Point of Order: Allegations Against A Member
October 29, 2008, afternoon session

The Speaker: If this hurts the feelings of other members, then I want other members to know that when a member gets up and says that a minister doesn't care, if you take the same principle of application, then I'd have to rule that kind of a statement out because some minister would come to me and say their feelings are hurt, and they're sensitive. Or: the minister should resign. Well, holy mackerel. Do you think that minister doesn't feel sensitive about that and go home at night and kick the door in? Would I have to then lead to ousting the member who raised it in the House? Or: the minister is out of touch. I mean, if you're going to talk sensitivity in here, okay. Fair game. You know, I'm a teddy bear and a cuddle of love, but we can have a lot of sensitivity. Let's understand that there sometimes . . . [interjection] Yeah. Thank you very much. You sit down.

There are always going to be times in here, and we also all know what depending on the day of the week and whatever circumstances happen and whatever the issue is that the person is raising the question on or whatever the issue is that the person is responding to the question on, there may be motivations in there that none of us are appreciative of. Human beings are human beings. It doesn't hurt to have a little emotion sometimes, too, as long as you don't hurt anybody with respect to that emotion.

Introduction of Guests
November 17, 2008, afternoon session

Mr. Ouellette: Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise and introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly a gentleman that's no stranger to a lot of people in this Assembly. Marcel Van Hecke is up in the members' gallery. We had a meeting just before lunch. He had a few concerns about accessing property off our highways as he owns some property. Of course, we had to go along with safety as our biggest issue, and I think we've clarified all that. It's great to have Marcel here today, and I'd like him to receive the warm welcome of the Assembly.

The Speaker: In other words, you told him no.

Twelve Days of Christmas Redux
November 27, 2008, afternoon session

Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Due to time constraints I'm afraid I'm going to have drop a few verses from my member's statement, but I hope that members will get the gist.

On the first day of Christmas
the health minister gave to me
a consultant from New Jersey.

On the second day of Christmas
the health minister gave to me
two Tory bagmen
and a consultant from New Jersey.

On the third day of Christmas
the health minister gave to me
three hospitals closing, two Tory bagmen,
and a consultant from New Jersey.

On the fifth day of Christmas
the health minister gave to me
five golden handshakes, four doctors fired,
three hospitals closing, two Tory bagmen,
and a consultant from New Jersey.

On the seventh day of Christmas
the health minister gave to me
seven swans a-walking, six empty wards,
five golden handshakes, four doctors fired,
three hospitals closing, two Tory bagmen,
and a consultant from New Jersey.

On the ninth day of Christmas
the health minister gave to me
nine health boards fired, eight used syringes,
seven swans a-walking, six empty wards,
five golden handshakes, four doctors fired,
three hospitals closing, two Tory bagmen,
and a consultant from New Jersey.

On the 12th day of Christmas
the health minister gave to me
12 lists a-waiting, 11 memos censored,
10 private clinics, nine health boards fired,
eight used syringes, seven swans a-walking,
six empty wards, five golden handshakes,
four doctors fired, three hospitals closing,
two Tory bagmen,
and a consultant from New Jersey.

The Speaker: The hon. member might consider sticking with his day job.

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Edited to add: So help me, there's audio. But you don't want to listen to it. You really, really don't.