MLA debacle sent to Internal Affairs Committee
Posted May 10, 2013 09:55:40 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Liberal member of the Nova Scotia legislature who alleges he was assaulted by a New Democrat politician says he doesn’t know what sparked the incident.
The legislature voted today to allow its internal affairs committee to take a deeper look at the conduct of Percy Paris, who has been charged with assault and uttering threats.
Liberal Keith Colwell asked the house to refer what happened to the committee, saying outside the legislature he has no idea what led to the incident.
In the house, the 65-year-old Colwell said he felt intimidated and alleged he was assaulted outside a washroom reserved for members of the legislature.
Police charged Paris of Windsor Junction last night after responding to a complaint of an assault at around 3:30 p.m. at Province House.
The 65-year-old man was released until his case is due in Halifax provincial court on June 18th.
Paris resigned as minister of economic and rural development after saying he lost his composure.
Premier Darrell Dexter says he will not suspend Paris from the N-D-P caucus.
Graham Steele becomes minister of economic and rural development and tourism now, and Finance Minister Maureen MacDonald will take on the portfolio for African Nova Scotian Affairs.
Provincial opposition parties are also speaking to the alleged incident, Nova Scotia’s PC leader Jamie Ballie says he’s embarassed.
“And I’m sure all Nova Scotians today are waking up and their watching the news, and their listening to the news, and their reading the news paper and their embarassed too,” said Bailie. “It’s an embarassment.”
He adds there should be a level of dignity in the house that Nova Scotians can have confidence in.
Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil says the Premier has taken this incident and tried to score political points on it.
“There are absolutely no winners here today or yesterday,” said McNeil, “this institution that all of us have the privelage of sitting in has had a rough couple of days.”
He says the Premier should be embarassed and it under scores why Nova Scotians have little faith in what goes on inside the legislature.
