Increase Access to Food in Schools - QP

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Does the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development honestly believe that every student in Nova Scotia, including the three schools in my riding that have no cafeteria facility, have access to food when they need it?

HON. BECKY DRUHAN « » : Speaker, we know that it is important that students have access to food in schools. If the member opposite is aware of situations, I encourage her to bring them to my attention. I'd like to know about it.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable Government House Leader.

HON. KIM MASLAND « » : Speaker, I rise on a point of order. During Question Period, when the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development was responding to a direct question from a member of the NDP, there was a yell of, "It is a lie." That is unparliamentary language, to suggest that the response that the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development was giving is a lie. I ask for that statement to be retracted.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable Leader of the NDP.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : In anticipation of this point of order, I reiterated the question that had been asked previously to the minister where she stated that every student in Nova Scotia has access to food, and she changed her answer. I apologize for the use of unparliamentary language. I stand by my statement that not every student in Nova Scotia has access to food in school.

THE SPEAKER « » : I would ask that the Leader of the New Democratic Party please retract the statement and speak on that only.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : I apologize for my use of unparliamentary language.

THE SPEAKER « » : Retract it, please.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : I apologize for my use of unparliamentary language.

THE SPEAKER « » : I need the member to retract as advised by the Clerk.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : The statement that I made was true, and I apologize that I made it in an unparliamentary way.

THE SPEAKER « » : I will kindly ask the Leader of the New Democratic Party to please retract the statement indicating that it was a lie. It is unparliamentary, and I will ask one more time, as advised by the Clerk, to retract.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : I apologize for my use of the word "lie."

THE SPEAKER « » : I'm going to ask the Leader of the New Democratic Party - I'm going to give one more chance to stand in your place and to please indicate that you will retract the statement. If you do not, I have been advised, and I will follow through with, sadly, having to remove you from the Chamber.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : I cannot retract a statement which is true. I apologize for my use of unparliamentary language in the Chamber.

THE SPEAKER « » : I would ask now that I have assistance from the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove . . .