Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. I will now go to the chair of the committee that reviewed the bill, the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Programs, Mr. Moses.

To the Minister, I accept that we have a fiscal policy that says that we weren’t going to do any new initiatives, but I have to also say to the Minister and to the House that we have put a huge amount of money over and above our steady fiscal policy into other initiatives. I have to say that some of our on-the-road initiatives are pretty heavy in terms of dollars. I think if there was a will, we would find the money to put into alcohol. It would save us money in the long run.

I said in my statement that I think it’s time to stop studying and it’s time to take action. I’d like to know from the...

Sergeant-at-Arms, would you please bring the witnesses into the Chamber?

Mr. Bouchard, if you would introduce the witnesses to the Chamber, please.

Does committee agree that Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, No. 2, is ready for third reading?

---Bill 12 as a whole approved for third reading

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Members know, in June the Minister of Health and Social Services tabled the department’s Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan. With the mention of enhancing addictions treatment programs an element in the priorities of the 17th Assembly, it’s good to have the Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan lining up with those priorities. But today I must follow up on the subject of the questions I asked the Minister last week about the Minister’s Forum on Addictions.

Don’t get me wrong; I am not one to suggest that consultation is a bad thing. It is a good thing. But...

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. Mr. Bouchard, would you like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?

We’ll return to the previous page, Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, No. 2.

Thank you, committee. Does committee agree that Bill 13, An Act to Repeal the Credit Union Act is now ready for third reading?

---Bill 13 as a whole approved for third reading

Mr. Abernethy, would you introduce your witness for us, please?

Okay. Committee, we will defer the title page of the bill. We’ll move to page 1, clause 1.

---Clauses 1 through 3 inclusive approved