanding deferred maintenance of about $8 billion. The deferred maintenance is going to be reduced by the amount of the stimulus package roughly, so effectively if we're putting $1.9 billion into stimulus, which is basically capital projects, then we can subtract that deficit; that should come off the infrastructure deficit. That would mean that at the end of that three-year stimulus period that the infrastructure deficit would be reduced from $8 billion to a little over $6 billion. If you add it up, the 2009-10 - because if you add together the infrastructure deficit in the net direct debt, we're up to about $20 billion. At the end of that three-year period, if we use that stimulus money and add both the net direct debt and the infrastructure debt together, the actual debt has been reduced by a half a billion dollars. It will come out to about $19.5 billion dollars.

Using that money for stimulus is not only going to keep about 20,000 people working or giving a better part of 20,000 people jobs, it is - in real terms - going to help the financial situation of the province.

Although this piece of legislation is very small, it does have significant implication for the people of Nova Scotia for two reasons. First of all, in how much money will be available for programs and services and secondly, the time it's going to take if we don't get a stimulus package out the door. It is going to have a whole lot of things.

What we would really like to do is to have the Opposition Parties pass this piece of legislation and pass the budget, or pass this piece of legislation so that the budget can be tabled and you can vote on the budget - you can see the plan we are proposing. If it's not up to your standards or something that you would like, then go ahead and vote against it. That's

[Page 6931]

what this House is all about, you know, Parties, and people make up their mind whether they're going to support legislation or they're not going to support legislation.

To make these statements in advance like the Leader of the Liberal Party has, and the Leader of the New Democratic Party and basically both turned thumbs down before - although I must say, the Leader of the New Democratic Party said he wanted to enter debate on this particular matter. Really what we have to look at is what is in the best interests of the people of Nova Scotia. It's not what's in the best interests of the member for Richmond nor the member for Glace Bay or the member for Halifax Needham or Halifax Fairview, or even Pictou West.

[10:30 a.m.]

Right now, in this time - I'm talking this time, I'm talking in these next two or three weeks - what is best for the people of Nova Scotia? We want to forget about whether I'm a Progressive Conservative, whether I am a Liberal or a member of the New Democratic Party. What we remember is, we are all Nova Scotians, and right now we have to be interested in the welfare of our province as opposed to the welfare of our Party.

This is the time to put partisan politics aside. This is the time to look at the issue. It's a time to say, listen, folks, we have 20,000 jobs more or less on the line, we've got an infrastructure package out there for universities, an infrastructure package out there for municipalities, we have an infrastructure package out there for roads which we are not going to be able to fully access. All of this has a considerable portion of money which is coming from the federal government and we aren't going to be able to make full use of that if this piece of legislation is not passed and we get at that budget.

Mr. Speaker, we have to get at the business and work in the best interest of our province. Unfortunately, for one reason or another - maybe we're all responsible for it in this House - we've allowed the economic situation in Nova Scotia, which means that we have to change the way we do business to become a political thing rather than a thing in the interests of Nova Scotia. We've got none of that.

I'm going to challenge people on the opposite side of the House: pass this legislation. Pass this legislation. Let a budget be tabled so the honourable member for Richmond can go back home and tell the people in his constituency, you know something, I protected, I helped protect your jobs, or I helped create some jobs in my constituency. Go home and tell your folks that. But you could go home and say, hey, I just voted against jobs in my constituency.

Or we could go to the member for Hants East. He can go out and tell the people he had a petition for roads, but yet, if he votes against this legislation, votes against the budget, he's voting against roads in his constituency. Delaying the construction season and all of these things, Mr. Speaker. This is a small piece of legislation; it is extremely important.

[Page 6932]

The dramatic downturn in the economy right across this country and across North America - indeed, across the world - has made everybody do things differently. Our good friends to the south of us in the United States, they virtually own several banks now, and they own, I think, half the automobile industry now. They had to do things differently. I don't know why the people in this House, at least on the other side of the House, don't understand that we have to do things differently in our province.

The offshore offset money last year was $105 million, more or less. Why do you think the government, in light of our track record, would take the position that we have to bring that money into ordinary revenue? The question is, would we have had a tougher decision to make politically? I don't think the people on the other side of the House understand the challenges we have. The member for Richmond ought to, because he was in government for a while, stumbling along with a $600 million surplus when they lost office.

AN HON. MEMBER: June budget.

MR. MUIR: A June budget, I forgot about that. (Interruptions) Yes, I know what it was, yes, health investment fund. (Interruptions)

Mr. Speaker, I think it's a good thing that I am hearing impaired because I didn't hear what he said, but anyway, what I'm trying to point out is that, you know, this piece of legislation did not come easily. The debate that took place within our caucus to come to this conclusion was hours and hours and hours. Now, I have not heard the other two Parties, except making these fleeting statements, say, oh, no, we don't need that offshore offset money, a drop in the bucket. It's a drop in the bucket. (Interruptions)

To understand, you know, if this piece of legislation is not passed, do you know where the next government - which will be us again - it will be starting from scratch, where we will be? We are going to be starting, and I want to tell you this, I want one of you to stand up and tell me how you are going to deal with it. You'll be starting, and I'm going to use rough numbers, you've got $105 million from last year. Now, that will be reduced because when we table the budget on Monday or Tuesday, whenever you will allow us to do it, we will show a surplus, and the $105 million from the offshore offset that was required to go to the offshore offset will be diminished or at least, you know, different but, you know, that if you have a deficit budget, it's carried over first charge in the next budget. You understand that, okay.

Now, right now that offshore offset cannot be counted. It has got to flow directly to the debt, Mr. Speaker. So what it means is that the next budget that will be presented in this House, whether it be by the - and likely will be - by the Progressive Conservative Government, whether it would be a Liberal Government, or whether it would be a New Democratic Government. (Interruptions) Heaven forbid.

[Page 6933]

Mr. Speaker, that government is starting $200 million in the hole - $200 million in the hole. I want to know what programs you are going to reduce, how many civil servants or public servants will be laid off, or how big a deficit you'll be running to make up that $200 million, and that's just a start. That's a start. Now, I know that's next year, we'll worry abut that next year. Well, I want to tell you we've been worrying about this since this year began. We've been working on this for months. We started last September to try to literally map out a plan that would be the best thing in the interest of all Nova Scotians. Will you allow us to table the budget on Monday? (Interruptions) We will table it. We make that offer.

Mr. Speaker, you know, we have a good plan. We were able in our budget to protect the essential programs and services Nova Scotians want. Nobody got what they wanted, nobody got what they wanted, and I want to tell you that if this bill is not passed, people are going to get a lot less than they wanted, a lot less than they wanted. We were able to come up with a plan which protected the essential services of Nova Scotians.

Mr. Speaker, in 2005 it was good. We had three or four real good years financially in this province, you know, the offshore royalties were great. The federal revenues were great. We got Crown share. We had the Atlantic Accord. We still have it, but the question to you is, do you want to borrow money to put on the debt? He understands this, he understands this, certainly he does. I mean he's, unfortunately, a member of a team and, you know - well, most of the time.

People get up and they wax eloquently about all of these great things they're going to do. I'm looking at the New Democratic Party because they've been the ones that have been making most of the promises, and I think our people say you've got about $2 billion in promises out there. Somebody said it went up $150 million yesterday. You can either raise taxes dramatically, you can run a deficit, or you can cut programs and services and lay people off. You cannot, and I'm telling you this, there is no way, unless - you better go down and buy a Powerball lottery ticket and hope it runs for half a billion dollars and you've got the winning number. There is no way those promises that have been made by the New Democratic Party can be met within the financial means of this province.

We talk about la-la land from time to time, and I can tell you financially it just - I look at the member for Halifax Fairview, he knows it's true. The member for Halifax Chebucto knows it's true. They know, they know. What I'm saying is, we've got to separate politics from policy which is good for Nova Scotia. We did not want to introduce this legislation, heaven knows. I was beside - as was Minister MacIsaac and Minister Parent and everybody, we were all there - we were beside the former Premier, and how proud we were to make that decision in 2005; 2005 and 2009, unfortunately, are different times.

I say that again, and I repeat it just so that people will understand the magnitude of the decision that you are making today, or will make on Monday, or will make on Tuesday. It is not - if you don't support this legislation, as I said, you've got choice, you can raise

[Page 6934]

taxes, you can cut programs and services, you can lay off 4,000 people - that'll give you $200 million. You can raise taxes for $200 million, you're going to reduce taxes.

The Leader of the New Democratic Party went so far - and I think it was the March 28^th edition of the Halifax Herald where he said that he was not only going to balance the budget, he was going to reduce the net direct debt; I think he was going to have a stimulus package and add $2 billion worth of promises.

I know sometimes when you speak politically - people in this House, we all make mistakes with things we say. We make statements, we get caught up in rally talk or political talk or something like that, but I think the problem with it is that - I think they believe that. Some of them believe it - now I know there are some that don't, because they know better.

Those things just aren't realistic, and they're going to be even more unrealistic for all of us if we don't pass this piece of legislation. I'm not going to characterize this as good legislation; I don't want to do that. For me, it's necessary legislation, it's something that has to be done given the situation that we're in. Heaven knows - certainly nobody on these benches - we would really like the conditions to be such that this province could protect programs and services and still make that debt payment from the offshore.

[10:45 a.m.]

I used an example when I spoke up at the Halifax Board of Trade the other day. I talked about a personal example and I'll put it on the table here again. When I was in the education business, I don't know, it must have been for 10 or 15 years I taught summer school every summer and I used to teach night school classes during the winter. I taught all across Canada and I did five or six terms at the University of Cape Breton, and there were hardly any of the Maritime universities I didn't work for at one time or another.

What I used to do with that summer school money was, I had a mortgage on my house and I used to make an extra payment on my mortgage with that summer school money. Good thing to do. I had that money coming in every year, so for a number of years I made that extra payment on the mortgage. (Interruption) I did, absolutely. You know what happened, though? One of my children needed orthodontic work. I didn't have orthodontics in my budget, so you know what I did with that summer school cheque? I gave it to the orthodontist because I had ongoing expenses, and I think for my family that was a better investment than putting it on my mortgage, than borrowing money to pay for the orthodontist.

I had two children go to the orthodontist, so I not only missed one payment, I missed a number of payments. I was able at the same time to make my regular mortgage payments. That's the situation the province finds itself in today. Do you borrow money to meet your operating expenses or do you make the extra mortgage payment? What do you want to do? You have that money sitting there - our debt costs right now are manageable.

[Page 6935]

In the past 10 years that we've been in government, the gross revenues of this province have increased roughly by about 100 per cent. Our debt has not kept pace, we have those numbers - that's why I read those numbers to you at the beginning, is that our debt servicing costs as a proportion of our economy have gone down in those 10 years. We want to keep the province on a sound financial footing. We can manage those debt costs right now.

But the other thing about running a deficit - I guess you have your choice, run a deficit or you pay your bills. We haven't run a deficit for seven years and if you allow us to table a budget, you will see we're not going to do it for an eighth year. (Interruptions) You'll really debate it on Monday? Not that I dispute the member for Halifax Fairview and the member for Pictou West, but we would be happy to have a consultation with your House Leader and your Party Leader to allow that very thing to occur.

Anyway, getting back to the issue here. Once you start to run a deficit - this was one of the things we literally considered, should we run a deficit? Should we use this kind of savings money that we have, that extra mortgage payment, so that we don't have to run a deficit?

If you run a deficit - I can tell you how it works - you people, with the exception of the member for Richmond, have never had the opportunity to go through this experience. And he probably never will again. (Interruptions) That is a certainty, yes, thank you. Anyway, for those who are listening, I'm not running again, no.

You sit around the caucus and the Cabinet Table and you have to make decisions. You know one of the conversations - and I know I'm kind of breaking Cabinet solidarity by saying this - one of the suggestions that came out said let's run a deficit and say we're going to attribute the deficit to Health, or we're going to attribute the deficit to Education, or we're going to attribute it to Economic Development, or Community Services, pick one of the departments.

My good friend, the member for Kings North, who has a justice centre, he needs a justice centre rebuilt down there in Kentville. I see the member for Kings West nodding his head - you agree to that, right? Okay. Now all I'm saying is what they're saying is that okay, if you run a big deficit for Natural Resources, why don't you add another $20 million on it so I can do the project in Health - or then the person from Health Promotion and Protection comes along and says we got a great big public relations program we want to do about healthy living, why don't you add $10 million on for that? We got down into Education, she said, look, you know there are a whole lot of things that need to be done in Education - just give me $15 million and we can fix that.

[Page 6936]

All of a sudden that $20 million or $30 million deficit becomes a $100 million or a $200 million deficit. When you have a deficit, where do you stop? That's what got this province into the difficulty it is in now.

AN HON. MEMBER: Which Party was that?

MR. MUIR: New Democratic, I think.

Anyway, Mr. Speaker, I've gone on long enough, just about, but I just want to remind the members of the opposite Party that your Leader is on record as saying he is committed to balancing the budget and not increasing the debt - which kills the stimulus plan, by the way - also, you know, as a Party the promises you have out there and you know how much those things are going to cost.

Folks, I'm just telling you that you've got to pull back because what you've proposed is simply not within the financial means of this province. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Halifax Citadel-Sable Island on an introduction.

MR. LEONARD PREYRA: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I may be permitted an introduction, in your gallery today is Mr. Ryan Watson, who is the Leader of the Nova Scotia Green Party and also a candidate in Halifax Citadel-Sable Island. I want to welcome him to the House.(Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Halifax Fairview.

MR. GRAHAM STEELE: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On a day when we are debating an important Finance bill I have to say that I, like all members of the House, am acutely conscious of the person who is not here.

I would like to start my remarks with my own tribute to the late Michael Baker. I had hoped to do this as part of my reply to the Budget Speech but as things are unfolding, it appears that I may not have the opportunity to do that.

I have been the Opposition Finance Critic for over seven years now and over that time, Mr. Speaker, I have dealt with a number of very fine people who have held the position of Minister of Finance: the Honourable Neil LeBlanc, the Honourable Peter Christie, and the late Honourable Michael Baker, and now the Honourable Jamie Muir - I'm sorry, he's a current member of the House - the honourable current Minister of Finance who has announced that he is not re-offering in the next election, and so I thank him for his service as well.

[Page 6937]

Michael Baker, as we all know, was a particularly fine gentleman, a vigorous advocate for his own point of view, the point of view of the government. His contributions inside the House were always incisive and important and worth listening to and dealing with him outside the House, whether it was in his role as the Government House Leader or otherwise, was always a pleasure because you couldn't always get your way with Michael but you knew that you were being listened to and you knew that whatever position he was putting forward was well thought out and well grounded.

As his illness took hold, I think we all saw in him a certain, what you might call a serenity that came very much to the fore as he dealt with his challenges and his family and continued, as was said in the House by the Party Leaders yesterday, to be completely devoted to his work as a public servant. I know that we do all miss the late Honourable Michael Baker very much and we think of him particularly because this bill which we are debating this morning and which may trigger an election is a Finance bill.

In a way, Mr. Speaker, it's a bit of an oddity because if I read the bill, or read the operative clause of the bill, there is not one single Nova Scotian who will understand what this means and yet this clause may trigger an election. I'm just going to read the operative clause of the bill. It reads: "Clauses 76A(1)(d), (e) and (f) and subsection 76A(2) of Chapter 365 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Provincial Finance Act, are repealed." That's what it says.

Now, I don't think that the Progressive Conservative Party is going to put this bill in its campaign literature and say, look what the Opposition couldn't accept because it's very difficult for most people to understand and yet this bill, the government says, must pass before the annual budget is even introduced. This is unprecedented, in my view, in Nova Scotia, certainly unprecedented in the time that I have closely followed Nova Scotia politics which is now 11 years and I've been in the House for eight. For two and a half years before that I was director of research for the NDP caucus so I followed things closely, certainly unprecedented in my 11 years around politics.

As far as I know from all I have heard and read about the history of Nova Scotia politics, it is unprecedented that a government should come to this House and set a condition for the introduction of its budget and to say to the Opposition Parties, you must agree to this condition or we will not even introduce our budget. That resolution that the Minister of Finance introduced yesterday, the budget resolution, I am willing to bet, for the first time in Nova Scotia's history does not set a budget date. That resolution which is required by the Rules and has a set form always stipulates the date on which the budget will be presented and yesterday it did not.

Why not, Mr. Speaker? Because the government says that the Opposition must pass this bill first before the budget is introduced. That is unprecedented in Nova Scotia. I

[Page 6938]

challenge the government to find any precedent for that anywhere in Canada or even in the British Commonwealth. The government has complete control over the date on which the budget is introduced.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.

The honourable Minister of Finance.

