News release

Unity Hearings Open to All Nova Scotians

House of Assembly

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY--Unity Hearings Open to All Nova Scotians

The Select Committee on National Unity encourages all Nova Scotians to take part in the unity dialogue when provincewide public hearings resume this week.

"It is the future of our country we are talking about," Eleanor Norrie, chair of the all-party select committee, said today. "How we decide to address this issue is critical to the prosperity of Nova Scotia and of Canada -- Quebec included."

The hearings are open to all, not only to those scheduled to make presentations. Nova Scotians who wish to appear before the committee are asked to notify it in advance by calling toll-free 1-888-38-UNITY, or 1-888-388-6489. However, last-minute submissions likely can be accommodated the evening of the hearing.

The committee is specifically interested in what Nova Scotians think of the Calgary Declaration and a subsequent framework for discussion presented by national aboriginal organizations. It wants to know whether the documents present a vision of Canada that, overall, Nova Scotians can support.

Public hearings began last month in Halifax and resume Tuesday evening in Sydney. All are scheduled for 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Simultaneous translation will be available at all locations.

The schedule of remaining public hearings:

SYDNEY
Tuesday, Jan. 6 Delta Sydney Hotel 300 Esplanade St.

PORT HAWKESBURY
Wednesday, Jan. 7 Maritime Inn 717 Reeves St.

TRURO
Thursday, Jan. 8 Keddy's Truro Inn 437 Prince St.

KENTVILLE

Monday, Jan. 12 Wandlyn Inn 3230 Highway 1

CHURCH POINT
Tuesday, Jan. 13 Universite Ste-Anne Route 1

YARMOUTH
Wednesday, Jan. 14 Rodd Grand Hotel 417 Main St.

BRIDGEWATER
Thursday, Jan. 15 Wandlyn Inn 50 North St.

DARTMOUTH
Tuesday, Jan. 20 Holiday Inn Harbourview 99 Wyse Rd.

The committee has also set up a toll-free line for Nova Scotians to express their views; the number is 1-888-38-UNITY or 1-888-388-6489. Comments phoned in will be summarized in writing for the committee.

Other options to make a presentation to the committee are:

  • by fax: 1-902-424-0513
  • by e-mail: unity@gov.ns.ca
  • via the Internet: http://www.gov.ns.ca/legi/unite
  • by post to:
    Select Committee on National Unity
    c/o Legislature Committees Office
    3rd Floor, Dennis Building
    1740 Granville St.
    P.O. Box 2530, Station M
    Halifax, N.S. B3J 3N5

Submissions should be filed with the committee by Jan. 23.

"There's no doubt in my mind that Nova Scotians love this province and love this country," said Mrs. Norrie. "I encourage each and every one to do his or her part to keep Canada together.

We all have something to contribute."

Mrs. Norrie is joined on the committee by MLAs Bob Carruthers, Paul MacEwan, Ron Russell, Ernie Fage and John Holm. Lila O'Connor is an alternate member.

The committee is to report back to the Legislative Assembly by Feb. 16.

NOTE TO EDITORS: The text of the Calgary Declaration and the aboriginal framework is on the committee's Internet site: http://www.gov.ns.ca/legi/unite Copies are also available from Communications Nova Scotia; please e-mail <rossng@gov.ns.ca.>

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