Premier comes under fire over Younger issue
Posted Nov 13, 2015 05:36:23 AM.
Last Updated Nov 13, 2015 09:29:26 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – The first day of the fall session at the Nova Scotia Legislature saw heated questions thrown at the Premier regarding expelled Liberal Cabinet Minister Andrew Younger.
Younger was fired from his role as Environment Minister and kicked out of Liberal caucus after he didn’t show up to testify in a case of a woman charged with assaulting him. This drew a strong rebuke from the judge who was forced to drop the charges.
Younger claimed parliamentary privilege, maintaining he was never asked to waive this privilege, and has been acting completely under the direction of Premier Stephen McNeil.
PC leader Jamie Baillie kicked things off in the house asking McNeil if anyone in his office spoke with Younger about his duty to give testimony, to which the Premier responded, “no.”
Interim NDP leader Maureen MacDonald said her main concern is the Premier stood by Younger when he claimed privilege to not testify in the case, and only fired him after inconsistencies in his explanation came to light.
The Premier maintains his office was caught off guard by the whole situation.