HON. JAMES MUIR: Mr. Speaker, just in response to the Finance Critic for the New Democratic Party, I would very much have liked to put a date on that but the Rules of Procedure in this House say that we can't introduce a budget where that offshore offset is included as ordinary revenue. So we have to change the legislation to permit that before the budget can be introduced.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Opposition House.

[11:00 a.m.]

MR. FRANK CORBETT: Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, the Minister of Finance can introduce his bill whenever he wants, no matter what is in other legislation.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. CECIL CLARKE: Yes, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I know lots of people have been bantering back and forth, but we want to get into the actual procedural requirements that are there. It is very clear, following our practices and procedures for the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, that indeed, in the efforts of transparency, that's why the minister brought this stand-alone bill as enabling legislation.

The members of this House also understand by virtue of the practices and procedures of presenting a budget, with legislation that requires a balanced budget - otherwise, Mr. Speaker, as you would know, being in that Chair many times and being a member of government, that indeed you have to follow those practices and procedures and indeed, to be transparent the Minister of Finance has laid out a practice.

That is a matter that will come forward with regard to the steps that are taken. As the Minister of Finance has indicated - and again, we can come before the House, and indeed, seek the consent of this House for following procedure. The member for Halifax Fairview is citing procedures. He knows those prescribed procedures and we're happy to follow them and to be transparent for all Nova Scotians.

MR. SPEAKER: First of all, this is not a point of order. It may be considered as a point of information to the question that was raised.

[Page 6939]

The honourable member for Halifax Fairview has the floor.

MR. STEELE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I mean, the ministers on the government side know very well that's not a point of order, but I look forward to the Government House Leader's contribution to the debate when it is his turn to get up and speak. In fact, the Minister of Finance is misinterpreting the Provincial Finance Act, and if he likes, I can send him over a copy of the Provincial Finance Act so he can read it for himself.

There is nothing, nothing stopping that minister from tabling his budget any day from Monday forward, because the House has gotten its two days' notice. There is nothing stopping that minister from tabling his budget, and we ask him to do so and not to lay down conditions.

It is without precedent in this province, in this country, in the Commonwealth of Nations, for any government to lay down a precondition to the tabling of the budget. The control to the tabling of the budget is entirely in that minister's and this government's hands.

Now, the only conclusion that we in the Opposition can come to is that this government . . .

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Minister of Finance.

HON. JAMES MUIR: Mr. Speaker, I do appreciate and I know that the Finance Critic for the NDP is learned and interested in . . .

MR. SPEAKER: Are we rising on a point of order?

MR. MUIR: I am, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Please go ahead.

MR. MUIR: He has implied that we can table that budget any time, Mr. Speaker. I just want people in the House to know that, if you will remember, back when I introduced the information about the money flowing to the universities through the MLU, I said that we were going to do it concurrently - that was my initial thing. The advice that we have received from constitutional experts is that in this particular House we cannot do it.

MR. SPEAKER: It is not a point of order, honourable minister. It's a good point, yes.

The honourable member for Halifax Fairview has the floor.

[Page 6940]

MR. STEELE: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. There is no precedent anywhere in this province - at any time in this province - for a government laying down a precondition to the introduction of a budget. There is nothing in the law, there is nothing in the rules that prevents this government from tabling - there is nothing that prevents that minister from tabling his budget on Monday or any day after Monday.

If the members on that side of the House dispute that, then let them point to the provision of the rules or the law. The Provincial Finance Act does not prevent the introduction of a budget, as long as it does not have a deficit.

Now, is that government saying that the budget that has been drafted has a deficit in it? The minister has said the opposite. He said the opposite today in this House. He said that budget, that will never be introduced, he claims it's balanced. So where in the Provincial Finance Act is the provision that says it can't be tabled? It's not there. It's nonsense, of course, Mr. Speaker, it's pure nonsense. The only conclusion the people of the province can come to is that this government is seeking to avoid the introduction of a budget. It is very difficult for us on this side of the House to understand how the government believes it can run an election campaign without a budget, and blaming the Opposition for something that is entirely within the hands of that government.

Introducing a budget requires a certain amount of discipline, discipline which this government has lost. It requires, for example, that the estimates of revenue be audited and certified by the Auditor General. The Auditor General has to review the projections of revenue and say that the assumptions on which they are based are reasonable and that the estimates are based on those assumptions. That is a certain amount of discipline and if this government triggers an election without introducing a budget, then they don't have to go through the discipline provided by that audit.

That provision requiring an audit of the revenue projections by the Auditor General, it's in the Provincial Finance Act for a reason. It is because governments in the past have presented numbers to the House that turned out to be wildly optimistic. I'm talking about governments particularly in the 1980s, and that's why the provision is there - it is designed to provide some discipline.

It is designed to provide disciplines in other ways because the budget documents require the government to lay out the assumptions on which the budget is based - all of the assumptions having to do with things like revenue growth, income growth, retail sales, and the like. The government has to defend those projections, and if this government triggers an election without introducing a budget, it means they don't have to go through the discipline of putting those numbers on paper and then defending them. They can make whatever claims they want as part of their campaign platform.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. The honourable Minister of Finance.

[Page 6941]

HON. JAMES MUIR: For the information of the House, that information has been submitted to the Auditor General.

MR. SPEAKER: Is that a point of order? I didn't hear.

MR. STEELE: Mr. Speaker, this government has lost its discipline and that is why the government doesn't want to introduce the budget. There is no rule, there is no law, there is no precedent allowing any government to set a pre-condition to the introduction of a budget. They know it, and we know it, so the only reason that makes sense is that they don't want to introduce a budget because it would require the discipline that they have now lost. They would not require an audit by the Auditor General, they would not be required to state their assumptions in writing. If they don't introduce a budget, the numbers don't even have to add up, they can make whatever claims they want.

HON. CECIL CLARKE: Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. The honourable member for Halifax Fairview is misleading the House and there are two aspects he has there. He's talking about the Provincial Finance Act, but he would know full well, or would claim to know full well, the practices and procedures of this House. So what in law and following our practices and procedures are something that I would ask him to look. If he would like to have the consult of the House Leaders to go through the practice and procedures to provide him with enlightenment - through you, Mr. Speaker, I would welcome that opportunity.

MR. SPEAKER: Certainly, it's not a point of order.

The honourable member for Halifax Fairview has the floor.

MR. STEELE: Mr. Speaker, if the members on that side have something to say - that is why we have debates in the House. This is now the fourth or fifth interruption in 15 minutes with points of order that they know are not points of order. Perhaps I could respectfully request that the ministers on that side be reined in a little bit so as not to interrupt my time. I'm here as an elected representative of the people, and if those members have something to say, let them stand up and say it on the record, in Hansard, and the people of the province will judge them. The people of the province will judge them and they'll judge me. I would never say that I know or presume to know what the result of the election is. I know that it is up to the people to decide, and we will present to them a positive alternative to a government without direction and without discipline. (Applause)

I, and my colleagues, know that if we are judged on that basis and found wanting, we will accept that verdict but, Mr. Speaker, the people will be the final arbiters of whether this government will be allowed to engage in this scheme, this charade of pretending that it's the Opposition's fault that a budget is not being introduced. This government in 2006 presented a budget and then before it could be debated, before it came to a vote, they called an election

[Page 6942]

- that didn't go over very well with the voters in my district, and I think the voters more than in my district, and now the government has just gone the next step.

Last time they introduced a budget and didn't allow it to be debated; this time they're just not going to introduce a budget at all. They are going to trigger an election without the discipline required of introducing a budget and letting Nova Scotians see the plan, in complete and in full.

Because, Mr. Speaker, any other government in any other year, this bill that is in front of us now, Bill No. 240, would be part of the Financial Measures Act. The Financial Measures Act, which is a standard bill that is introduced in this House every year contains all the legislative provisions that are required to implement the budget. Since the beginning of parliamentary procedure in this province that's the way things have been done. This year the government has said, no, things are going to be different, we are going to take this provision out of the Financial Measures Act, lay it in front of the Legislature and say you must pass this first before we do anything else, because they lack the discipline to lead. They lack genuine leadership because they don't want the people to know the full story about what this government has in store.

In order to understand this bill that's in front of us we have to know something about the background - where did it come from? - because when I read it earlier it was obvious that there's no Nova Scotian who can read the bill and know within the four corners of the bill what it is that's going on here. We have to remember the context of the Atlantic Accord, and John Hamm, the former Premier, started what he called a Campaign for Fairness back in the period 2000-01. He wanted to relay to the federal government the idea that Nova Scotians were not the main beneficiaries or the full beneficiaries of the offshore oil and gas that was already being pumped out of the ground, and the historical record will show that campaign did not go very well at first.

