By Andrew Macdonald
It’s no surprise that on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Premier Tim Houston accepted the resignation of embattled Justice Minister Brad Johns.
Incredibly, Johns had told reporters earlier this week that he did not accept all of the findings of the Mass Casualty Commission, which reported recommendations from the mass killing four years ago at Portipique.
Johns said he did not view domestic violence as an “epidemic” in Nova Scotia, something the Mass Casualty Commission said was a real thing in society.
So it’s no surprise Johns is out as a cabinet minister, a year before a vote is scheduled. There was swift reaction from women’s shelters over the Johns’ commentary.
“Earlier this evening, I accepted the resignation of Brad Johns as a minister in my cabinet,” Premier Houston said in a released statement.
“Domestic violence is an issue our government takes very seriously.
“We will continue to work with partner organizations to do everything we can to support the important work being done in response to the Mass Casualty Commission’s final report and in response to the ongoing epidemic of domestic violence across Nova Scotia and Canada,” said the premier.
Nova Scotia NDP leader Claudia Chender had called for Johns to resign, as did Liberal leader Zach Churchill.
In a statement Friday night, Chender said Johns’ resignation was only the first step.
“Nova Scotians were angry and hurt by the minister’s callous statement regarding his disagreement with the Mass Casualty Commission’s finding of an epidemic of gender-based violence. His resignation is only the first step to address the harm done,” said Chender.
“This was the only acceptable response following Mr. Johns’ comments yesterday. The next steps for the Houston government are to fully support the organizations doing the work on the ground every day and to advance the work needed for the societal change called for by the Mass Casualty Commission.”
On the fourth anniversary of the 2020 massacre in Portapique, Johns addressed the Mass Casualty Commission’s report released last year, which highlighted the role that gender violence played in the tragedy and that it is an epidemic.
“An (epidemic), you’re seeing it everywhere all the time, I don’t think that’s the case,” Johns’ told reporters Thursday.
Brad Johns is out of the Tim Houston cabinet. CBC image
