Premier Bails on Final Months as Leader

UPDATED WITH COMMENTS FROM THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

The Nova Scotia government made it official today—the legislature will not gather for a regular session this year.

The House of Assembly has not met since the onslaught of the coronavirus, the only province in the country that has not met during the pandemic.

The usual fall sitting will instead be prorogued on December 18th at 9 am, effectively wiping out all bills currently before the house only to start over again when the house reopens February 16 of next year.

With a Liberal leadership race underway, the announcement means Premier Stephen McNeil will not face the opposition in question period or any other debate before his replacement takes over.

The MLA for Cumberland South says, “It is very disappointing that democracy is being put on hold.” Tory Rushton has repeatedly called on the premier to reconvene the legislature and get back to the business of the people.

NDP Leader Gary Burrill says, “It is entirely disrespectful of the people of Nova Scotia for the Premier to avoid a fall sitting, evade public scrutiny, and limit the work of democratically elected MLAs in this way.” 

The Nova Scotia legislature has only met for 13 days this year, the shortest sitting in fifty years.

PC Leader Tim Houston says, “When the Legislature finally meets, it will be over 280 days since your elected MLAs last gathered at Province House.” Houston added, “Yesterday we were in court trying to get answers to a simple question that we asked four years ago, about the management fee for the Yarmouth ferry. Today, we see more secrecy.”

The NDP say it is clear the premier does not want to be questioned on his own record.

Houston say,” This Liberal stunt may meet their obligation to the law, but certainly does not meet their obligation to Nova Scotians.”

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