I remember, for example, a postcard campaign where postcards were to be sent to Ottawa - and I don't think that went particularly well; in fact, the Campaign for Fairness was essentially moribund for a couple of years, it had essentially died out. And then every provincial Premier's best friend, Prime Minister Paul Martin, came to town - now, Prime Minister Paul Martin was in the midst of an election campaign and Prime Minister Paul Martin was ready to promise anything to anybody.

I think we'll recall, for Prime Minister Paul Martin everything was a priority, everything was a top priority - no matter what it was, it was the top priority of his government. And I compliment the Government of John Hamm for recognizing an opportunity when they saw one and so they took the Campaign for Fairness, which up to that point had been fairly ineffective, and they used the Prime Minister, who was willing to promise anything at the beginning of an election campaign, and they essentially cornered him into promising that he would indeed make things more fair for the people of this province - and once that promise was made, there was no going back.

[Page 6943]

[11:15 a.m.]

We will recall that Prime Minister Paul Martin did actually win that election with a minority Liberal Government and the Atlantic Accords were signed. As part of that, a cheque was presented to the Province of Nova Scotia.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. The honourable Deputy Premier.

HON. ANGUS MACISAAC: Mr. Speaker, would the honourable member permit a question?

MR. SPEAKER: Will the honourable member permit a question?

MR. STEELE: No, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable member for Halifax Fairview has the floor.

MR. STEELE: Mr. Speaker, I entertain doubts about the competence of this government and I entertain hope for a better future, but I do not entertain questions.

Mr. Speaker, $830 million was paid in a lump sum cheque to the Province of Nova Scotia, and a decision had to be made at that point about what to do with that money. As always, there were many challenges facing the government and there were many people who said it should be spent on programs. There were many people who said it should be used to cut taxes. There were many people who said it should go on the debt and, of course, there were people who said it should be a little bit of each of those things.

We said, and the government of the day said, that money should go on the debt. It represented a payment to Nova Scotia for revenue that should have been received in the past, in respect of non-renewable natural resources, resources that can never be replaced once they are taken out of the ground. We said, and the government said, all of that $830 million should go on the debts.

Indeed, at the time John Hamm said the following, "The most prudent thing we can do is putting the money on the debt. That will give us a limitless revenue stream of almost $50 million a year that will last well beyond the life of this administration."

Mr. Speaker, that is worth repeating - it will last well beyond the life of this administration. As we know, the John Hamm Administration came to an end in 2006 and

[Page 6944]

here we are, only three years later, with a government proposing to undo that legacy that John Hamm himself said would last well beyond the life of his administration.

Another quotation, this time from the then Finance Minister, the Honourable Peter Christie. I'd like to read to the House to remind the House what was said at the time that this provision, which is now going to be repealed, was put into the Provincial Finance Act. The Finance Minister of the day said the following, "The province will be committed legally to balance its budget without relying on the year's portion of the $830 million related to the offshore agreement brought into revenue this year. The province will be required to maintain that balance throughout the year. As and when we reduce the debt, annual interest charges will be lowered, making the province more attractive to financial markets and providing us with greater flexibility to respond to the issues facing Nova Scotians."

Mr. Speaker, that is from Hansard on May 3, 2005, the then Finance Minister, the Honourable Peter Christie. The implication of that is if we undo what was done in 2005, then it will make us less attractive to financial markets and provide us with less flexibility to deal with the challenges facing Nova Scotians. Yet that is precisely what this government is proposing to do.

Now, let me put this bill in front of us in further context since, as we know, it is impossible to understand the implications of it just from reading it. What it does is delete a certain section of the Provincial Finance Act that was added to that Act in May 2005. I find it somewhat ironic that the section of the Provincial Finance Act in which this clause is found is headed Government Accountability. Now, these provisions are designed to ensure that our government is fully accountable with the way it spends the people's money and it includes, Mr. Speaker, the balanced budget requirements. It includes a requirement that these funds from the Offshore Accords be applied to the debt, and it does other things as well. It is ironic that on the eve, apparently, of a provincial election this government is going to delete clauses from a section entitled Government Accountability.

Mr. Speaker, there could not be a clearer sign that we are, with this government, moving backwards and not forwards because let's be clear about what's happening here. When that $830 million was delivered to Nova Scotia, it was on a cash basis applied directly to the debt - directly and immediately - but the government had an accounting problem because we don't do the books of the province on a cash basis any more.

That practice, which didn't reveal the true state of the province's finances, thankfully died out in the 1990s and, Mr. Speaker, I'm not usually free with my compliments to the Liberal Party, but I've said it before and I'll say it again, it was the Liberal Party under the former Finance Minister, the Honourable Don Downe, who began the move towards accounting on the basis of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles because the Liberals inherited a financial mess from the Progressive Conservative Government in 1993 and they struggled for the next six years to try to come terms with that. I will compliment the Liberal

[Page 6945]

Party that they finally started coming to grips with the fact that the books of the province did not reveal the true state of the province's finances and they started the move to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, a move which was finished under the Honourable Neil LeBlanc and former Premier John Hamm.

Mr. Speaker, we don't account for things on a cash basis and that meant that when the $830 million was received, the government had an accounting problem because the way it works is that money is attributed to the year that is deemed to have been compensation for and the amounts of money I think will be of interest to the House. For 2005-06, the sum of money was $57,100,000. For 2006-07, it was $93 million. For 2007-08, it was $189 million. Now we get to the bit that the government wants to delete - for the fiscal year 2008-09, $207 million; for the fiscal year 2009-10, the fiscal year in which we are currently, $151 million; and for the fiscal year 2010-11, $92 million.

Now, Mr. Speaker, portions of this Act that this government is asking us to delete adds up to $450 million. This government, without presenting a budget to explain what they're going to do with the money, without presenting any rationale for why this now today is the right thing to do, without any plan and without any budget, wants us to essentially approve a blank cheque for $450 million. That is our children's money, that is our grandchildren's money and I don't think anybody in this House needs to be told that lesson because today in 2009 we are paying and paying and paying for mistakes made by the Progressive Conservative Government 20 and 30 years ago, and mistakes that are made today will not be paid by us, they will be paid by the people who are sitting in this House 20 and 30 years from now who are making decisions about themselves and their families and their children.

Mr. Speaker, we know in Nova Scotia all too well the burden of excessive debt. We have suffered under it long enough and nobody should lecture a New Democrat about debt and deficit. Tommy Douglas - the Greatest Canadian - was the Premier of Saskatchewan for 17 years and balanced the books every single year. Tommy Douglas used to say to people - if you get into debt, you're handing your future over to bankers and bond holders. He knew that, and we know that, and this government is expecting us to sign a blank cheque to them for $450 million.

Now, essentially what they're doing again, Mr. Speaker, if I could speak on a cash basis - that $830 already went on the debt, so we're talking about accounting. The government wants to re-borrow $450 million so they can use it on day-to-day spending.

Now those non-renewable resources are a legacy for us and for our children and for our grandchildren. That money must go on the debt; it must stay on the debt. It is the only responsible thing to do.

[Page 6946]

In the 2005 debate, Mr. Speaker, the 2005 reply to the budget, April 28^th in Hansard, I said, as the Opposition Finance Critic, "We support the fact that the offshore accord payment is going to pay down the debt. That is the only responsible thing to do." It was the only responsible thing to do then; it is the only responsible thing to do today. That is what we mean by a principle - something that you keep even when times are tough.

This government, since being elected in 1999, has surfed the wave of ever-increasing revenues, and despite their rhetoric, has never had to make truly difficult decisions. This year, for the first time, they've had to make difficult decisions because of the state of the economy, and what have they done? They've tried to change the rules.

Now I am mindful of the fact, Mr. Speaker, that it is Stanley Cup Playoff time, so I'll use a hockey analogy. What the government is trying to do because they can't get the puck in the net according to the existing rules, is get the net moved closer to their own end and, by saying to the Opposition that you have to pass this or there will be no budget, they're trying to say to the Opposition, not only have we moved the net closer to our end of the ice, but we're telling you that you've got to pull the goalie. Then maybe they'll get the puck in the net. It's wrong in hockey and it's wrong in government. (Applause)

What we need right now is genuine leadership, not a government that's trying to change the rules. This government, if it were showing genuine leadership on this issue, would have worked closely with the Opposition Parties to deal with the economic crisis that is facing this economy and all economies in Canada and around the world. Instead, they have resolutely resisted releasing or sharing any information about the state of the province's finances, about the state of the economy. I'll add this: the Provincial Finance Act requires a quarterly update. The last one was delivered at the end of December. When is the next one due? What does the Provincial Finance Act say? When is it is due? It's due at the same day the budget is tabled, but if there's no budget, there's no economic update.

