New Democrats demand Houston reverse course on measures that limit information for Nova Scotians

HALIFAX – Tuesday, New Democrat Leader Claudia Chender demanded Tim Houston stop limiting information for Nova Scotians and imposing policies on them without debate or consultation. Chender is calling on the premier to reverse course immediately on his many anti-democratic changes, as he did yesterday with the Auditor General.

“During the campaign, people made it clear: they want a better health care system with attachment to primary care; they want truly affordable homes to rent or buy; they want to build a good life for their families in the province they love,” said Chender. “They didn’t vote for less accountability from their government. They didn’t vote for policies to be pulled out of thin air without consultation or debate and they didn’t vote for less information about how their hard-earned money is being spent.”

Following significant public outcry and consistent pressure from the NSNDP, the premier finally admitted he was wrong to attack the independence of the Auditor General.

In just one week of the legislative sitting, the Houston government has also proposed changing the access to information rules, dismantling Communications Nova Scotians, and restricting debate on important issues facing Nova Scotians.

“Instead of addressing the backlog of thousands of people waiting for attachment to primary care, the closures of emergency rooms, or the high cost of housing—this government has made consolidating its power a top priority,” said Chender. “This is not about partisan politics. As elected officials and as Nova Scotians, we all have a responsibility to speak up. New Democrats are calling on the premier to reverse these decisions immediately just as they did with the Auditor General.”

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