Nova Scotia Speaker restricts public access inside legislature to ensure MLA safety

Parts of the Nova Scotia Province House are restricted to the public following demonstrations.

Public access to parts of the Nova Scotia legislature have been temporarily restricted after some tense moments between the public and politicians were reported inside and outside the Province House during the budgetary session.

Nova Scotia’s Speaker of the House Danielle Barkhouse told media the decision to restrict public access on the second floor of the legislative building was made by her and staff to ensure MLAs are safe but didn’t speak to any specific safety concerns or complaints.

“I want to make sure that we have a safe environment for all MLAs here at the Province House,” said Barkhouse.

Asked if the restrictions were in relation to a heated conversation between community members and a Progressive Conservative MLA and cabinet minister outside the legislative chambers, Barkhouse deflected the questions and said it speaks to safety concerns inside and outside the legislature after an emotional week.

The two days of protests outside the legislature this week saw Halifax police close Granville Street between Prince and George Street as thousands gathered to protest cuts to government programming.

Premier Tim Houston was yelled at by two members of the public who made their way downstairs from the gallery on Thursday before participating in a media scrum. He was surrounded by his security team at the time.

Barkhouse assured the public restrictions are a temporary measure to ensure everyone can feel safe in completing their legislative duties.

The public is welcome to enter the main floor of the building and go up to the third-floor gallery, said Barkhouse, but they are now restricted from moving around the second floor, which includes the Legislative Chamber, Legislative Library, the Red Chamber and Clerk’s Office.

“I do not myself and the staff do not want to impede people from being able to enter watch legislation being made,” said Barkhouse. “This is the people’s house.”

Barkhouse said this decision wasn’t politically influenced and was made after a group discussion with her security staff and said they will “assess the situation as they go.”

“People are still allowed to come here,” said Barkhouse. “They are still allowed to be on the first and third floor and they are still allowed to watch legislation happen.”

NDP Leader Claudia Chender called the restrictions “unfortunate” and said the public should feel encouraged to come visit the legislature and to see for themselves how government works and be able to engage with lawmakers and ask questions.

“It is more important than ever that people can come into this house and that they can feel like this is their house, because it is,” said Chender. “It is their house, it’s not our house.”

Interim Liberal Leader and former premier Iain Rankin said when difficult decisions are being made, legislators need to be accountable and called the restrictions a step backwards.

“It’s really important that people can access their representatives, especially while we are in session,” said Rankin. “Because we aren’t in our communities as often and when the are very difficult decisions being made politicians need to be accountable.”

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