So this government is going to allow itself to go into an election, which they're triggering, with no budget and no formal economic update to let the people of the province know what the state of the finances is. One can only conclude that that is a deliberate choice of the government so that on the campaign trail they can make whatever claims they want because there is no government document available to contradict them.

[11:30 a.m.]

Mr. Speaker, let me give another example of information they should have released and have not. That is when the Minister of Finance talks about the lowering debt-to-GDP ratio. Here's the problem with the lowering debt-to-GDP ratio: it is a claim backed up by no government document. As we saw in the Economic Development Committee, it depends on a number of wild assumptions, which no serious economist believes are going to happen. Rates of growth in the economy in future years that nobody expects will happen, rates of

[Page 6947]

growth two years from now that have to hit 9 per cent in order for their debt-to-GDP ratio claims to be met.

At that Economic Development Committee meeting, I asked the Deputy Minister of Finance to submit to the committee the document of the government's analysis that justified those wild claims. She said she would check with the minister, and we got a letter the other day from the deputy minister who said that she had passed the request on to the minister. So here on the floor of this House, let me repeat the request. If that minister is going to stand up and make claims about the debt-to-GDP ratio, let's see the documents that back it up; let's see the assumptions, let's see what they are, let's see where they came from, let's see how it is that the government can claim that two years from the economy will grow by 9 per cent per year, because if it doesn't, then the debt-to-GDP ratio claimed by the government will not be met.

It is just another example of how this government makes claims, but will not present the documents to back them up. That minister over there claims that his budget is balanced. Well then bring in the budget, let's see the budget. There is nothing stopping that minister from bringing in the budget on Monday or any day after Monday. If the budget is balanced, as he says, there is no restriction in the Provincial Finance Act to its being tabled. There is no restriction at all. The minister makes the claim but then won't bring in the document to substantiate it. Whether it's on debt-to-GDP ratio or whether the budget is balanced or not, he makes claims and won't back them up.

It appears that the government is going to trigger an election without bringing forward any documents to substantiate its claim. It appears, if the government is to be believed, that there will be no budget, there will be no fiscal update. None of the documents backing up the government's claims in the infrastructure plan have been tabled despite the request having gone in and it's a request that I am repeating today. Instead, we have a government that is appealing to fear and division.

There is no government in Canada that has run out of money, ever, because every single Provincial Finance Act has provisions to prevent that from happening and the Minister of Finance and the Premier know that very well. There is no government in Canada that needs to run out of money unless it is pure incompetence because the Provincial Finance Act has provisions that allows the government to govern, that allows the government to do what it needs to do to manage the economy, to run the government, to do what needs to be done. What we say to the government is, you're the government, govern - that's your job, that's the job that the people of Nova Scotia have entrusted you with. Instead we get the minister saying, we've run out of money. It's not the case. The minister is misinformed, at best.

To say that projects will be lost, as the Government House leader says, municipal infrastructure projects will be gone if the budget doesn't pass is simply misinformation. There are two possibilities here, neither of them very appealing. The first possibility is that

[Page 6948]

the government doesn't understand provincial finances. The other possibility is that they do understand provincial finances and are misleading the public about the true state of affairs. Neither of those is a very appealing prospect. There is no reason in the world, no reason in the world why any government needs to run out of money. That is why the special warrants procedure is in the Provincial Finance Act, has been in the Provincial Finance Act for decades, is in every single Provincial Finance Act across the country. Who was the last government to use a special warrant? The Government House Leader said they can't be used when they're in session - that's because the expectation is is that when the House is in session, a budget will be brought in.

On this side of the House, we say to you, bring in the budget. Bring in the budget. We are ready. If this government brings in the budget on Monday, we will be here, we will be in our seats, we will be ready to debate it. (Applause) We reject any attempt by the government to set false pre-conditions, to set conditions that any other government would have handled in a different way, in a better way by including this provision in a Financial Measures Act. Instead, they are looking for a blank cheque for $450 million and all they're doing is appealing to fear and division, setting one group of Nova Scotians against another, setting one-half of a county against another, setting rural people against people in the metro area. Setting people against each other.

We are less than one million people on the edge of a continent. We must work together. We must work together. We must work as a province, we must work as a region. We are a small region in a small country beside the largest economy in the world. If we do not work together, things fall apart. Yet, we have a government that will not introduce a budget, will not introduce a plan, will not release information that will allow Nova Scotians to judge them on their record. Instead we have a government that is appealing to fear.

Although there are many instances of that over the last few weeks, the worst one was this morning in the House. That minister, and that minister knows what he said - to try and draw a link between this bill and that forest fire is shameful. That minister this morning said that the government could save money by keeping the helicopters on the ground. I think that minister is going to be held accountable for that statement this morning. That is an example of the kind of fear and division that this Premier and this minister and this government are resorting to because they have nothing left. They have nothing left.

We are ready, if it comes to it, to go to the people and let the people decide. We do not believe that an election has to happen. We do not say, we will not say, that we cannot accept a budget that we haven't seen. Nor will we give in to a government that sets down false preconditions, a precondition that's seems designed to permit them to hit the campaign trail without a budget, without a plan, without a forecast update, without any information on which the people can judge them and decide what they're going to do.

[Page 6949]

Mr. Speaker, we will not allow the government to change the rules under these circumstances. We will not allow the government to move the nets. We are going to meet, as a caucus, on Monday afternoon to make our final decision. We know this is a weighty decision, but if the government is determined to fall on this bill, we will make our decision. We will make our decision according to what's in the best interest of all the people of the province.

It is not necessary that should happen. What should happen is that this government should bring in its budget. What should happen is that Bill No. 240 should form part of the Financial Measures Act. That is what should happen. But, if they're not willing to do that, we're ready. We offer genuine leadership. We offer a better deal and we will let the people decide. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Liberal Party.

MR. STEPHEN MCNEIL: Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to join the debate on Bill No. 240. It's amazing when you look back at 2005 and the work that took place by Dr. Hamm and Prime Minister Martin and the celebration that we had as a province. Do you remember the picture of Dr. Hamm? I think he was leaving the Red Room carrying the cheque and making sure that no one else was going to get their hands on it, and I would daresay he probably still has that cheque somewhere. It was a great day for Nova Scotia. I remember the Leader of our Party acknowledged that and acknowledged the contribution and the path that Dr. Hamm was moving forward with in terms of putting that offset payment on the debt.

On October 31^st last year, Mr. Speaker, I asked this government to come together and work with us as a Party to try to help to build a plan for it, to help move a plan so that we could help mitigate the economic challenges that not only Nova Scotia is facing but provinces across our country - indeed, countries globally - and they refused to accept that invitation. I was very clear in the following months that I believed that the offset payment for last year was to be paid directly on the debt of the Province of Nova Scotia, and that I was not willing to participate in changing legislation that would retroactively change the law. I had clearly said to Nova Scotians that I would be more than willing to entertain the idea of changing that legislation as we go forward to allow that offset payment to be used in these tough economic times.

Nova Scotians themselves have been faced with difficult times. In changing the law, even in these difficult times, to go retroactive doesn't make sense to them. They have a hard time understanding when a government, at the end of the fiscal year, takes $256 million and offloads it onto this year's budget for post-secondary education costs - and it's not new money, it's to cover this fiscal year's operating costs - they have a hard time understanding why we need to change the law to bring about $105 million back in to allow them to balance the books. The Minister of Finance rose and said without this change, we would have a

[Page 6950]

deficit budget - any Party, whoever is leading this province would have to provide a deficit budget.

I contend we already have a deficit budget and it's the one that was last year, because the legislation that they're looking to change is retroactive. Without that $105 million, your budget will not be balanced. That's coming from your own government. That's the rationale for this. When we participated in the budget process last year, we worked with this government to try to provide what was a balanced approach in a minority government. Lo and behold, during these tough economic times, instead of reining in the expenditures that are going on, they decide to change the legislation, the law. How many Nova Scotians, if they found themselves in a tough situation, would like to change the law retroactively? Probably all of us.

[11:45 a.m.]

Let me be clear. Our caucus was more than prepared to go from this date forward in changing that offset payment, but we said then and I'll say it again - we are not willing to participate in going retroactively. If this continues and the government wants to bring this to a vote, our caucus will not be supporting that legislation. We have said for a very long time that we would not be supporting that legislation. I told Nova Scotians. I told the Premier and I told Nova Scotians on many occasions that I am not, will not, now or ever, participate in changing the law retroactively. I was more than willing to participate on going forward. Last October, I was more than willing to sit down with this government and help to try to build a plan on how we went forward.

THE PREMIER: You want to raise taxes over there.

MR. MCNEIL: I hear the Premier wanting to yell across now. He should have had a conversation in October; if he wanted to have the conversation, we should have had it in October. I will not, and our caucus will not (Interruption) as a matter of fact, Mr. Premier, we're going to cut the small business tax from 5 to 1 per cent. We're going to engage the men and women in this province who are growing the economy, and we're going to engage them in a way that will allow them to create sustainable jobs all across this province.

I listened to the Minister of Finance speak today about the federal dollars are on the table. The great news yesterday was that the federal minister for Atlantic Canada said his dollars will be available whenever, and I don't believe the cheque is made out to the Progressive Conservative Government - I believe it's made out to the people of Nova Scotia. (Applause). As I said yesterday, Mr. Speaker, it's time to make a decision.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. The Chairman recognizes the honourable Minister of Finance - on a point of order?

[Page 6951]

HON. JAMES MUIR: Yes, a point of order. The honourable Leader of the Liberal Party implied that the federal money would flow forever, Mr. Speaker. It's well-known that there's a 24-month time limit on that.

MR. SPEAKER: Thank you for the point of information, not a point of order.

The honourable Leader of the Liberal Party.

AN HON. MEMBER: A 24-hour time limit on you, too. (Interruption)

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh.

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader has the floor and I certainly would encourage all members to . . .

MR. MCNEIL: I want to tell the Minister of Finance that I agree with his analogy about the 24 months; I saw that as well. An election will take 30 days - that will leave another 23 months for whomever the people of Nova Scotia decide should govern the province, to work and form a . . .

SOME HON MEMBERS: Hear, hear. (Applause)

Mr. Speaker, we as a Party have always been, and will always be, willing to look and entertain their budget if they're willing to bring it to the House. I don't know if it's possible. I've heard two different sides of this argument, quite frankly - one says this bill has to pass in order for the next one to come forward. I don't know if that's necessary or that's how it works. I'll tell you what I do know - our caucus will not be supporting this legislation. So if this is the piece of legislation that they want to use as a confidence vote, then I don't think we should waste the time of the people of Nova Scotia any longer.

If the New Democrats need to wait until Monday to decide what they're going to do, then perhaps we should give them until Monday. But we decided many months ago that we will not participate in changing the laws of our province to retroactively bail out the mismanagement of this province. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Thank you. I now recognize the honourable Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.

HON. BROOKE TAYLOR: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I want to speak to the bill at this particular point in time. I want to point out that all members on all sides of the House are extremely eager and interested to see roads and bridges across Nova Scotia improved and, in many cases, replaced. This budget, as perhaps you would know - in terms of the capital program for highway projects - is the biggest in this

[Page 6952]

province's history and we have had, of course, good co-operation from the federal government on many, many initiatives and on many fronts, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Honorable Peter MacKay, yes, have worked tirelessly on behalf of the federal stimulus package.

Now, I do want to point out that when we came to government in 1999 the capital budget for the Department of Transportation was $44 million. This government recognized a huge infrastructure deficit and over the last little more than 10 years we've increased that budget significantly, to nearly six times what it was back in 1999. We do have, in fact, a very ambitious road-building program plan for the upcoming construction season.

A few short months ago, I had the privilege of attending the Nova Scotia Road Builders' annual general meeting. I do know that some members opposite were at that meeting as well, and the road builders pointed out that during this time of a weakened economy it's very important to make investments in our infrastructure because those are long-term investments, and they will put people to work as well. In my constituency, like constituencies right across Nova Scotia, there are people looking for job opportunities, and Mr. [Deputy] Speaker, as you would know, as you represent the Riding of Clare, that job opportunities also mean economic benefits to the communities, to the province, and of course that's extremely important.

The honourable member and my colleague, the Minister of Finance referenced that we did work extremely tirelessly on budget preparation. We examined revenues and expenditures ad nauseum and it was a challenge, there's absolutely no doubt about that. With this piece of legislation we made a very difficult decision, and that decision was to basically defer the offshore offset. In doing that we believe that we were able to sustain and protect many programs that are essential to Nova Scotians, and I would challenge members opposite to rise in their feet and tell us how they would make up that difference, how they would find that money to provide the programs that Nova Scotians have come to accept, expect, and deserve. It's extremely important.

It's fine to stand in the Legislature, and I don't claim to be different than anybody else in this House - sometimes we stand in our place and do make statements that are deemed to be quite political - but today in front of Nova Scotia we are discussing very serious business. We're talking about the Nova Scotia economy, we're talking about people, we're talking about families, we're talking about people waiting to get to work. That's what we're talking about here today, but members opposite choose to play politics. (Applause)

I think Nova Scotia deserves better than that. In fact, just a short while ago I overheard a media scrum where in fact the Leader of the NDP stood in his place and said he'd never heard such hyperbole in all his life, he'd never seen the like, the rhetoric that's going on, and here we are talking about a very serious, significant piece of legislation, and Nova Scotians out there are taking this very seriously. I would say to members opposite that

[Page 6953]

you will rue the day that you stopped Nova Scotians in their tracks from the recovery that they find so fundamentally necessary to move forward on - it is extremely important.

MR. STEPHEN MCNEIL: Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. It is a very serious problem. It's why we shouldn't be the last Legislature in Canada to be sitting - we should have been the first.

MR. SPEAKER: Certainly not a point of order. The chair recognizes the honourable Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.

MR. TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, my honorable colleague yesterday referenced that, in fact, the Liberals in the past have brought forward budgets that were in fact dated later than we plan on bringing our budget forward. I guess it's okay for the pot to call the kettle black here today. The point of the matter is that it's Nova Scotians that we're talking about, it's the Nova Scotia economy that is weakened. We're not immune from the difficulties that New Brunswick, Québec, Newfoundland, Ontario, Manitoba, that Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, the territories, all the states - we're not immune from the difficulties that those jurisdictions are facing. In fact, we did work with our federal colleagues to come up with some much-needed relief, programs and a budget to help Nova Scotia through these very difficult times.

Mr. Speaker, the bill - An Act to Permit the Expenditure of Surpluses Generated by Offshore Offset Revenues - again was brought forward after a lot of deliberation, after hours and hours and hours and days and days and weeks and weeks and, yes, a few months did go by but we believe that we have it right for Nova Scotia. We believe that this piece of legislation that is fundamental to the budget going forward is the right thing to do at this particular point in time. The Minister of Finance pointed out how difficult a decision it was. So I would say to members opposite, and ask them to stand in their place and tell Nova Scotians how they plan to provide those programs that Nova Scotians deserve?

How do you plan to do it, Mr. Speaker? I ask the people opposite, how do you plan to do it? What hospital are you going to close? What school are you not going to build? What road are you not going to pave? What bridge are you not going to build? Stand up and tell Nova Scotians. (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. Order, please. (Interruptions)

I don't know about the honourable members, but I can tell all of you it's extremely hard for the Speaker up here to listen to the member who has the floor. So maybe I could suggest that we try to tone it down and hear what the honourable member has to say. So instead of having to shout across the floor, maybe we could allow the honourable member the courtesy to be heard. Thank you very much.

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The honourable Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal has the floor.

HON. BROOKE TAYLOR: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I was saying, when we came to office, I can speak from experience in my riding, the beautiful Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley, by coincidence or more likely by political design, we couldn't get a teaspoon of asphalt. We couldn't get a teaspoon of asphalt from the members opposite when they were the government of the day but, today, we can stand in our place and say that every riding across Nova Scotia where the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal has responsibility has received new asphalt, has received gravel, has received guardrails and has received brush cutting, every riding that we are responsible for, that's how fair this government is.

Mr. Speaker, sometimes you have to kind of quietly laugh to yourself or perhaps not so quietly when you hear, especially the members of the Opposition stand in their place and try to make all these grandiose promises. They make all these promises to Nova Scotia and then when the government holds them accountable for those promises, when the government accuses of them of being what they are - risky - Mr. Speaker, then they seem to get quite excited and say, oh, my gosh, they're attacking us, they're pounding us. But what we're asking members opposite, all members opposite, stand in your place and please tell Nova Scotians what programs are you going to cut? If not, how high are you going to raise the taxes? Tell Nova Scotia.

We've told Nova Scotia where we're going. We've been clear. We've been up-front. We've been sincere. The Minister of Finance brought forward a very reasonable piece of legislation for these very extraordinary times. Mr. [Deputy] Speaker, you know that these are extraordinary times. You've been around the House longer than most, if I might say with all respect, and we wish you well in whatever future endeavours that you may take but the fact of the matter is you know yourself that these are challenging times. The economy is weakened there's no doubt about that and, again, if you look at our neighbours to the north, in New Brunswick, they had to take some extremely unpopular measures, and we commend Premier Shawn Graham and his government. They looked at things in a way they believed was in the best interests of New Brunswickers. We, in turn, have looked at things in a way we believe is in the best interests of Nova Scotia.

[12:00 noon]

I'm proud of the record this government has established. In 10 short years, we came forward with seven balanced budgets and we've done that through some difficult times and we've done that through some reasonably good times when revenues, in fact, have increased. But what we've always tried to do is keep in mind the needs of Nova Scotians.

Again, that's why, more than ever, we need clarity. We need clarity as to where the Liberals stand, as to where the NDP stand on this very important issue. You can sit in your

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place and make light of it, but this is serious business, this is the people's business. This is the people's business. My concern is that they really don't have a plan as to where they're going to make up the difference that's contained in this piece of legislation. They should be honest and they should be up front and tell Nova Scotians, if they're not going to raise taxes, what programs are they going to cut? It's basically that simple. If you're not going to raise taxes, what programs are you going to cut? If you're not going to raise taxes, tell Nova Scotians. There's not one of them . . . (Interruptions)

Mr. Speaker, I'll try not to raise my voice. But you know we value the work that Nova Scotians do, we value the work that Nova Scotians do for this government in every department. We've made commitments to Nova Scotia workers and we'll continue to do that. We've been up front, we've been sincere and honest and there have been consultations, there have been discussions. But you know, I would defy one member opposite to go out and talk to the Nova Scotia road builders and tell that, in fact, you're going to put the brakes on the construction season. Go out and tell them! I'm asking you to go tell them in Cape Breton Centre. Go and tell them. Go and tell them out in Sackville-Cobequid, go out and tell them in Timberlea-Prospect, go out and tell them in Shelburne, go out and tell them in Pictou East. Go out and tell them in Dartmouth. Go out and tell them, go out and tell them.(Interruptions) Don't forget them in Halifax? No, we don't forget Halifax. (Applause) Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Why won't the NDP stand up and be honest with Nova Scotians? What are they hiding? What are the NDP hiding today? We are honest, we're sincere. We've brought out a bill, we've brought out a piece of legislation and we are sharing it with members opposite, and all they will tell us is that they won't support it. What they're not saying is how they're going to provide those programs. How are you going to pave those roads? How are you going to fix those bridges? How are you going to build those hospitals? How are you build those schools? How are you going to keep the government employees working? What's your plan? You simply have none.

Stand up in your place if you do, stand in your place and tell Nova Scotians. We've seen the assumptions, we've done the due diligence. We've looked hard and we've looked long and we've brought forward what I think the Minister of Finance has described as a difficult and challenging piece of legislation. We acknowledge that.

If the economy wasn't weakened, we probably wouldn't have to do this. But you know one thing - we do have a plan, we have a go-forward plan. Here we are at the start of the construction season, and members opposite are willing - it seems from the articulation opposite - they're willing to put Nova Scotians in jeopardy. They're willing to play politics at this time.

The member opposite for Halifax Atlantic got on her pins today and brought forward a resolution where she accused the government on this side of the House of risking public safety. You have a look and I think the other Speaker is going to review that piece of hen

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scratching. That was written on the fly, but I can tell you this - that piece of legislation is apparently supported by the Opposition. Unbelievable that the Leader of the Opposition would support something like that. When you talk about rhetoric and garbage, I've never seen anything like that in nearly 16 years. Mr. Speaker, when you have a look at it, I'm sure you will concur. It's absolutely disgraceful that something like that would come forward from the member for Halifax Atlantic and be supported - Mr. Speaker, we're not talking about Glace Bay.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. The honourable member from Glace Bay, on a point of order?

MR. DAVID WILSON (Glace Bay): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the minister wasn't talking about Glace Bay, we don't have any provincial roads there, so thanks for nothing . . .

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.

MR. DAVID WILSON (Glace Bay): Mr. Speaker, on a point of order.

MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, please do.

MR. DAVID WILSON (Glace Bay): Every member of this House deserves the respect that they should be shown. Whether or not a member from the NDP caucus today got up and stood, I don't think they should be referred to as standing up on their "pins", nor do I think that their writing should be referred to as "hen scratching." I think that shows a level of disrespect that we should not accept in this House, and I would ask the minister to apologize to the member.

MR. [DEPUTY] SPEAKER: Thank you for raising that point. I understand that the resolution is being looked at. It was noted earlier, I believe, by a government member asking the Speaker to take a look at the resolution that was tabled, so thank you for bringing that back to our attention.

MR. TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, this resolution, as I indicated earlier, appears that it was written very hastily and I don't mean any disrespect to hens or, in fact, I don't mean any disrespect to the honourable member opposite. (Interruption) That expression has been used, home on the farm; it has been used. But let me say this - I'll rephrase it this way - when the honourable member took her place in the Legislature and presented this barely legible piece, a resolution, I did ask through the Speaker to have it examined, so if, in fact, I did offend anybody or any farm animal, I apologize for that.(Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. The Opposition House Leader.

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MR. FRANK CORBETT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wonder if the minister in his bluster really meant to describe a female member of our caucus as a hen? (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: I didn't hear that. Before I recognize the honourable minister, I will point out to the Opposition House Leader that I will check Hansard and I will report back to the House on a future day. Thank you.

MR. TAYLOR: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do want to move forward. The Department of Agriculture, the farmers in the Province of Nova Scotia, some of us would maintain, are the backbone of many, many communities. This government has invested more in agriculture, on a per capita basis, than any province right across Canada, and those programs that were crafted and put together were done in consultation with the agricultural community. Would we like to do more? Of course we would like to do more. Do we have the capacity to do more? It is difficult from time to time to find the necessary funding to help our friends and our neighbors in the agricultural community.

It shouldn't be lost on anybody opposite that this government has invested more in agriculture than any province right across Canada on a per capita basis - and we've done that in co-operation with the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture. I know that it has been a difficult time for the hog producers - there's no doubting that, there's no disputing that - but there comes a time when in fact you have to take the difficult decisions. On this side of the Chamber, we're not afraid to make the difficult decisions - and this is a very difficult decision.

I know that the Agricultural Critic for the NDP has said from time to time that his Party would do this and do that. I've been in the same audience, I've witnessed some of the boasts and some of the promises that have been made, and that's fine. In fact I can understand that we all would like to do that stuff, but if you don't have the funding it's extremely difficult to keep those promises, so perhaps he would like to have a look at some of the difficulties and some of the challenges that members opposite are facing when they bring forward pieces of legislation like this Act to permit the expenditure of surpluses generated by offshore, offset revenues.

So I do again call on members opposite to stand up in their place and again, Mr. Speaker, I think it is incumbent upon the leaders of both Parties opposite to tell Nova Scotians what programs would they, in fact, cut if they are not going to raise taxes? We've done the work, we've done the due diligence, we've looked again tirelessly at this, and you have to be honest, you have to be upfront, and you have to be sincere.

We've brought forward, we believe, a piece of legislation that has been a challenge for us to put together, but we've brought it forward and we would like to ask members opposite to give it every consideration so we can move forward with a budget - a budget that is so important to Nova Scotians. It is important to the agriculture community, it is important

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to the fishery, it is important to the forestry, it is important to the truckers, it is important to the road builders, it is important to Nova Scotia.

There are social programs contained in the budget through Community Services, through Health, through Education - many, many social programs. Mr. Speaker, they are your neighbour, they are my neighbour, they are everybody's neighbour. People are counting on this place to provide leadership. We've brought forward, we believe, a piece of legislation that is very, very necessary to assist Nova Scotians as they move forward.

AN HON. MEMBER: To maintain social programs.

MR. TAYLOR: Yes, absolutely, to maintain those programs that are so essential to Nova Scotians. But again, we haven't seen any member opposite stand in their place and tell Nova Scotians how they are going to provide those programs without raising taxes.

You have to be accountable, so we're asking you. Mr. Speaker, you know I've had the opportunity to serve in Opposition for - I believe it was six or seven years, and in Opposition we made the government accountable. We held their feet to the fire on many, many issues.

We stand up for our constituents, we always have, but you know members opposite - they try to divert attention, they try to make rabbit tracks, but the fact of the matter is, we're asking the members opposite to stand up and be accountable. You know in Richmond County they have to be accountable, they have to be accountable in the Valley, they have to be accountable in Glace Bay. We have people struggling out there, we have in our resource-based sector - people are struggling in those resource-based sectors and we have a piece of legislation here that we believe is most, most supportable and it is understandable in these challenging times.

Our economy is weak and I'm asking members opposite to please tell Nova Scotia how you plan on providing those programs that Nova Scotians expect and deserve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for your indulgence. (Applause)

MR. SPEAKER: Thank you. The Chair will recognize the honourable member for Cape Breton Nova on an introduction.

MR. GORDON GOSSE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to bring attention to your gallery today. As you well know, the community of Whitney Pier has produced many distinguished citizens, like Clotilda Yakimchuk in the Order of Canada. In your gallery today we have her son, Kenny Douglas, a young lawyer here in Halifax, from my community of Whitney Pier, who has been living here for many years now. I'd like Kenny to rise and get a warm welcome from the House. Thank you. (Applause)

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MR. SPEAKER: Thank you. The Chair recognizes the honourable member for Cape Breton Centre.

[12:15 p.m.]

MR. FRANK CORBETT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, like my colleague from Halifax Fairview, before I get into the real text of my debate on Bill No. 240, I also want to put on the record the high esteem and regard I had for the late Honourable Michael Baker. Michael and I came into this House together in 1998 and had worked on WCB Select Committee, and that's where I got to know him personally. I can really say that when you got to know Michael Baker, you knew somebody who was beyond reproach, who was solid, that you could have a very, very feisty argument with but at the end of the day the sword was laid down and this House and this province is much better that we were served by him and certainly in my estimation his presence will be greatly missed and for Cindy and the boys, I would take this opportunity in a public way to give my condolences.

Mr. Speaker, on that line, you know, I also have a great deal of respect for the Minister of Finance. He and I, again we're the infamous class of 1998 I guess, and we understand these things. I've got to say, in the same line of respect, that we have got really loud with one another from time to time over these many years - and we can probably tell stories about Bill No. 68 - but the fact of it was at the end of the day when we took that breath, you understood that it wasn't personal. We may have been looking at a situation maybe through a different end of the lens if you will but we still, I think, really did it because our vision of Nova Scotia happened to be different but that was it.

But on Bill No. 240 - I won't be as vitriolic about this bill as probably I was about Bill No. 68 - what I really am amazed at with Bill No. 240 is all this talk about consultation, you know, about working together and that this Party is looking to run out for an election and these folks are, you know, just lathering to do this and to do that but the government really didn't show true leadership. When last we met five months ago and we were talking about the economic perils that were coming toward us, there was really no reaction and as the House recessed and the economic situation got worse and worse, there was at no point that the sitting government in a minority House took the time and said, do you know what, we need many, many heads and many points of view to help us get out of here.

So what they do now, instead of doing that and doing the responsible thing at that time, and to say put partisanship, as they said earlier, let's put partisanship aside, but what they do is they bring us to the brink of this abyss and then say, oh, but you folks, you don't want to work with us. Well, Mr. Speaker, we don't know what we've got to work with. We do not have a budget. Now, the same government that told us, told the public, that these measures that are in Bill No. 240 would be in the Financial Measures Act, they were telling

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the public and telling other political Parties that's where it's at but all of a sudden - and one could only think it's done as a political manoeuvre as opposed to any real policy or legislative need - they go and they say, look, here, we dare you, here's the line in the sand, we dare you to cross it.

We offered today, show us this infamous budget. I mean there has been much rhetoric hurled across the floor from the government today about, you know, what are you going to do for this, what are you going to do for that, how are you going to get the money for that? Well, really in a lot of ways nobody kind of knows because the government has really - not just shuffled the cards, it has basically sealed the deck and hid it. What we want and what Nova Scotians want is a budget to see if you can be trusted but we don't know what's in there. They're saying we're voting against a budget.

Well, you know, Mr. Speaker, we're not. We're voting against the idea that they will not show Nova Scotians a budget. They do not trust Nova Scotians enough to have a budget in this House to be consultative about. There is much talk that they're saying that the Provincial Finance Act wouldn't allow them to bring a budget in because of the situation as it relates to the accord money. Well, it allows them, and they know this very well, through disasters - and one could say the greatest disaster is that government over there - but, in real terms, we're looking at a financial disaster (Interruption) well you know, truth hurts.

The fact of the matter is that truly there is a financial disaster. That's what we'd be looking at, but the government could have been consultative, but no, for reasons only known to them, and for reasons that most Nova Scotians understand is that this is about forcing an election and trying to blame it on some other Party. This is not about fixing roads, it's not about getting money to farmers, it's not about helping the manufacturing sector because nobody knows. Nobody knows.

The Premier is saying it's all about that. Then, why doesn't he give us a budget so we can decide what's in there? But he prefers not to do that. He prefers to think that he's coy, Mr. Speaker. Nova Scotians, I think, are on to him. They realize the gamesmanship he's up to and he wants to tell everybody that Nova Scotians don't want an election. Maybe they do, maybe they don't, but the fact of the matter is, I don't know where he gets his information from, maybe he doesn't hear completely what Nova Scotians are saying.

Bill No. 240 really is just a wedge bill that allows this group to go out and try to hoodwink Nova Scotians to allow them to get out past the gate, run the election on a no-plan situation. We heard it here yesterday, we hear the Premier telling people that if this House falls, there's no federal money. Well, that's not what Minister MacKay said. Minister MacKay said these are rock solid, these are going forward. We want to see timelines. That's fine, but to go around and to give the illusion that these things will not happen if they're not at the throne of power, it's just not right to tell Nova Scotians that.

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We know that through Bill No. 240, it allows them to retroactively claw back money that they kind of spread around. They were so financially irresponsible that now they're trying to hide what they did. That's not right. We want to debate that. We want Nova Scotians to know where your money's going. We want to know that when there's a budget drawn up that we debate on and there's a line item and this is the amount, that that's stuck to.

And, if there's a situation, if you will, an extraordinary situation, or one of this financial disaster that says to us, look, there's something peculiar, we have to look into it. Well, why not do the statesman thing like the Minister of Finance said and include the Leader of the Third Party and the Leader of the Official Opposition and try to really move Nova Scotia forward. Tell it in an open way. Let everybody know.

Springtime is here, it's for airing of stuff and it's great when we do this. After just coming through the Lenten season, it's still Easter, I don't know if the Premier is really worried about the Paschal Mysteries, I don't know. But I have to tell you, this is really worrisome. Why doesn't he show Nova Scotians what he has, as opposed to this kind of Muhammad Ali rope-a-dope feature of going to different places and telling little bits of what's in the budget or what could be in the budget, and those bad guys over them won't support it.

Well, the reality is, this is the House of the people of Nova Scotia. This is where the budget should be laid and debated. Now, all of a sudden, the Minister of Finance is saying, he's prohibited by this. He has talked to constitutional experts. Didn't name the constitutional expert, but he talked to one. Did he talk to him walking down Hollis Street? Was it over at the office? Maybe he's at the gym one morning - we don't know.

But, all of a sudden, they're going to this refuge of, we've talked to these people and this is what they've told us. That's being really consultative, that's bringing the leadership of Nova Scotia involved in saying we've got to work to go forward.

So when they say those words over there about working together and putting partisanship aside, Mr. Speaker, it rings very hollow to me - very, very hollow. It certainly sounds as the previous speaker - large on rhetoric and little, little on fact. There's not one person, I would hope, who takes a seat in this House - that their one objective in sitting in this House isn't moving Nova Scotia forward. I believe that and I believe we have differences around it. But when it's said that we are standing in the way of some great government plan, but it's a secret plan - you know this type of talk is best kept in tin pot dictatorships almost, where we're told well you just vote for this, everything will be all right.

You know after just coming out of celebrating 250 years of democratic representative government in this province, it seems really strange that government didn't buy into some of their own ideas, that why Nova Scotians and people who make up the majority amount of

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